Back-To-School Fitted Vest

I’ve finished a new knitting project!

This one in record time because I had to have it done for a class sample. In the fall, I’m teaching a class at Heritage Spinning & Weaving called the”Back-To-School Fitted Vest”. It’s from the book “Fitted Knits: 25 Designs for the Fashionable Knitter” by Stefanie Japel. I’ll review it as soon as I get a chance but in the meantime… here is the cover and an Amazon link.

I used Shepard’s Wool yarn in “Great Lakes” which is a lovely heathered teal.

The yarn is a worsted weight, very fine wool (merino quality, good merino quality) that knits like a dream and is my favorite – which is why you see it mentioned a lot here 😉

I knit a size 37 so it would fit over a winter turtleneck and was bang on gauge. The sweater fits very well but I would have preferred a slightly smaller armhole. I will make adjustments when I knit it again.

The really cool part is that this vest is very “shapely”. It utilizes stitch patterning; 2 x 2 rib and waffle stitch, as well as bust darts to give the vest an hour glass shape making even me look like I have a waist. I love the end result and will wear it lots – as soon as the weather turns cold (all too soon here in Michigan).

But, I’m thinking a summer version in bamboo…

BTW, if you are curious about how to create bust darts, Sandi Wiseheart, formerly of Knitting Daily, did a series on the how-to’s. Check them out; The Return of the Bust Darts, Introduction to Darts, Bust Dart Placement,   Getting Started With Bust Darts, and Bust Dart Math. You may have to register with Knitting Daily to see these but the whole site is soooo worth it!

Deb H