Knitting

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Giveaway: Vest Bets

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vest bets giveaway

Our winner is JoAnn.

Just so you know, the giveaway from last week is still going on, so check that one out, too, if you haven’t already (Facebook required).

I am a firm believer in knitting all year, and wearing and using knit things for as much of the year as possible. You might not want to either knit or wear a sweater at this time of year (though it has been unseasonably cool where I live lately), but you might be willing to knit, and possibly wear, a vest.

This week’s giveaway will give you lots of ideas to do just that. Vest Bets is a collection of 30 patterns for knit vests, all made with Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Aran. This is a versatile yarn that comes in a ton of colors and is machine washable, so it’s great for projects that will see a lot of use.

You’ll find a wide variety of tops in this collection, from simple classics to those using cables, colorwork and lace. Sometimes more than one strand is used at a time to make a bulkier yarn. Some projects are cropped, others are tunics and some fall in between.

If you’d like a chance to win a copy of this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Monday, June 1. I’d love to know if and what you knit during the summer.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing and good luck!

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Comments

  1. I’m working on a vest made with alpaca yarn while also knitting a summer shawl from a blend of 90% cotton, 10% cashmere.

  2. I’ve been knitting socks year round and would love to learn how to knit clothing. Thank you for the opportunity to try my hand knitting vests.

  3. I am looking for the perfect vest pattern perfect for this yarn I have. I am knitting and crocheting cup cozies. I noticed folks using two cups because the water was so hot and I had to also So I took the unused cup home and have been trying out patterns.

  5. Summer knitting and crochet usually entails a lot of finishing WIPs I’d put aside. I will say that I try to avoid working on big things like blankets because it makes me too sweaty. This year several friends have just had/are going to have babies. The best distractions of all.

  6. I’m knitting my second-ever sweater. And a handbag. Love summer with the longer days, so I can squeeze in everything, plus knitting!

  7. I try to get started on Christmas gifts in the summer and I also get a couple of baby items done for future gifts.

  8. I don’t have anything in particular that I like to knit during summer. I just keep working on my current project.

  9. During the Summer I like to knit with lighter weight yarns to make shawls, scarves, baby clothing and other small projects. It’s just too warm to have a wool sweater sitting in my lap!

  10. I make prayer shawls all year round. In addition, I am working on a full-size afghan (for me!). When I want a break, I make chemo caps. I would love to have the vest patterns so that I can make some for my great nephew to wear when he goes back to school in the fall.

  11. I love to knit no matter what time of the year it is. I change out the type of yarn when it is warmer. I knit more with cotton or linen.

  12. I knit all year round as here it is often cool enough all year round for a knitted garment!

  13. I usually knit small items. I also knit cotton dishcloths to have on hand and tuck into gift bags. I’m also knitting a lightweight lacy curtain.

  14. I’m knitting a cardi at the moment, but am looking for something a little bit different to try.

  15. I’ve been looking for a comfortable vest knit. I’ve just finished off a baby blanket for my new grandson and am looking for a new project.

  16. I knit year round for Christmas gifts, but have been looking for a good vest pattern just for me, for a change, so would love to win this book

  18. I’ve never seen this pattern book…I wear vests all the time. Looks interesting.

  19. I knit scarves, vests, socks mostly during the summer. This book looks neat, thanks for the giveaway!

  22. I was thinking of vests for my boys, actually! They’ve been pestering for sweaters, but if I knit something I want them to wear it right away, so vests would be better than sweaters.

  23. I like to knit small objects such as hats and socks in the Summer, but when it gets really hot I swap to cotton wash cloths!

  25. I knit anything during the summer that I might knit during other seasons: hats, mittens, sweaters, vests, socks, shawls. Gifts for family, items for charity and occasionally something for myself.

  26. Summer here is very hot but I will still knit and crochet. Probably the time I knit toys and doll clothes. Small and present ready.

  27. I knit smaller things in the summer to keep them off my lap in the humid heat. A vest sounds like a nice addition to my current repertoire. 🙂

  29. I knit a lot of shwls and dishcloths with a few cowls, hats, and scarves thrown it.

  31. I love knitting vests and have one on the needles right now! I would love the.book!

  32. I usually knit smaller projects during the summer – hats scarves shawls – lace weight or fingering – so it doesn’t seem heavy

  35. I would love to win this book. I would give it to my granddaughter who is the knitter and tell her which vest I want. then she can make herself and her husband one. thanks for the chance.

  36. Been on the hunt for the perfect vest pattern to knit! Finishing up some felted hats and a cardigan sweater for my husband, trying to be ready for the fall one stitch at a time!

  39. I like knitting things for babies, but I would love to knit myself a vest! Thanks for the chance to win this book.

Have you read?

Practice Colorwork on a Cute Knit Bunny

Sometimes I feel like knitters get intimidated to try new things because they think they need to start with a big project. Your first time working in the round doesn’t need to be a sock, and your first colorwork doesn’t need to be a sweater, for example. You can find little projects that use the skills you want to learn to build your confidence before you move on to something that requires more time commitment.

This adorable knit bunny, for example.

The colorwork bunny from Knit Picks was designed by Amy Munson and is a kind of bowling pin shaped bunny complete with a knit hat, contrasting inner ears and a little stranded colorwork on its body. Note that the ears are attached the the hat not the bunny, but you could stitch them to the bunny if you’d rather.

It’s worked from the bottom up and also has a tiny pompom tail you can’t see in the picture but it’s a really cute touch. There are a variety of little fair isle patterns to choose from to make the best bunny for you.

The bunny comes out about 8 inches tall (or just over 20 cm) and use several colors to complete the colorwork, depending on the design you choose.

You can purchase the pattern by itself from Knit Picks, or make a kit that includes sport weight yarn in all the colors you need for your creation. There are gray and brown options for the main body of the bunny, but of course if you’re using your own yarn you can make it whatever color you like.

Once you’ve tried colorwork (maybe also working in the round and shaping if those are skills you haven’t used before) in a little project like this you’ll be ready to take on something bigger in no time.

Check out the pattern on Knit Picks.

[Photo: Knit Picks]