the vest

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Vests 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.

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82 comments

  1. So cool - I am in awe of your knitting talent! Lovely photos as well

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  2. Wow! So impressive! I LOVE it! Her whole outfit rocks!

    Very, very, good job! Great photography too!
    Jill

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  3. Anonymous10/18/2007

    What a beautiful vest you have made.

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  4. It is gorgeous but mostly I love your attitude and approach to the vest.

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  5. if she sees it, my daughter's gonna ask for one like this.

    this is gorgeous - i love it !

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  6. Anonymous10/18/2007

    The vest looks great and will coordinate nicely with her brothers' sweaters. I love the pop of pink too.

    You make it all sound so simple; you are amazing!

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  7. C'est magnifique! Beautiful!

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  8. Leslie!!
    You're a knitting genius! Did i spell genius wrong? lol..

    YOU might wanna check the FreckledNest.com contest results ;)
    hehe,
    Love Leigh-Ann :)

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  9. Anonymous10/18/2007

    Well, that is perfect! I love the design as you go way you did this too. It looks really great!

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  10. Wow! Looks like the recipient likes it as much as I do :)

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  11. The vest if beautiful and it looks like a perfect fit too. I love the colors and patterning.

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  12. Anonymous10/18/2007

    That's gorgeous! I love the color combinations you used!

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  13. Anonymous10/18/2007

    It's sooo great! I love the colors and the fairisleing (is that a word?)

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  14. What 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.

    Congratulations 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!

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  15. Anonymous10/18/2007

    nice. everything about the vest is so, so great!

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  16. What one minute...you didn't have a pattern? You must be a knitting prodigy! That sweater is tooo cute.

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  17. it's absolutely gorgeous! i love the color combo. and as simple as you make it sound, fair aisle still scares the *bleep* outta me.

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  18. You are so clever! I aspire to be even close to clever in my knitting!
    Do you put labels in your handknit goodies?

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  19. Anonymous10/18/2007

    It's official: Libby is far more fashionable than I was at her age. Did you make the skirt she's wearing too?

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  20. adorable vest. i love the colors you used!

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  21. So great, Leslie! The vest is amazing and looks so cute on Libby. You should go into pattern writting.

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  22. It come out just lovely! And like there are no sleeves to fuss over either! Great photos! So "fally"

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  23. It turned out awesome. I wished I could see the holiday photo upon completion. How exciting!

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  24. It came out BEAUTIFULLY!!!

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  25. Anonymous10/18/2007

    Cute vest! I can't believe how fast you knit!

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  26. Anonymous10/18/2007

    anyone can do it? ha! you rock lady! it is absolutely gorgeous.

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  27. you are amazing. I would have to disagree that anyone could make one, though. :)

    the vest turned out beautifully and I love it paired with the skirt.

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  28. Wow, nice work! The vest is perfect, and the whole outfit is super cute.

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  29. Anonymous10/18/2007

    You're an amazing woman.

    [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.]

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  30. The vest is superb - especially considering that it was essentially freeform. Tres cool!

    And did someone mention the easy style inhabiting the body of your 9 y.o.? Perfect!

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  31. Anonymous10/18/2007

    Wow, great vest! Currently completely coveting the entire outfit actually. Can I be 9 again? Or can 34 year-olds wear that too? Hmmmmmmm............

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  32. That is such a beautiful vest. It fits your daughter so well.

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  33. Beautiful work! I love your color choices!

    I made your Apple Cinnamon Cake today and it turned out perfectly and is heavenly! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

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  34. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  35. Great 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!!

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  36. awesome!!! another fantastic design springs to life! the vest looks great and i cannot wait to see the next one...

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  37. Anonymous10/18/2007

    Love the vest! it came out so great. I want her boots! :)

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  38. OMgosh - what a great little fashionsta! Love the vest - great job, mama! I love the whole ensemble!

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  39. Wow, 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!!

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  40. i 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.

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  41. What a fantastic vest, you are a wonder!!

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  42. Anonymous10/18/2007

    I am so blown away by the vest! Very beautiful and looks perfect on her.
    For the umpteenth time, you are such a great creative knitter!

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  43. Anonymous10/18/2007

    The vest is great! And it looks so cute with Libby's skirt.

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  44. Wow, it's so beautiful and you made it sound so simple :) She wears it so well too, that girl's got style!

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  45. It'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??).

    Anyway, the vest is fabulous, thanks for sharing

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  46. I love the vest
    I love the skirt
    I love the boots and of course
    you gotta love the girl!
    Too cool!

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  47. Anonymous10/19/2007

    I love the whole entire outfit! She's really rockin' it. Fantastic job!

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  48. It's beautiful - lovely colours!!
    Have a great weekend :)

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  49. Beautiful!!!!!!! Your knitting is stunning, as usual. You knit fast, my dear.

    Tanya

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  50. 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!

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  51. Dang woman..... 55 comments already! You're like all famous!

    I saw this on Flickr yesterday and gasped at it's beauty!

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  52. Oh my gosh, that is adorable! I love the boots with it. So cute!

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  53. Anonymous10/19/2007

    I 've found out your blog adress two weeks ago and I love your creations , your photos and also your recipes !
    This vest is very beautiful , and even more because you designed it .
    Helene (from France )

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  54. 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!

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  55. Anonymous10/19/2007

    Fabulous vest, I bet she loves it!

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  56. Leslie, 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...

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  57. i love it.
    your wrong not everyone can do it. I couldn't

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  58. Love the vest! I'm so impressed that you designed that yourself. I can't wait to see the third sweater:)

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  59. I love it!! It's gorgeous....

    Barb

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  60. Gorgeous!! I love it! I wish my daughter would wear such a vest!!

    Barb

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  61. The vest is Totally Awesome...not to mention your Fabulous Photography! Love your blog site.

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  62. That 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.

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  63. Wow--that turned out just beautiful! And the lovely model has great attitude, too.

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  64. you are the best mom -- that is such a stylish, beautiful vest. you never cease to amaze!

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  65. What an awesome vest! The entire outfit is adorable.

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  66. Lovvvvvvvvvvvve It. Speaking of graph paper... I'd gone to 3 stores... why didn't they have graph paper...lol.

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  67. Anonymous10/20/2007

    This 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.

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  68. Wow! It came out lovely!

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  69. I'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!

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  70. that is beautiful - wonderful job!

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  71. Anonymous10/22/2007

    amazing. I wish I could. Maybe one day... eh?

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  72. I totally love it! Great job! :)

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  73. Anonymous10/23/2007

    YOU 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
    BOOK NUMBER 3

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  74. Beautiful! I love the colours, the design and think you're mighty talented. I bet your daughter will be wearing this gorgeous vest lots.

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  75. totally speechless! that's one rock'n outfit

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  76. Oh 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.

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