Several rows later and it is taking shape.

Continuing on from where I left off, I found that the basic vest was finished with all 3 sections on one knitting needle.I knitted across all the stitches, making 92 stitches to join all three segments together. I have noticed that the garment is beginning to get heavy on the wrists. Using the Nappy Safety Pins have worked well and retained the tension so far, however I shall have to watch the weight and maybe work on a structured surface so that the knit doesn't stretch to much.

The pattern continued as before - knitting one row followed by one row of 3 stitches of knit, purl to the last 3 stitches and knit.  This was continued until it reached my required measurements for the March Hare costume. 

After reaching the required measurement, I needed to shape the arm and front of the waistcoast.  

To do s,o I again followed the basic pattern. Starting of as normal with the knit 3, purl 14, knit 3 and then cast of 6 for under the arm.  The 20 stitches were placed onto a spare 8mm knitting needle or holder as the pattern states.  (I try to have duplicate needles for slipping onto in order to retain the tension, keeping the knitting even).

For the back I knitted the first 3, followed by purling 34, knit 3 and then cast of the next 6 for under the arm.  This is now defining the back and the two fronts.

The next 20 stitches are as per the normal pattern of knit 3, purl 14, knit 3 and with the yarn broke, put on a safety nappy pin attached to the back of the right side.  The stitches are then placed on a holder - the other 8mm spare knitting needle.

BACK

With the right side of the knitting facing me I joined the wool and knitted the first row of 40 stitches.  This was followed by the knit 3, purl 34, knit 3 pattern.

This needed to be knitted to about 9 1/2 inches, to form the armhole.

When the required length was reached and finishing on a wrong side, A further 5 rows were knitted and the stitches cast off.

The saved stitches for the right side were put back onto the 8mm needles. Although they were being held on an 8mm needle, for tension purposes, if they had not been put back onto the needle the ongoing knitting would have been totally incorrect and the pattern ruined.

The yarn was joined and I knitted to the last 5 stitches and needed to knit 2 together.  This was the start of the neck line, leaving 3 stitches at the end to knit.

It then went onto a further rows as follows:

Row 2   -   Knit 3, Purl to the last 3 stitches, and Knit 3

Row 3   -   Knit the whole row

Row 4   -   Knit 3, Purl to the last 3 stitches, and Knit 3

and then back onto Row 1 to continue shaping the next line.

This continued until only 14 stitches were left on the needle.  

It took 7 rows of each to get to the correct number of stitches and then to get to the correct length required continued knitting using the 2 main rows of knit the first row, followed by knit 3, purl to the last 3, knit 3.  When the correct length was reached a further 5 rows were knitted and then cast off. This needed more concentration than before and I am pleased that I used the spare 8mm needles to keep the tension right. This has meant that the stretching I have been concerned about has not happened.