Technical details/Mods

CO - Backwards loop
BO - Tubular

19 (NOT 35) repeats of the cable pattern for a size medium, picked up two stitches for every three rows of the cabled band.

Knitting the top first then the bottom so I can make it an appropriate length.

Working paired decreases rather than kfb, even though it won’t really show it’ll make me feel better.

Knit 7” rather than 7 1/4” as I’m a touch high-waisted.

Picked up one additional stitch in the back area so the ribbing is even.

Worked ribbing as K1, (P2, K2) to last st, K1 as the number was divisible by 4. Also changed to the smaller needles for this ribbing to keep all ribbing the same.

Ended up knitting all the decreases plus one WS row for the bottom before starting the ribbing - 4”.

Picking up for the button band, picked up 3 for every 5 rows, counting every stitch on the cable band as a row. Picking up the same amount as given, since my numbers are nearly the same. We’ll see how that looks.

Hmmm…if one is to pick up from the right side, as I would assume especially since it says to start at the lower right bottom, then one should be doing P2, K2 ribbing and the fifth row of ribbing is in fact going to be starting on the wrong side, which would put the buttonholes on the incorrect side of the vest going by the pictures. I’ll be working three buttonholes, one 2” above the center of the cabled band, one at the center, and one 2” below. I’m also going to add a hook and eye to the bottom corner of the ribbing to make the hemline straight and to prevent the bottom of the button band from gaping open.

For the “sleeves”, I picked up 4 sts for every 7 rows.

Notes

With stated gauge, the estimated repeats for the cable are incorrect, probably 1/3 larger than they should be.

Picking up the stitches is highly ambiguous, it is not stated exactly where/how to start picking up stitches and only mentions the fact that this area is reverse stockinette later in the directions. Not a major flaw, but a flaw nonetheless.

There is no information about how to finish the back, so I assume one should continue until it measures the same length as the fronts.

For the bottom, no way to knit all the decreases and only 3.5” according to stated gauge.

As a pattern tester, I am somewhat appalled that a designer would charge for a pattern this unclear and obviously untested. I likely won’t purchase from Bloom Design Studio again.