My Sister Knits has two DK weight yarns that we think are perfect for warm weather. One, Host, is brand new to the shop from CaMaRose and the other, Brise, is a staple in the shop from Woolfolk.

Today we’re going to focus on one vest/top, mentioned briefly in a recent post, that can be made with either of these yarns. I think this top deserves more attention!

Maybel Vest, designed by Hanna Maciejewska

Our Maybel Vest, which can be worn alone, is made from Woolfolk Brise (pronounced ‘breeze’). It’s a lovely lightweight vest. The pattern is thorough and detailed. You’re going to have to follow the instructions (which my friend calls ‘rules’ which I think is funny) closely. I like the collar directions because you don’t seam it to the back, you pick up stitches and work the neckline shaping after you create the collar.

This pattern’s abbreviation for German Short Rows is different from any I’ve seen: it’s Sl-GSR. That threw me when I first read it in the pattern. If I’d read about German Short Rows under Stitches and Techniques first as one should, then I’d have known it’s just the way the designer describes how to work them. It’s a wonderfully simple and easy way!

Don’t let picking up and knitting stitches deter you if you haven’t done it before. You have lots of opportunities for help. You can book a session with Gretchen and there are several youtube videos. This one is great but check out a few and find one that you like.

You’re also going to need to M1L, M1R, P1L, and P1R. This is when needle choice makes a difference. It will be much easier to P1L & R if you have a sharp tip! When the pattern tells you to k2 tbl, that means to knit two successive stitches through the back loop, not knit two together through the back loop!

Another direction that might need clarification is to ‘evenly pick up and knit’ a certain amount of stitches. This video should help.

This vest is so pretty and lightweight, it would be a perfect top for spring and summer!

Woolfolk Brise is 68% Merino and 32% Pima Cotton with a chainette construction. It will feel soft against your skin, is lightweight, has elegant drape, and is airy.

Host: clockwise from top left: Braendt Orange, Tranebaer (cranberry), Himmelbla (sky blue), Havre (oats), Marmor (marble), and Mosgron (moss green)

Our newest yarn, Host (meaning ‘harvest’) is a dream to knit with. It’s a bit fuzzier than Brise so you can choose the look you want. Host is 75% cotton, 16% recycled wool, and 9% cashmere for a deliciously soft yarn! This is made by blowing the wool and cashmere into a cotton tube. If you look it up on Ravelry, it’s listed as an aran weight but the needles suggested, both on the CaMaRose website and Ravelry, are size 6 which are normally used for DK weight projects. There are several projects on the project pages that are made with patterns that suggest DK weight yarn so we have no concerns suggesting it for DK weight projects.

We also want to tell you about our swivel cords for ChiaoGoo interchangeable needles. They are silver but never fear, they are the same material as the red cables! I’m knitting with swivel cables right now and I love them! They reduce twisting and rotate with ease. I didn’t realize how nice they were until I went back to using a regular non-swivel cord.

Come into the shop to examine Brise and Host! We can help you find a pattern if Maybel isn’t quite what you’re looking for!

Happy knitting,

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