Eli Vest

I had a high bar to reach for the Eli Vest.  Eli's mother is a knitter/seamstress/crafter extraordinaire, and I couldn't help getting really ambitious when designing a sweater for Eli. 

So despite all my intentions (which consisted of a simple drop-shoulder v-neck cardigan, maybe with some pockets for storing Eli's ever-present cars and trains) I ended up with a dapper herringbone shawl-collar vest.  What can you do.






I wanted something with a smallish gauge that could handle the tight weave of the herringbone, and so I settled on Rowan Handknit Cotton.  And lo and behold, everyone, that yarn is a gift from the gods!  Remember Rowan Calmer, that magical yarn that disappeared suddenly though we all loved it so?  Well, this seems to be Rowan's replacement yarn.  It is not quite as magical; it doesn't have that weird oily sheen, nor is it quite as stretchy.  But the gauge is a bit more forgiving, and frankly I'll take what I can get. 

It stood up to the herringbone, though I had to go up to size 8 needles to make sure it had enough give (and even then, this is a tight and not particularly stretchy weave.  Hence the wide rib edging). 

The herringbone is tough to work with, and to those who will knit this design when it comes out, I say: don't worry about keeping everything perfectly in pattern.  The decreases will come, and they will screw things up.  It'll all work out in the end.