Luck of the Irish Knitted Vest

Baiba Dzelme

Final size:

Small (S), Medium (M), Large (L), Extra Large (XL)

USD $9.09

Advanced

Knitting

For USD $9.09 you get

Simple step-by-step instructions to follow

Large detailed images and diagrams

How it works

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Description

A more complex project, this knitted vest design with built-in hood from Baiba Dzelme uses a variety of knitting stitches. The vest’s Celtic-style design suits deep-green yarns, but you can make it in your favourite colour or to complement any outfit.

Includes full materials list and Baiba’s yarn recommendations and knitting needle sizes, with both US and UK sizes
Table and guide on knitting tension and abbreviations for stitches used
Instructions for four different sizes — small, medium, large and extra-large — along with measurements table
This Aran-style vest features I-cords and several different cable designs, and is knitted in one piece to the armholes
Detailed step-by-step instructions and cable-knit diagrams take you through creating the whole project, from starting off and creating your cable designs to completing your knitted vest
This knitting pattern is best suited to advanced knitters with significant knitting experience

Materials

8-ply 200g wool
One pair circular 4.50mm (UK No 7; US No 7) knitting needles (or size required for correct tension) in 120cm (47in) length
Short circular 4.50mm (UK No 7; US No 7) knitting needles or
4.50mm (UK No 7; US No 7) double-pointed needles
An additional 4.50mm (UK No 7; US No 7) knitting needle
One cable needle
One pair 3.50mm (UK No 4; US No 4) double-pointed needles
Tapestry needle
General sewing supplies

Designer

Baiba Dzelme

Although she does painting, play dough, cutting and gluing with her two preschool-age daughters, Baiba Dzelme loves knitting the most, having learnt the Continental technique at age five or six and doing it on and off for about 20 years. “I consider handmade to be a value because handmade items have their own soul. It might sound pretentious but it is not,” she explains. She knits almost every day since she has few other commitments and is “not very fond of housework”.

She goes to a monthly meeting of the NSW Knitters’ Guild and also keeps up to date with things on the knitting and crochet website, Ravelry, runs her blog and sells her knits through her store at etsy.com under her business name, Ferby’s Corner Knits.

Baiba’s design style is casual, using easy-care yarns such as machine-washable wool, cotton and bamboo. “I love knitting kids’ clothing and girls’ cardigans, tops and dresses in particular as I have two girls at home. They love wearing hand-knitted clothes and believe mum can make almost anything for them. A recent request was to make knitted sandals for their beloved dolls,” she relates.

“I love different knitting-stitch patterns with strong texture. That’s why I love cables and I like to use those in wool garments. I enjoy doing intarsia colour work too,” she explains. She has become acquainted with lace too, something she didn’t fancy before. “I usually knit with circular needles and greatly favour knitting in the round and seamlessly,” she says.

Although she wishes her knitting could be full-time work rather than a hobby and worries about getting the fit right on custom-knitted items for customers, she remarks, “You have to love what you do and success and satisfaction with results will follow.”