Janus by Alma Beck

Janus

Knitting
September 2025
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
24 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches
in Slip-stitch
US 9 - 5.5 mm
840 - 1680 yards (768 - 1536 m)
XS, S, MR, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X
English
This pattern is available for free.

This two-in-one vest makes a great travel companion. On one side, vertical lines of stockinette stitches in the main color float on a garter stitch base, spots of the contrast color peeking through. Turn the vest inside out, and the vertical lines are in the contrast color, with spots of the main color peeking through. The magic comes from working flat on circular needles. You work 2 rows of a simple slip-stitch pattern with one yarn, push all the stitches to the other end of the circular needle, and work two slip-stitch rows from that side with the other yarn. The garter ridge bands that form the edgings and vertical insertions are worked as you knit the vest, so very little finishing is required.
Materials Needed:
Worsted yarn, such as Malabrigo Rios merino wool; 210yd/192m per 100g skein;
MC 22, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4 skeins
CC 22, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4 skeins

(Pattern looks best if MC is a dark solid or semi-solid color and CC is a lighter solid, semi-solid, or lightly variegated yarn.)

Optional: Three-fourths inch/2 cm buttons: 6 for MC side & 6 for CC side.

US9/5.5 mm circular needle, 24 inches/60cm or longer for sizes XS-L, 29 inches/74cm or longer for sizes XL-5X