Patternum Novum: Mielie Vest

As you can probably tell, I've been on a bit of a shawl kick lately. In fact, almost everything I've published this year falls into the "neck accessory" category, and I've only self-published one sweater and one tank top since last August! I don't know what happened to my sweater-knitting mojo this past year, but it seems to be coming back. So today I'm not releasing a sweater (as it happens to have no sleeves), but what I am releasing is pretty close.

Mielie Vest - $5.50 via Ravelry (no account required)


Mielie* is a very simple vest - lots of Stockinette Stitch, simple shaping, no big bells and whistles. But it is something that you will be able to wear forever. This is something that you can throw on over just about anything -- a collared shirt, a tee, a dress. And, true to my current love of neck accessories, I've added a big, cozy, double-thick collar that can be worn all buttoned up, or left open for a cool, dramatic look.  Plus, there are pockets.  Which are easy to leave off if you don't like pockets.  But don't you love pockets??

Mielie has a simple construction as well -- knit from the top down, you start with the back, after which stitches are picked up from the cast on edge for the fronts, after which the whole thing is joined together and knit in one piece to the hem.

In worsted weight yarn (I chose the fabulous Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted for mine for a real treat), Mielie knits up quickly as well, and is nice and warm without being stifling. The vest is closed with snaps, which allows you to choose a) how many you want to use and b) their placement after you've finished and blocked the vest and tried it on.

The specs...

Size: Finished bust: 28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)” / 71 (81.5, 91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142, 152.5) cm; Length from back neck to hem, excluding collar: 21.75 (22.5, 23.5, 23.75, 24, 24, 24.5, 25, 25)'' / 55 (57, 59.5, 60.5, 61, 61, 62, 63.5, 63.5) cm

Yarn: The Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted (75% Merino, 20% Cashmere, 5% Nylon; 200 yds / 183 m per 100g); 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) skeins in Honey Wilkes; or, 665 (760, 855, 950, 1045, 1235, 1330, 1425) yds / 610 (695, 780, 870, 955, 1040, 1130, 1215, 1305) m of a worsted weight yarn

Needles: US 6 (4 mm) circular needle, 24-60" / 60-150 cm long (depending on size made), or size needed to obtain gauge, and same size needles preferred for working a small circumference in the round (e.g. circular needle long enough for Magic Loop, dpns)

Gauge: 18 sts & 25 rows = 4" / 10 cm in Stockinette Stitch

For more information about Mielie, you can check it out on Ravelry here.

*Mielie is South African maize -- Neill and I picked up this really beautiful South African Alphabet book on our trip last year and have been reading it a lot lately with Daniel. One of my favorite pages focuses on the letter M (Mielie and Meerkat), and I thought the reference to corn fit both the color of my Mielie's yarn as well as the cuisine of this month.