Breezy and Beautiful: Knit Sarah Pope’s Zephyr Vest

Sarah Pope’s new pattern, the Zephyr Vest, is the perfect layering piece. Its loose fit and drape means that it will wear well with almost anything in your closet, from flowing dresses to fitted trousers. While it’s meant to be worn with plenty of positive ease, the architectural twisted stitched details at the hem, armholes, and collar give it a classic structure.

The Zephyr Vest is thoughtfully designed to fit a wide range of body types. It boasts 10 different sizes, with detailed instructions for finding your perfect size. The two smallest sizes have straight sides, while the remaining sizes have a slight A-line shape so everyone can achieve the perfect fit at the shoulders.
The Zephyr Vest is designed to have deep armholes and a relaxed fit.

A Breeze to Knit

If you like the look of a structured garment, but you hate seaming, the Zephyr Vest will be perfect for you. You’ll cast on the entire body and work in rows until you reach the armholes, then you’ll work the front and back separately until you reach the shoulders. The shoulders are bound off on the right side with the three-needle bind-off method, creating a decorative welt that adds to the architectural appearance of the vest. You’ll need to seam a tiny section of the neckband, but once that’s done, your vest is ready to wear!
A three-needle bind-off creates a decorative welt along the shoulder seams.

Soft and Tweedy

You might associate tweedy yarns with scratchy suit jackets and darkened libraries. However, the Zephyr Vest is worked in Studio Donegal’s Soft Donegal, a Merino yarn that has the softness we all crave. The tweedy flecks of texture and color add interest and depth to your finished product, while maintaining the next-to-skin softness of Merino wool. The yarn is available in an array of vibrant shades, so you’re sure to find the perfect hue to add to your handmade wardrobe.

—Pamela

Take a look behind the scenes at how Studio Donegal's "dyed in the wool" yarns are made here.

Subscribers can access the Zephyr Vest pattern in the Farm & Fiber Knits Library.