I’m excited to announce the launch of my revamped Hyacinth vest! This simple sport/DK-weight vest was originally part of my collection and collaboration with Manos del Uruguay/Fairmount Fibers in Spring of 2021, and it’s now also available as an Elizabeth Smith Knits pattern!
The pattern has been rewritten in my own writing style and with a few adjustments, one of which is making it a 2-color vest (although you can definitely just use 1 color like in the original if you prefer). I used the same yarn – the beautiful Manos del Uruguay Alpaca Heather, in the colorways Hot Toddy and Goji Berry. I used a US 6 needle to get a gauge of 5.5 stitches to the inch. So a yarn that is classified as a sport or DK-weight will work well for this design.
Here are some of the features of the Hyacinth vest:
- Seamless, bottom-up construction
- Garter ridge eyelet details along bottom of the body
- Subtle v-neck front shaping
- Wide, buttonless front bands for a more open-style (although you can add buttonholes if you prefer!)
If you want to use 2 colors like I’ve done in this version, it’s a great opportunity to play around with different color combos. One of the things I love about the Alpaca Heather yarn is how the different colorways pair so well together. With Hot Toddy and Goji Berry, I went with two shades that I thought went well together but one doesn’t necessarily “pop” over the other. I wanted a more subtle, harmonious color balance, but you can also choose to add more pop with your color choices if you prefer!
I made the front bands button-less for that more layered, open-style. However, it’s very easy to add buttonholes if you prefer! I added tips on how to do this on my Hyacinth Tips page. Like all of my newer or revamped designs, there is a “tips” page that provides information on picking a size, adjusting the pattern for more (or less) length, and video/photo tutorials of every technique used. So if you’ve never made a vest before, not to worry – there will be lots of information and tutorials at your finger tips.
Ready to cast-on for your own Hyacinth vest? Click here to purchase the pattern!
A note about finding the yarn: Many local yarn shops carry Manos del Uruguay yarns, so if you’re interested in using the Alpaca Heather yarn, check with your LYS! Another Manos yarn that would work well for this design too would be their DK-weight Silk Blend. If you are looking online, here are a few shops you can check out: Wool & Company, Ball & Skein & More, Yarn.com, or Laughing Hens.