Selwin Vest - Cast On Magazine

I knew right away what yarn I wanted to use for this vest. Zauberball Starke 6 by Shoppel-Wolle (distributed in the United States by Skacel) slowly changes color (and you know how I love color changing yarn!).

The original proposal included the patterned front, just as it looks. I had imagined a solid stockinette back that would make the project feel more approachable (finish the patterned front, and the back will be super easy knitting!)

Folks who design for magazines (or books, or other publications) are always on a short deadline. This project had about 4 weeks from the date it was accepted to the date the finished sample and pattern had to be delivered to the publisher.

Well, I knit the patterned front to the armholes, and then cast on and knit the back to the armholes, only to realize that it was WAYYYYY too wide. (See? Even designers have to rip things out.)

So, I went down a needle size (of COURSE... that will get me the correct gauge, right?   wrong.) It still was not quite right. So I talked with another knitter friend and he suggested I do some sort of different pattern for the back. As I was ripping out the second back attempt I saw the beauty in this suggestion. It'll make the front the same weight as the back... and the back will be really easy to knit because it'll be the same row of patterning over and over and over!

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So, thank you to Bill for your suggestion. I couldn't be happier with the back on this piece, and really, I think it could be an alternate design for a vest front!

Besides the basic knitting skills you'd imagine are needed for this project, it's helpful to know how to lock the floating yarn every other stitch. This technique creates a beautifully finished interior and it also keeps the tension even in two-color knitting.

There's a tutorial HERE that demonstrates the technique.

Other good news about this pattern is it made the COVER of Cast On! It's my first cover, and I am really proud of the way this one looks.

Cast On Magazine, the educational journal for knitters, is included in your membership to TKGA (The Knitting Guild Association). More information about the organization and the magazine can be viewed on their website HERE.

Have a great weekend!

-Kyle

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