Eigth release in the Just Pooling Around ebook.

Quick to knit and casual this might become your favourite go to accessory!

This Winter I knit myself a vest out of a bulky yarn. I had been wanting a casual vest, something to through on over lots of things just because I hate to be cold. And I wanted it to be quick knit so I chose a bulky wool – something I usually avoided as I was sure it wouldn’t look good on me!

Well, I loved it! I had to knit myself another one, one with a v-neck, that took me a little longer to get to.

Called the Bento Box Vest because it is a little boxy, with options, just like a bento box.

I do not recommend lengthening the vest as the shape will be less flattering at a longer length, this is designed to be worn over longer layers and if you have hips it will not hang properly.

Finish the front edges or not – I didn’t finish the front edge on the lapel version, but did on the v-neck version. Do finish the armhole edges.

I used a couple of shaping tricks from tailoring to improve the fit of the vest around the neck and shoulders, twin tacs in the back of the neck to improve the curved shape for better fit and I moved the shoulder line forward, over the center of the shoulder to just above the collar bone, this helps the vest stay in place with less shifting.

There is no sewing involved in the vest.

The collar, as written, is a stand-up collar, for a folded collar just knit more rows.

Wear the vest open or with a closure – the lapel version was closed with a Jul piece – a screw on leather button from my stash.

There are no button hole instructions, button holes and heavy sweaters never seem to sit correctly – feel free to add a button hole if you wish.

Materials: 250 (275, 300, 325) m bulky yarn, 10mm US #15 circs, 32 and 24 inches long, markers, stitch holders and the usual notions. Samples were knit with Hand painted Bulky from Colour Story Yarns – lapel version; and Prairie Sea Fusion from Custom Woollen Mills, shades 1, 3, 4, and 5. Shown in size large.

Gauge: 8 to 9 sts in 4 inches in stockinette – blocked. Gauge is a little flexible with the bulky yarns.