Men's Stockinette Vest FO

Pattern: Gauge-based for 24sts/inch (252 sts around yielding 42" chest - 1" negative ease)

Yarn: Sheldridge Farm Soft Touch DK - Approx. 1000 yards

Colour: Navy 

Needles: Tubular Cast On: 3.25mm, Ribbing: 3.75mm, Body: 4mm, Bind Off: 3.75mm

Start: January 30, Finish: February 21, 2011

Years ago I used to knit things for My Beloved that I liked and that entertained me to knit.  They were worn on occasion and generally at my request.  The things I've knit for him in recent years are worn all the time because I've started knitting what he wants to wear. Like most men's clothes they have few, if any decorative detail and are muted colours. This vest is very much in keeping with that  The resulting expanse of stockinette was variously tedious or relaxing - 'depending on my mood I guess.  So I tried to entertain myself by making the small details the best they could be and the fit exactly as he wanted.

Knitting flat and seaming blocked pieces allowed me to ensure the sizing was dead accurate. (42" around - 1" negative ease)

I used a Long Tail Tubular Cast On with two tubular rows as a foundation. 'Love the result...stretchy and soft. Switching to a needle 2 sizes smaller than for the body of the knit kept the edge tidy with no biggish loops hanging down.

This piece has no shaping...on the back I knit straight up from the hem for 17 3/4" then a few rows of armhole shaping before knitting straight to the shoulder which I bound off at the edge over 3 right side rows. For the front I started shaping for the V neck the row after I finished the armhole shaping.

I did try a Tubular Bind Off. I didn't like the result...too fussy looking. (the photo above shows a section of completed tubular bind off above what is supposed to be the matching cast on...I think I had tension issues with the bind off) I picked it back (that was a hateful procedure!) and opted instead for a Ribbed Knitted Bind Off. Much better!

The subtle variations in the yarn yield the impression of denim...

 Its springy but soft yarn (does the superwash contribute to the softness?) so I hand wound centre pull balls from the skeins just as I needed them to protect every bit of spring and the integrity of the yarn`s twist. The ultimate hand of this fabric feels soft, light and a bit bouncy. Quite satisfying!

The best thing about this knit though is that the recipient loves it. Last night while I made dinner he sat wearing it even before I had sewn in the ends. Then he carefully removed it before sitting down to eat - `didn`t want to get anything on it!

So that leaves me free to move on to something that ticks all the boxes the vest left unaddressed...

Its got colour and knitted detail aplenty and as I`ve already rounded the heel on sock one, getting this WIP into the FO  colomn should be nothing but fun!

Thanks for dropping by today!