Rosy Outlook Vest

I’ve just finished my new Rosy Outlook Vest. It’s made in 7 colors of Dale of Norway “Daletta” 100% washable wool. It’s knit at a gauge of 27×27. That’s slightly looser than the ball band gauge of 28×38 - the gauge Dale uses on most of their Daletta jackets (like Ingeborg, for you Dale aficionados out there.)

I wanted something a bit lighter, somewhat more fluid, more Fair Isle than Norwegian. It worked out that, by going up one extra needle size, I hit the 27×27 gauge. I wouldn’t recommend Daletta at 27×27 for a jacket, but it’s perfect for a Fair Isle-type vest. And symmetrical, too! (I’m forever delighted by symmetry.)

There’s very little weaving-in to be done with this vest. The color changes are all done mid-front so they can be secured with machine-sewn covered steeks, using the same technique I developed for my Tiger Lily Jacket.

Halfway through, the “Rosy Outlook Vest” was almost headed for the Hefty bag. The folks at Dale of Norway had just decided upon a major shift in the Daletta color range. The colors in my vest were headed for Discontinuation Station. Sure, it’s fun to conjure up new colorways, but, I loved those colors together with the rose motif! I decided to forge ahead and complete it. I can’t promise these colors will be available for long, but there will soon be other colorways, too. Here you have the original:

Whadyathink? Alas, it’s not for everyone - there’s only one size. Boo, hiss, I know, but I had my reasons.

The finished chest circumference is about 45″; the finished length is about 26″. The rose motif has a 30-stitch repeat. To be symmetrical (as we must ), we’d have to add or subtract 2×30=60 sts, or almost 9 inches, to get to the next size. So a smaller size, finished, would be about 36″ around; a larger size, about 54″. If you figure 4 to 6″ of ease, we’re talking about bodies that have chests as small as 30″ or as large as 50″. I know such folks are out there, and I apologize for excluding them. However, figuring yardage requirements for 7 colors is not an easy task with multi-colored, stranded projects unless each size is actually knit. That’s not a task my tired hands are up to. So, I’m sticking with this one size, which would be a ladies’ large in some labels, ladies’ extra large in others.

If you’re interested, here’s a link to one of my sites for buying the Rosy Outlook Vest. As with all knitting projects, before you dive in, I recommend comparing the finished dimensions to those on a comparable piece you already have. That’s the best way to preview fit. And as always, don’t hesitate to write or call with any questions. Happy knitting!