The Road to Indigo will always be the road less travelled, the one you wished you‟d taken but didn’t or the one that left you wondering what your life would be like if you’d only gone left instead of right. It‟s the winding trail curving away into the forest, briefly glimpsed while speeding off to some have-to-be place; it‟s the path your imagination takes when leaving the pavement to wander exotic lands -- those hills and mountains you may never climb, the souks and bazaars of your fantasies. And yet, the Road to Indigo can be every bit as satisfying as the crunch of reality underfoot. No potholes, no accidents, no lost passports or lumpy beds. Just the spirit of discovery alive within your heart.

TECHNIQUES
The vest is knit with two yarns at a time alternating in standard knit2 purl2 rib, mixing yarns in the alternating rib. The right side purl ribs are knit with hand-dyed variegated „lead‟ yarn while the knit ribs are worked in multiple yarns that are changed every 4 or five rows. For the lead yarn, I used textured hand-dyed rayon and chose different yarns in a similar color family for the alternating ribs, mostly in blue-violet hues. Any worsted weight yarn can be used, though I used Blue Heron Rayon Ric Rac in a rare blue-violet shade which is now, sadly extinct. I did find a Colinette Lasso is a close approximation. However, if you have lots of small bits of same-family colors in your stash, here‟s a project that will help you put them to work. As long as your gauge is on, you can use any yarn, including, wool.
Because the yarns are carried across the back of the work Fair Isle-style, a sturdy textured fiber is created, making the vest toasty enough for cool weather without being too bulky-looking, thanks to those lean roads travelling down the torso. For orderly roads when changing yarns for the alternating ribs, use the same yarns in the same sequence for front and back pieces so that they line up OR allow a little random deviation. Though I match the yarns more or less, I prefer to throw in a few surprises. If feeling adventurous, knit a swatch with lighter yarn and go for a summer version.
Options for adding small embellishments are provided for a more exotic look.

Buttonholes are optional. My version is worn open, or pinned together with an ornamental pin. You may choose to make buttonholes for or, alternatively, apply decorative ties for closures.