There’s something about projects with big, bold designs that makes me smile. Even if the subject matter isn’t necessarily something I’d want to commit to knitting, I appreciate the enthusiasm behind knitting an animal or your favorite food on a sweater.
In the case of the Cockatoo round neck vest from Annie Reilly, the subject in question is a showy bird. Fun fact: cockatoos are part of the parrot family, and most cockatoo species are either black or white because their feathers lack a texture that causes other birds’ feathers to reflect light, making them look different colors (thanks for that tidbit, San Diego Zoo!).
The vest features a cockatoo sitting on a branch that covers most of the front, along with some branches running up the side of the vest. In this case it’s an Australian pink cockatoo, so not entirely white, and it is showing off its crest. The colorwork is done with intarsia, using different balls of yarn for each of the colors across the row, and the pattern is worked from a chart.
The back of the vest is solid colored mostly stockinette stitch, which gives you a break from all the action on the front.
The project calls for DK weight yarn in eight colors, but some you only need a little bit of (black, gray, red and yellow) to incorporate all the details.
It comes in three sizes, ranging in chest measurement from 39.5 to 47.5 inches or 100 to 120 cm, so it’s meant to be worn with a fair bit of ease.
The pattern is based off one the designer made in the 1980s that was published in a book she co-authored in 1989. This version has been revamped with the round neck and some adjustments to the colorwork.
You can find this pattern on Ravelry. It’s perfect for any bird lover you know!
[Photo: Annie Riley]
