From the Manor to the Farm: Vest for the Cricket Match

When Annie Modesitt first created her Vest for the Cricket Match for The Unofficial Downton Abbey Knits 2013, she had the classic cricketer’s kit in mind:

The traditional English cricket uniform consists of light or white flannel pants, a white shirt, and a sweater vest, often tipped in a contrasting color and usually worked in some type of cable motif. A summertime sport, white allows the players to be a bit cooler in the hot sun. The climate being what it is in Britain, however, a sweater vest is always a good addition to any cricket uniform for unexpected overcast days, chilly mornings, or cool evenings. The vest has a braided cable motif in the front, dividing at the center front for the neck. The back is rib and small two-stitch cables to reduce the overall bulk. Stitches at the armholes, neck, and waist are worked in wide stripes of blue and green.

The cables and two-color trim of this V-neck vest would be right at home on the cricket pitch. Photo by Joe Hancock

But a great knitted vest shouldn’t be reserved for just one sport or sex! The stretchy ribbed fabric is elastic enough to fit a range of shapes and sizes, and this sweater is wearable under a barn jacket or classic blazer. We updated the sizes to include a few at the smaller end of the scale and switched to one-color ribbing for a more versatile look.

Perfect for transitional weather and wearing under a jacket, this vest is a versatile three-season piece for any gender. Photo by Gale Zucker

We love the original version, too—take your pick!

MATERIALS
Yarn Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage (100% merino wool; 200 yd (182.9 m)/100 g; worsted weight): Winter Wheat, 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9) skeins.
Needles Size 7 (4.5 mm) and size 8 (5 mm), 20" (50.8 cm) circular (cir) and straight (option). Adjust needle sizes if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Notions Tapestry needle, marker (m), removable marker, cable needle.
Gauge 20 sts and 28 rows = 4" (10.2 cm) in Cable patt, blocked, using larger needles; 20 sts and 28 rows = 4" (10.2 cm) in Cabled Rib patt, blocked, slightly stretched, using larger needles
Finished Sizes Chest circumference 31¼ (36, 40¾ 43¼, 48, 50½, 52¾, 57½, 60)" (79.2 [91.4, 103.5, 109.9, 121.9, 128.3, 134.0, 146.05, 152.4] cm). Shown in 40¾" (103.5 cm) size, modeled with 6¾" (17.1 cm) ease.

See farmfiberknits.com/abbreviations for terms you don’t know.

NOTES
• Be sure to follow the correct Cable Chart for your size.
• An updated version of this design with an expanded size range is available in the Farm & Fiber Knits library.
• This pattern originally appeared in The Unofficial Downton Abbey Knits 2013

Annie Modesitt’s designs appeared in most major knitting magazines and dozens of knit and crochet books. An innovative designer with a deep understanding of technique, she taught students worldwide how to master knitting in their own ways. Her unique approach led her to adopt the moniker The Knitting Heretic, and her love of color sparked her yarn company ModeKnit Yarn. Annie passed away in late 2020.