OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: by Ysolda Teague from “Little Red in the City”
• Yarn: Brooks Farm Four Play (50 wool/50 silk), 540 yds
• Size/Needles/Gauge: 34″, 5.0 spi, 9 rpi on US 5’s
• Time to knit: 9 days in August 11

From the first time I saw Ysolda wearing this vest (at Rhinebeck last fall), I loved the design and I’m pleased that the KAL provided an opportunity to knit it.

The pattern is well written, no errata.  I would advise checking your measurements and compare with the pattern to make sure the center of cable motifs fall at your natural waist (thinnest part).  Row gauge is important with this pattern, and you may need to down a needle size or two to obtain it.  I got stitch gauge with US 7’s, but had to go down to 5’s to get close to row gauge, and by that point, stitch gauge was a bit too small.  It all worked out in the blocking process.  The pattern is fun and it knits up faster than one might expect.  My only mod was adding about 1″ of short row shaping to the fronts, about 1/2″ below underams (4 wraps and turns each side).   The applied edging is a nice detail; there is very little finishing on this project.

The yarn, Brooks Farm Four Play, is one suggested by the pattern.  The construction is rounded with a nice firm twist, which is helpful when you’re cabling and working twisted stitches.  The feel is predominantly wool-y, though the knitted fabric has a nice drapey quality from the silk.  The dye job is nice, blue-gray, perhaps a bit more variegated than I’d normally go for but it works alright for this pattern since there’s so much dimensionality; the twisted stitches and cables really pop off the reverse stockinette background.  I’d say the yarn requirements are accurate but not generous, my only mod was adding the short rows and I only had a few yards left in the end.  So you might need extra yardage if you want to add length, etc.

My favorite detail(s) are the shaping worked into the cables, absolutely genius trick.  I believe that vests are perfect for Mid-Atlantic transitional weather, and this one is sleek enough to wear under coats when it gets colder.