riverbank vest :: rhinebeck sale

Somehow, and I know I’m not alone in thinking this, time seems to be moving faster with each passing year. This October, abundantly sunny and busy, has arrived especially quickly.

As has become my tradition in recent years, the annual New York Sheep and Wool Festival weekend signals that it’s time for my Rhinebeck pattern sale (you’ll find all of the details below) as well as the release of a new pattern or two. This year is no exception and today is the day: this is the Riverbank Vest.

To paraphrase Taylor Swift, I’m in my vest era! They’re just so useful. Layer one over a t-shirt, a blouse, a turtleneck, a button-down shirt, a dress, and no matter how the weather behaves that day, you’re cozy and comfortable. Adding a vest to an existing outfit can also breathe new life into your wardrobe staples, especially as we try to be more mindful about our clothing consumption in these “fast fashion” times.

This design represents one of those happy times when an idea springs into my head almost fully formed. I first saw this yarn, Kingston by Jill Draper Makes Stuff, when I attended Jill’s open house during the Sheep and Wool Festival in 2023. The combination of the navy blue colorway with its subtle tweedy flecks and the bounciness of the Targhee wool yarn instantly caught my eye and made me think: classic cabled vest.

(Funnily enough, the name for the design also sprung to mind quickly – discovering the sapphire colorway “Delaware Ave” at Jill’s Open House event alongside the Hudson River, and working the vest in undulating cables reminiscent of flowing water, made the name “Riverbank” seem awfully apt.)

Working with this Kingston yarn was as gratifying as I had hoped. Jill’s yarns are always of the highest quality, prioritizing locally sourced wool like this Targhee wool raised in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. I wanted the yarn, and especially that jewel-toned color, to take center stage, so I kept the cable pattern simple and repetitive. A classic braided cable shows off the hints of tweed and the round structure of the yarn, leading to crisp but touchable texture.

Speaking of texture, how about a deep V-neck framed with a garter stitch shawl collar? The deep V-neck is a shape flattering to most people, and when it’s accompanied by a squishable (but not overwhelming) shawl collar to keep your neck warm, it’s a win-win situation. If shawl collars aren’t your thing, then just remove the short row shaping in the collar and you’ll end up with a lovely garter stitch buttonband.

Creating a positive knitting experience in an inclusive way is at the heart of how I design patterns, and Riverbank is no exception. The pattern, always fully edited, features 10 different sizes covering a range of finished chest circumferences between 38 and 75 inches. The pattern also includes instructions on adjusting the positions of the buttonholes and buttons for women and men. Last, but not least, I’ve incorporated subtle design details, like a faux side seam and tubular edges on the armbands, to give the vest a professional finish worthy of a place in your forever wardrobe.

The body is knit flat in one piece from the hem up to the armholes. The right front, back, and left front are individually knit flat and then seamed at the shoulders. Stitches are picked up around each armhole to work ribbed edges. Stitches are then picked up around the neckline to work the garter shawl collar and buttonband. Finally, the buttons are sewn to the front. I decided to go for fun golden buttons that skew slightly nautical with my vest, but buttons that match the color of your yarn, wooden buttons, or even woven leather buttons all would be at home with this timeless garment.

So if you’re in the mood to start your own vest era, I hope that you find this new design to be an enjoyable knitting project and a versatile garment that will help you get the most out of your favorite clothes! If you see me traipsing around in Riverbank (or another knitted vest) at Rhinebeck, please say hello! And if you’re curious to learn more about Jill’s exemplary yarns, please visit her website at https://www.jilldraper.com/shop.

You can find the Riverbank Vest pattern here at DCD or here on Ravelry.

Let’s move on to the fun sale news. From now until midnight EDT on Monday 10/21/2024, ALL of my self-published patterns, including Riverbank, are 25% off with NO code needed! 

And if you’re curious, here’s just a sampling of the 70+ other designs that are included in the sale:

Happy knitting season and Happy Rhinebeck! Wherever you are, have a cider donut (or three) for me 😉
xoxo Danielle