Chicago Vest

The Chicago Vest, with its contrasting hems, represents a coming-together of friendships across stages of life and across cities. This vest took shape during a four-day visit to the Windy City, where I caught up with a college best friend who had just wrapped up her PhD. It accompanied us to the beach, the bubble tea store, and the book cafe, where it grew row by row, catching cherished memories in its soft, boucle loops. During those knit-ful Chicago days, however, my mind never strayed far from Seattle, the city where I met my coworker-turned-friend who initiated me into the world of knitting. Her fondness for yellows and greens has undeniably influenced the yarns I chose for this vest. I hope the color combination for your Chicago Vest can also celebrate something special to you. **Construction** This is a beginner-friendly bottom-up vest, worked in the round until splitting into right front, left front, and back sections. To minimize the number of joins needed, the front pieces are worked until they can be directly joined to the back neckline behind the shoulders. The waist hem and neck hem are knit in ribbed stitches. The armhole hems can be done in crochet or knitting. **Size** There are 3 sizes available. The finished garment is approximately 80cm [90cm, 100cm] in circumference, 47cm [52cm, 55cm] long. This vest is designed with a 0-10cm positive ease and slightly cropped fit. The model has a 80cm bust and is shown wearing size 1 (tan-yellow vest) or size 2 (green-blue vest). **Gauge** 10cm x 10cm = 16 stitches x 21 rows on 4.0mm needles (or adjust needle size to meet gauge). Please block your swatch before measuring gauge. **Yarn** * The body of the vest is best knit with a boucle yarn. You will need 95g [110g, 140g], or 266m [308m, 392m]. * A wool or wool blend yarn is recommended for the hems. You will need 20g [25g, 30g], or 77m [96m, 115m]. **Needles** * 4.0mm needles for body * 2.75mm needles for hems * 3.0mm crochet hook for armhole hems (if choose crochet option)