the vest
Thursday, October 18, 2007Vests are just the best. I love not having to make sleeves!
Pattern: I didn't have one.
Yarn: Classic Elite Skye tweed. 2 balls main color, 3 balls of contrasting colors.
Needles: Size 7
For: Libby, age 9.
Notes: Really, anyone can make this. I got the gauge off of Charlie's sweater (same yarn). Decided how big I wanted it. Cast on with contrasting color, changed to main color, joined, and did a 2x1 rib for 3 inches.
I knit in the round until the underarms. Then following my "drawn pattern", decreased for the armholes and neck. After sewing the shoulder seams, I picked up around the arm and neck and did the same 2x1 rib, finishing by binding off in the contrasting color.
As far as the fair isle designs, anything goes. The thing is, you have to make sure that the design fits into the number of stitches you have. I used graph paper and drew different designs making sure the repeat was divisible by the number of stitches I had. Just a striped vest would be great too. That would require a lot less figuring.
82 comments
So cool - I am in awe of your knitting talent! Lovely photos as well
ReplyDeleteWow! So impressive! I LOVE it! Her whole outfit rocks!
ReplyDeleteVery, very, good job! Great photography too!
Jill
What a beautiful vest you have made.
ReplyDeleteIt is gorgeous but mostly I love your attitude and approach to the vest.
ReplyDeleteLove it!!!
ReplyDeleteif she sees it, my daughter's gonna ask for one like this.
ReplyDeletethis is gorgeous - i love it !
The vest looks great and will coordinate nicely with her brothers' sweaters. I love the pop of pink too.
ReplyDeleteYou make it all sound so simple; you are amazing!
C'est magnifique! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLeslie!!
ReplyDeleteYou're a knitting genius! Did i spell genius wrong? lol..
YOU might wanna check the FreckledNest.com contest results ;)
hehe,
Love Leigh-Ann :)
Well, that is perfect! I love the design as you go way you did this too. It looks really great!
ReplyDeleteVery, very nice!
ReplyDeleteWow! Looks like the recipient likes it as much as I do :)
ReplyDeleteThe vest if beautiful and it looks like a perfect fit too. I love the colors and patterning.
ReplyDeleteThat's gorgeous! I love the color combinations you used!
ReplyDeleteIt's sooo great! I love the colors and the fairisleing (is that a word?)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great garment! It's the key ingredient to an awesome outfit. She looks cool and retro all at the same time. And I also love to see girls this age dressed in an age-appropriate way.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on doing your own thing. The pattern/colour balance is excellent. So is the fit.
Having just finished a fair-isle vest of my own, I can attest to the joys of not being "stranded" on sleeve island!
nice. everything about the vest is so, so great!
ReplyDeleteWhat one minute...you didn't have a pattern? You must be a knitting prodigy! That sweater is tooo cute.
ReplyDeleteit's absolutely gorgeous! i love the color combo. and as simple as you make it sound, fair aisle still scares the *bleep* outta me.
ReplyDeleteYou are so clever! I aspire to be even close to clever in my knitting!
ReplyDeleteDo you put labels in your handknit goodies?
It's official: Libby is far more fashionable than I was at her age. Did you make the skirt she's wearing too?
ReplyDeleteadorable vest. i love the colors you used!
ReplyDeleteSo great, Leslie! The vest is amazing and looks so cute on Libby. You should go into pattern writting.
ReplyDeleteIt come out just lovely! And like there are no sleeves to fuss over either! Great photos! So "fally"
ReplyDeleteIt turned out awesome. I wished I could see the holiday photo upon completion. How exciting!
ReplyDeleteIt came out BEAUTIFULLY!!!
ReplyDeleteCute vest! I can't believe how fast you knit!
ReplyDeleteanyone can do it? ha! you rock lady! it is absolutely gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteyou are amazing. I would have to disagree that anyone could make one, though. :)
ReplyDeletethe vest turned out beautifully and I love it paired with the skirt.
Wow, nice work! The vest is perfect, and the whole outfit is super cute.
ReplyDeleteYou're an amazing woman.
ReplyDelete[I now fully understand the comment you left me a while ago - about how you don't want to hear the word wrestling associated with knitting on my blog. I understood it then, but totally appreciate it now.]
The vest is superb - especially considering that it was essentially freeform. Tres cool!
ReplyDeleteAnd did someone mention the easy style inhabiting the body of your 9 y.o.? Perfect!
Wow, great vest! Currently completely coveting the entire outfit actually. Can I be 9 again? Or can 34 year-olds wear that too? Hmmmmmmm............
ReplyDeleteThat is such a beautiful vest. It fits your daughter so well.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work! I love your color choices!
ReplyDeleteI made your Apple Cinnamon Cake today and it turned out perfectly and is heavenly! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGreat vest, Les. The whole outfit looks adorable. You are so non chalant about knitting...I can't believe you turn out your projects so quickly and beautifully... amazing!!
ReplyDeleteLooks great!
ReplyDeleteawesome!!! another fantastic design springs to life! the vest looks great and i cannot wait to see the next one...
