The Sweater: The Winter Garden Vest is a stranded vest worked from the bottom up. stitches are added for both the neck and arm holes so that they may be worked in the round and then steeked open.  Neck and arm bands picked up and provide a neat finish after the work is complete. The pattern is graded in 7 sizes and up to a  55″ chest.

The traditional color work pattern is worked with two colors at a time. It features flower motif and smaller peri pattern to mimic the seed heads and dried leaves one would find while exploring a garden in its winter beauty.

The Yarn: Queensland Collection’s new offering, Walkabout is a 100% Organic Shetland wool in a sport weight. A sturdy and trusty wool, it comes in a multitude of colors perfect for color work knitting. The slightly heavier than traditional two ply yarn, this three ply sport weigh yarn knit at a larger gauge makes for dense fabric which will wear so well for many years to come. I love this quality in wool.  I love that I can make a garment and keep it looking new  with minimal effort other than gently washing and maybe a once a year de-pilling… and the while wearing it regularly.

Walkabout is put up in 50g pull skeins with 157 yards making it perfectly portioned for multicolor projects. Not to mention it is retailing for around $7.00 US in most store.

The Designer: Me, Whitney Terrell!! I published this design with Queensland Collection. It is available on Ravelry as well as in print in your  local yarn shops stocking the Walkabout line from Queensland Collection.

The Details: Of all the patterns I have written over the last year and sweaters I have finished or have underway, this vest has a bit of a siren song tempting me to come back and knit it again.  I would love to make a simplified version possibly with only three colors.  It would be fun to also do a louder more high contrast version, with different tones, making the pattern stripes much more pronounced.

The original is designed with so many blue tones like the icy clear days where the sun is bright, but not bright enough to overcome the winter cold. A true “bluebird” day, snow in the morning blanketing and highlighting details we overlook when they are awash with light, breaking into clearness and beauty in the afternoon.

Whatever palette is chosen the Winter Garden Vest is sure to be a fun exploration in color and pattern knitting.