A Quick to Knit, Very Fun Vest!
We love the growing popularity of vests! They’re easy to wear in a wide range of temperatures and you only have to make a front and a back, no sleeves!
Our latest sample at My Sister Knits is made from HipKnitShop Hip Wool. This is a soft, pliable, aran weight 100% wool yarn. Also, it’s a single ply so it’s light and airy.
©gatewaytosouthamerica-newsblog.com highland sheep
Hip Wool is highland wool from Peru, known for its softness and durability because the sheep live at 6500 feet. They have to be hardy to survive! It’s incredible that sheep who thrive in high altitude, harsh weather, and scarce vegetation give us such soft, fine yarn. Highland wool is a blend of Merino and Corriedale. The exceptional softness comes from the Merino, the Corriedale gives it strength and resilience which allows it to spring back into shape. The longer staple length of Corriedale also lessens any ‘itch’ factor, making this wool lovely to wear against your skin.
Island Vest
Back to our sample……it’s the Island Vest , designed by HipKnitShop, with a roomy fit, wide armhole openings, and fun narrow stripes. This is knit bottom up which I know causes some knitters consternation as many patterns are knit top down which makes it so easy to try them on! Never fear, find a top that you like the length of and use that as your guide.
Put a multi-colored wool with a solid for a unique vest!
The only seaming is done at the shoulders and you have your choice of grafting or a 3 needle bind off. The buttonholes are made by enlarging already existing stitches by “using your finger, a pencil, or something similar” and then sewing around the edge of the hole with a needle and thread to secure it. You can look at how they’re done on our sample.
The stripes are worked in the most interesting way! First you knit a row with Color 1, then you start over again on the front side and knit a row with Color 2. Then you purl a row with Color 1 and purl another row with Color 2 and continue in this way. This is fascinating to me and I think I’m going to have to try it!
I just happened to put that light blush color next to that green in the back and I love that combination! Look at how well it goes with all of the other colors!
I love that when I was putting colors together for photos, I noticed that so many of them look good together even if you don’t think they would at first glance! This vest will work up quickly and I’m thinking that it would be fun to have one in bright colors for spring. The list could go on: darker colors for the fall, holiday colors for winter, your favorite colors for 3 season wear, the possibilities are endless!
Then you get to choose buttons! We have a new supply that will add something special to your vest.
Plus, when you buy Hip Knit Wool, you get the Island Vest pattern free! Come into the shop and play around with color combinations for the stripes!
Happy knitting,
