The buttoned crew neck vest goes from a preppy, collegiate classic into a slightly rustic, softly feminine, modern layer. I just love how yarn choice, proportion, and just a few details can completely change the personality of a simple knit.
My favorite detail on Ward 8 is the hem. I absolutely love how the button band and lace meet, emphasizing the lace perfectly.
The higher end of the band emphasizes the longer sides, really allowing the scalloped shape of the bottom edge to stand out.
And in case you miss the detail, a simple placket on either side of the center band, plus tiny contrast buttons, will draw the eye to center front.
I paired this detail with lots of stockinette and chose my yarn very carefully. This mix of red and orange is beautiful and adds depth to the simple fabric, but it stays tonal enough to allow the lace and placket to show up. The fabric itself is light and airy at this gauge, with a slightly rustic feel, again moving the vest away from the library and towards an earthy, more delicate vibe.
The fit shown is a little boxy and short, as I want the little gap between the hems to really stand out around my waist, worn alone or when layered. Of course, this silhouette would work with different amounts of ease and at different lengths, and notes are in the patten if you prefer a different fit.
The Ewetopia yarn I chose is a round and soft fingering wool, knit up on larger needles for a lofty fabric. Blend Fine is harder to come by these days, but Ridge Fingering is very similar to the Fine and works beautifully here (see the tests!). Both bases are dyed in a variety of subtle marls and solid shades that will show off the design well, and the Ewetopia website is stocked up on Ridge right now.
Ward 8 is worked in one piece to armholes, then separated into Fronts and Back and worked in three pieces to shoulders, which are then seamed. Button band is picked up along Front edges and completed before collar is picked up around neckline. Armhole ribbings are picked up last and worked in the round.
There are lots of notes in the pattern on how and where you can customize the fit on this one, and all that stockinette makes modifications easy!
Yarn: Ewetopia Blend Fine (100% Fine Wool, 285yds/260m per 3.5oz/100g skein) or Ridge Fingering (100% Fine Wool, 2-ply fingering yarn. 200yds/183m per 1.76oz/50g skein). Shown in Blend Fine, in Red-Orange.
A round fingering or sport weight yarn works well for this design. The soft, airy fabric is achieved by working the yarn on larger-than-usual needles, so a wool or wool blend that allows the lace detail to show up, and can bloom and hold shape when blocked at this gauge, is best.
Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows per 4”/10cm in stockinette and lace hem. 22 sts and 32 rows per 4”/10cm in rib.
Needles: US#7/4.5mm needles for body. US#6/4mm needles for collar, button band, armhole ribbing and lace hem. I suggest a long circular needle for body, hem, and button band and a shorter circular needle for the ribbing at collar and armhole openings.
Sizes:
33.75(37.25,40.5,43.75,47.25,50.5)(53.75,57.25,60.5,63.75)"
85.75(94.5,102.75,111.25,120,128.25)(136.5,145.5,153.75,162)cm
Sizes based on bust circumference, worn closed, in final, blocked fabric. Shown worn with about 4"/10 cm positive ease, based on actual bust.
Yardage:
600(650,700,800,850,950) (1000,1050,1100,1200)yds
550(595,640,730,780,870)(915,960,1005,1100)m
The buttoned crew neck vest goes from a preppy, collegiate classic into a slightly rustic, softly feminine, modern layer. I just love how yarn choice, proportion, and just a few details can completely change the personality of a simple knit.
My favorite detail on Ward 8 is the hem. I absolutely love how the button band and lace meet, emphasizing the lace perfectly.
The higher end of the band emphasizes the longer sides, really allowing the scalloped shape of the bottom edge to stand out.
And in case you miss the detail, a simple placket on either side of the center band, plus tiny contrast buttons, will draw the eye to center front.
I paired this detail with lots of stockinette and chose my yarn very carefully. This mix of red and orange is beautiful and adds depth to the simple fabric, but it stays tonal enough to allow the lace and placket to show up. The fabric itself is light and airy at this gauge, with a slightly rustic feel, again moving the vest away from the library and towards an earthy, more delicate vibe.
The fit shown is a little boxy and short, as I want the little gap between the hems to really stand out around my waist, worn alone or when layered. Of course, this silhouette would work with different amounts of ease and at different lengths, and notes are in the patten if you prefer a different fit.
The Ewetopia yarn I chose is a round and soft fingering wool, knit up on larger needles for a lofty fabric. Blend Fine is harder to come by these days, but Ridge Fingering is very similar to the Fine and works beautifully here (see the tests!). Both bases are dyed in a variety of subtle marls and solid shades that will show off the design well, and the Ewetopia website is stocked up on Ridge right now.
Ward 8 is worked in one piece to armholes, then separated into Fronts and Back and worked in three pieces to shoulders, which are then seamed. Button band is picked up along Front edges and completed before collar is picked up around neckline. Armhole ribbings are picked up last and worked in the round.
There are lots of notes in the pattern on how and where you can customize the fit on this one, and all that stockinette makes modifications easy!
Yarn: Ewetopia Blend Fine (100% Fine Wool, 285yds/260m per 3.5oz/100g skein) or Ridge Fingering (100% Fine Wool, 2-ply fingering yarn. 200yds/183m per 1.76oz/50g skein). Shown in Blend Fine, in Red-Orange.
A round fingering or sport weight yarn works well for this design. The soft, airy fabric is achieved by working the yarn on larger-than-usual needles, so a wool or wool blend that allows the lace detail to show up, and can bloom and hold shape when blocked at this gauge, is best.
Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows per 4”/10cm in stockinette and lace hem. 22 sts and 32 rows per 4”/10cm in rib.
Needles: US#7/4.5mm needles for body. US#6/4mm needles for collar, button band, armhole ribbing and lace hem. I suggest a long circular needle for body, hem, and button band and a shorter circular needle for the ribbing at collar and armhole openings.
Sizes:
33.75(37.25,40.5,43.75,47.25,50.5)(53.75,57.25,60.5,63.75)"
85.75(94.5,102.75,111.25,120,128.25)(136.5,145.5,153.75,162)cm
Sizes based on bust circumference, worn closed, in final, blocked fabric. Shown worn with about 4"/10 cm positive ease, based on actual bust.
Yardage:
600(650,700,800,850,950) (1000,1050,1100,1200)yds
550(595,640,730,780,870)(915,960,1005,1100)m
