Vest with Intarsia Motifs in Schachenmayr Highland Alpaca - S9360 - Downloadable PDF

Vest with Intarsia Motifs in Schachenmayr Highland Alpaca – Pattern S9360

This free downloadable knitting pattern (design reference S9360) from Schachenmayr guides you through creating a stylish vest (waistcoat) featuring intarsia colour motifs. The garment is worked in a one-size-fits-all sizing (S–L) with a finished length of approximately 90 cm, making it a relaxed, longline piece suitable for a range of body types. The difficulty level is rated intermediate, meaning it is best suited to knitters who are already comfortable with basic techniques and are ready to explore colourwork and textured stitch patterns.

Design Overview

The vest is built around intarsia colourwork motifs set against a Fango (a warm, earthy tone) base colour. Intarsia is a knitting colourwork technique in which separate blocks of colour are worked using individual yarn bobbins or small yarn butterflies, rather than carrying floats across the back of the fabric as in stranded colourwork. This results in a clean, single-layer fabric where each colour area lies flat without bulk, making it particularly well suited to super chunky weight yarn like Schachenmayr Highland Alpaca.

Techniques Used

Intarsia Colourwork

The defining technique of this pattern is intarsia. Knitters work the background in the Fango base colour and introduce contrasting colours for the decorative motifs by picking up a new yarn section at each colour change. Proper intarsia requires twisting yarns at colour boundaries to avoid gaps or holes in the fabric, a skill that makes this pattern suitable for intermediate-level knitters.

Patent Edge (Patentrand)

The pattern specifies a distinctive Patent Edge (Patentrand) worked over 3 stitches on each side of every row. This edge treatment is used here as a neat selvedge or hem finish. On right-side (forward) rows, the first and last 3 stitches are worked as follows: knit 1, slip 1 with yarn held in front, knit 1. On wrong-side (return) rows, the same 3 stitches are worked as: slip 1 with yarn in front, knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front. This creates a firm, tidy edge that lies flat and gives the vest a polished, professional finish without the need for a separate border.

Small Seed Stitch (Kleines Perlmuster)

A small seed stitch (Kleines Perlmuster) is incorporated into the design, adding surface texture to contrast with the smoother stockinette areas. This two-row repeat is worked as follows:

• Row 1: Alternate knit 1, purl 1 across.
• Row 2: Alternate purl 1, knit 1 across (the reverse of Row 1).

These two rows are repeated throughout. Because each stitch is worked opposite to the stitch below it, the result is a bumpy, non-curling fabric with excellent drape and visual interest — a classic pairing with bold colourwork motifs.

Provisional Cast-On

The pattern instructs knitters to use a provisional cast-on method. This involves crocheting a chain in a contrasting yarn that is 8 stitches longer than the required stitch count, then picking up one stitch from each chain link using the knitting needle. This temporary cast-on allows the live stitches to be accessed later — for example, to work in the opposite direction or to graft a seamless hem — and is a hallmark technique of more refined, intermediate-to-advanced construction methods.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (rechts stricken) – the foundation stitch throughout
• Purl stitch (links stricken) – used within the seed stitch pattern
• Slip stitch (abheben) – key to the Patent Edge