Snow Gum

This design is based on Susanna Kaartinen’s Viiva pattern, originally published in Laine 13, and revisits one of the designer’s earliest and most cherished garment designs in a stranded colourwork version. The inspiration is drawn from travels in Tasmania, whose remote, wild and sparsely populated landscapes bring to mind Lapland — while the original Viiva was inspired by Finnish forests, with tree trunks seeming to shift and mingle as you move, this version reflects a walk in the Tasmanian bush, where the trees are twisty and bent. The result is a versatile button-up vest, worked in the round from the bottom up and finished with a steek and buttonband for a clean, polished look. SIZES 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8) **Recommended ease:** 4–8" / 10–20 cm of positive ease. FINISHED MEASUREMENTS **Chest Circumference (worn closed):** 35.25 (40.75, 46, 51.5, 57) (62.5, 68, 73.5)" / 89.5 (103.5, 117, 131, 145) (159, 173, 186.5) cm. **Cross-Back Width (incl Armhole Edging):** 14.5 (15.5, 15.5, 16.25, 17.25) (17.75, 19, 19.5)" / 37 (39.5, 39.5, 41.5, 44) (45, 48, 49.5) cm. **Total Length (from top of shoulder):** 22 (22.75, 23.25, 23.75, 24.5) (25, 25.25, 25.5)" / 56 (58, 59, 60.5, 62) (63.5, 64, 64.5) cm. **Armhole Depth:** 9 (9.75, 10.25, 10.75, 11.5) (12, 12.25, 12.5)" / 23 (25, 26, 27.5, 29) (30.5, 31, 31.5) cm. **Length from Underarm:** 13" / 33 cm. MATERIALS **Yarn:** Polwarth DK by Louie & Lola Yarns (100% non-superwash Polwarth wool, 250 yds / 230 m – 100 g). MC: 3 (3, 4, 4, 4) (5, 5, 6) skeins, in the colourway Fern Gully. CC: 1 skein, in the colourway Mist. Or approx. the foll. amounts of DK-weight or worsted-weight yarn with similar fibre content: MC: 645 (745, 815, 910, 1000) (1090, 1190, 1275) yds / 590 (680, 745, 830, 915) (995, 1085, 1165) m. CC: 95 (110, 125, 140, 155) (170, 185, 200) yds / 85 (100, 115, 125, 140) (155, 170, 180) m. Alternative yarn suggestions are for example DK by Tukuwool, Corrie Worsted by La Bien Aimée or Cascade 220 by Cascade Yarns. **Needles:** US 4 / 3.5 mm needles (for Tubular CO and BO), US 6 / 4 mm (St St and hem ribbing), US 8 / 5 mm (colourwork), US 6 / 3.75 mm (buttonband ribbing). Choose length based on garment size, a little shorter than garment circumference. Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, US E-4 / 3.5 mm crochet hook, 4 m of 4ply non-superwash yarn for steeking. 4 x about 1" / 2.5 cm buttons. GAUGE 18 sts x 29 rnds and rows to 4" / 10 cm on US 6 / 4 mm needles in St St, after blocking. 18 sts x 22 rnds and rows to 4" / 10 cm on US 8 / 5 mm needles in Colourwork Patt, after blocking. 19 sts x 32 rnds and rows to 4" / 10 cm on US 5 / 3.75 mm needles in 1 x 1 Rib, after blocking. NOTES The vest is worked from bottom up. Hem ribbing is worked flat, then joined to work in the round with a steek panel for the colourwork section. After the colourwork section , the body is worked flat in St St flat to the underarm, then fronts and back are worked separately. The shoulders are joined with a 3-Needle BO and armhole edgings are picked up and worked in the round. The steek panel is cut open and the buttonband is worked from sts picked up along centre front and back of neck.