ReplyDeleteLove the vest! it came out so great. I want her boots! :)
ReplyDeleteOMgosh - what a great little fashionsta! Love the vest - great job, mama! I love the whole ensemble!
ReplyDeleteWow, I think you are the best!! It's just lovely - the colours, patterns and I love that it's a vest. I actually get the whole 'make it up as you go along'. It's how I approach my sewing most times and you can make some great discoveries and fit things exactly how you want them! You really should write knitting patterns though - there is definitely a waiting market for them!!
ReplyDeletei could just start cutting and pasting my comments on your knitting blog. as always, you've made something gorgeous very special in a simply simple way. hats off to you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic vest, you are a wonder!!
ReplyDeleteI am so blown away by the vest! Very beautiful and looks perfect on her.
ReplyDeleteFor the umpteenth time, you are such a great creative knitter!
The vest is great! And it looks so cute with Libby's skirt.
ReplyDeleteWow, it's so beautiful and you made it sound so simple :) She wears it so well too, that girl's got style!
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice how you said "really anyone could make this." I am officially NOT really anyone!! It is so beautiful and your description sounds effortless and a little bit like a foreign language to me (I guess because I have only been knitting about 6 months, right??).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the vest is fabulous, thanks for sharing
I love the vest
ReplyDeleteI love the skirt
I love the boots and of course
you gotta love the girl!
Too cool!
Awesome !
ReplyDeleteI love the whole entire outfit! She's really rockin' it. Fantastic job!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful - lovely colours!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend :)
Beautiful!!!!!!! Your knitting is stunning, as usual. You knit fast, my dear.
ReplyDeleteTanya
You need to submit that one to Knitty.com for the winter issue. I love it, looks gorgeous on her. The colors are so fall. Your such a talented chickee!
ReplyDeletelove it!!
ReplyDeleteDang woman..... 55 comments already! You're like all famous!
ReplyDeleteI saw this on Flickr yesterday and gasped at it's beauty!
Oh my gosh, that is adorable! I love the boots with it. So cute!
ReplyDeleteI 've found out your blog adress two weeks ago and I love your creations , your photos and also your recipes !
ReplyDeleteThis vest is very beautiful , and even more because you designed it .
Helene (from France )
Ok, you just blew my mind. I love it! I am sa sucker for the little details like how you trimmed it with the grey yarn. Dang, I guess I lost out on the zucchini bread bet: She looks simple stunning in the whole outfit!
ReplyDeleteFabulous vest, I bet she loves it!
ReplyDeleteLeslie, I've said it once, I'll say it again, you never cease to amaze me. I want to nominate you for some type of award, maybe I'll have to make one...
ReplyDeletei love it.
ReplyDeleteyour wrong not everyone can do it. I couldn't
Love the vest! I'm so impressed that you designed that yourself. I can't wait to see the third sweater:)
ReplyDeleteI love it!! It's gorgeous....
ReplyDeleteBarb
Gorgeous!! I love it! I wish my daughter would wear such a vest!!
ReplyDeleteBarb
The vest is Totally Awesome...not to mention your Fabulous Photography! Love your blog site.
ReplyDeleteThat is an awesome vest, and I can't believe you had no pattern, it's just gorgeous. Well done you! I love the colors in it, I bet your daughter is thrilled with it.
ReplyDeleteWow--that turned out just beautiful! And the lovely model has great attitude, too.
ReplyDeleteyou are the best mom -- that is such a stylish, beautiful vest. you never cease to amaze!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome vest! The entire outfit is adorable.
ReplyDeleteLovvvvvvvvvvvve It. Speaking of graph paper... I'd gone to 3 stores... why didn't they have graph paper...lol.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful. This is the kind of handiwork that has me really working on learning how to knit. It's gorgeous. Wow. I'll be back again for another visit for sure.
ReplyDeleteWow! It came out lovely!
ReplyDeleteVraiment superbe !
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting a vest like that, but wasn't sure about decreasing for the armholes and have been looking for a pattern that does exactly what I want. And you just go and draw the pattern on a paper bag and measure as you go. That's brilliant. You've totally inspired me!
ReplyDeletethat is beautiful - wonderful job!
ReplyDeleteamazing. I wish I could. Maybe one day... eh?
ReplyDeleteI totally love it! Great job! :)
ReplyDeleteYOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB. THE VEST TURNED OUT REALY,REALY BEAUTIFUL.YOU HAVE PASSED ME BY !.tHAT IS GREAT.IT LOOKS ADORABLE ON THE PUNKIN.LOVE YOU
ReplyDeleteBOOK NUMBER 3
Beautiful! I love the colours, the design and think you're mighty talented. I bet your daughter will be wearing this gorgeous vest lots.
ReplyDeletetotally speechless! that's one rock'n outfit
ReplyDeleteOh my, I think you are a genius, no pattern would terrify me. It is really beautiful, she looks so very stylish and you have put the colours together so well. You should really write up the pattern, hint, hint.... I would love to make one.
ReplyDelete