Another Free(ish) Pattern: Striped Toddler Vest

It’s interesting that I keep happening upon patterns this week where one size is free but others are available for purchase. It’s actually really clever because people can get a peek at what your patterns look like without buying, but can choose to if they like the look of the pattern but need a different size.

Today’s partial freebie is the cute, bulky Striped Toddler Vest by Jean Fleming. The size 3/4 pattern is available as a download on Ravelry, and is sized up to size 8 in a pattern available at her Etsy shop for $5.

This easy striped vest is a quick project with the option of a classic collar or a hoodie. Or, since it knits up so quick, why not make both in a couple of different stripe combinations?

I love bulky knits on kids, and the fact that when the grow out of them fast you haven’t spent too much time on them. If you have a little on e in your life, this one is worth a look.

[Photo by Jean Fleming.]

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Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

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