Monday, March 31, 2008

COME SPRING: NEW PATTERN POSTED

Come Spring Lacy Vest

All right, so it's true that Nova Scotia doesn't have a real spring—the weather jumps from winter to summer with a few wet, chilly, days in between-- but you can't fool us: we know spring's out there somewhere. The geese came home, for instance, flying in a bright-spirited arc formation across the sky that seems to spell victory over winter; a few brave tulip shoots poke up from the earth (okay, so they're buried alive again under a foot of snow); a little bright-chested robin flies in from the forest sporting his finest get-a-chick plumemage; and, the willow tree flourishes little buds of pussy-willows-to-be. When we know spring's coming, we  Nova Scotians try to be patient but fail miserably. After a long winter, we want spring and we want it now!

So, in honor of the season, I offer this lacy vest perfect for transitional wear. Knit side to side in any DK yarn, preferably hand-dyed, the bands of seed stitch and alternating lacy strips evoke the earth awakening after a long winter. Easy to size as you knit, this little garment can be sized to fit any body with vertical lines aiming to sleek and slim. The leaf stem lace edging is picked up and knit along the bottom allowing yet another chance to add length according to preference. I designed this not to close in the front though you could easily keep knitting across until it does or even add a button but the easy chic of the overall style is filled with a toss on and wear attitude further emphasized by deep armholes (wear it over a sweater maybe).

Come spring rear view with pet rock

As you've probably noticed, I love backs. Certainly, I appreciate mine and hope never to be without a spinal column with all its accessories but I  also have a liking to back views on garments. Think of it this way: for every person you walk towards, chances are you will also walk away from, giving the person you're leaving or passing by yet another chance to be charmed by your recent presence. Why squander such an opportunity? For this reason, I suggest you frame a little vignette on your center vest back featuring one of those glorious hand-dyed ribbons you drool over but can't think how to use economically or feasibly. For this vest, I've chosen Judi&Co's Luminess ribbon in the color Kenya. It knits like a picture creating bands of subtle, fluid color, but other choices exist including a chunkier version of a hand-dyed yarn. The options are endless (but not backless)!

Come Spring uses  size US 8/5 mm needles with three or four similiar colors in varying hues plus one contrasting shade . For the original that worked out to be three shades of green plus a brown but consider three neutrals plus a brown or three shades of denim blue plus a navy or even all one color?

Purchase pattern here: http://www.janethornley.com/patterns_vests.html#8

Spring poses in May of last year