How The West Was Spun: Back-To-School Vest

December 13, 2007

Back-To-School Vest

Are y'all sitting down? I've actually had this finished since the weekend, but wanted to give it a bath and take some daylight pictures, which are hard to fit in this time of year when there is actual sun and it's not overcast and gray outside.

Without further fuss, then, here 'tis:

Project Specifications:

Pattern: Back-To-School Vest from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel. I decided finally on a slightly looser fitting version than that shown in the book, so I went with the size M rather than the usual size S I'd wear and I think it fits very nicely over a long-sleeved shirt.
Yarn: Harrisville Highland; colorway "Chianti", but overdyed by me. I had a total of 800 yards (4 200-yard skeins), but I only wound up using 2 full skeins and a wee bit of skein 3. Plenty left for a pair of mittens and a hat.
Needles: Size 5 and 7 US. I decided to use two 24" #7's to knit the body. That way, I put the front and back half on each (which you have to do when you divide it at the armholes anyway) and I could easily try it on as I went.
Modifications: I did a 3-needle bind-off at the shoulders rather than seaming. I like that MUCH better. I also only did 3 rounds of purl at the arm openings. I thought 3 purl/3 knit/3 purl rounds, like at the hem and neck would be too much. I also shortened the ribbing by about 1-1/2 inches at the waist to accomodate my short-waisted'ness.

Overall, this was a really fast, easy knit. There is some shaping, but nothing difficult and almost half the vest is semi-mindless K2/P2 ribbing. I like the fit of this and I used up stash yarn, so how can you go wrong? The yarn softened up considerably after a bath in some Eucalan and I will likely wear it to a holiday party on Friday.

All for now.....

Dec 13, 2007 4:49:00 AM | Knitting Projects