After thirty years of traveling to Peru and working with knitters and yarn companies there, I have developed a deep love of fibers and textiles from South America. This vest pattern is a love note from me to the Andes mountains. The earthy alpaca yarn and the colorwork design pays homage to my travels through Peru, Bolivia, and Uruguay. ~ Tabbetha McCale Evans

Sizes

1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8, 9)

Chose a size that will give you at lease 2 inches (5 cm) of ease at your widest body width measurement. This garment is designed to fit loosely especially through the bust and shoulders.

Finished measurements

Chest / hip circumference: 42.75 (45.25, 46.75, 49.25, 50.75)(53.25, 54.75, 57.25, 58.75) inches / 108.5, 115, 119, 125, 129)(135.5, 139, 145.5, 149) cm

Total length from back neck: 25.25 (25.25, 25.25, 26.25, 26.25)(26.25, 27, 27, 27) inches / 64 (64, 64, 66.5, 66.5)(66.5, 68.5, 68.5, 68.5) cm

Armhole depth: 9.25 (9.25, 9.25, 9.5, 9.5)(9.5, 9.75, 9.75, 9.75) inches / 23.5 (23.5, 23.5, 24, 24)(24, 25, 25, 25) cm

Front neck depth: 10.25 (10.25, 10.25, 10.5, 10.5)(10.5, 10.75, 10.75, 10.75) inches / 26 (26, 26, 26.5, 26.5)(26.5, 27.5, 27.5, 27.5 ) cm

Materials

Approximately 1035 (1170, 1215, 1330, 1375)(1440, 1525, 1590, 1625) yards / 946 (1070, 1111, 1216, 1257)(1317, 1394, 1454, 1486) meters Aran weight yarn (2 plies, 9 WPI, 100% alpaca, see Spin It! article for sources). Yardages estimated using average of 1.5 yards (1.25 meters) of yarn per gram.

Color A (Rust): 395 (450, 465, 510, 525)(550, 585, 610, 625) yards / 362 (412, 425, 466, 480)(503, 535, 558, 572) meters

Color B (Near Black): 260 (295, 305, 335, 350)(365, 385, 400, 410) yards / 238 (270, 279, 306, 320)(334, 352, 366, 375) meters

Color C (Cream): 260 (295, 305, 335, 350)(365, 385, 400, 410) yards / 238 (270, 279, 306, 320)(334, 352, 366, 375) meters

Color D (Gold): 60 (65, 70, 75, 75)(80, 85, 90, 90) yards / 55 (59, 64, 69, 69)(73, 78, 82, 82) meters

Color E (Pale Blue): 60 (65, 70, 75, 75)(80, 85, 90, 90) yards / 55 (59, 64, 69, 69)(73, 78, 82, 82) meters

US 5 (3.75 mm) circular needle, 24-inch (60 cm) length

US 5 (3.75 mm) circular needle, 32-inch (80 cm) length

US 6 (4 mm) circular needle, 32-inch (80 cm) length

Gauge

20 stitches and 27 rows/rounds over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette and colorwork patterns.

This sweater has sections knit in the round and back and forth. For the most accurate fit, gauge should be checked in both circumstances. You may need to use a smaller needle size for the non-colorwork areas to get gauge.