Swatching: Jim Vest by Straker Classics

SPECIFICATIONS
Pattern: Jim Vest by Penny Straker
Recommended Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm) and US 5 (3.75 mm)
Gauges: 24 sts + 32 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in St st on larger needles / 27 sts + 32 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in St st and Tree of Life Panel on larger needles

SWATCH
Yarn: The Fibre Co. Knightsbridge in Stonehenge
Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
Gauge After Blocking: 24 sts + 31 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in St st on US 3 needles / 26 sts + 31 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in St st and Tree of Life Panel n US 3 needles

NOTES
Knightsbridge is an incredibly soft and drapey yarn. From my past experience with it, I knew a US 5 needle would produce a fabric that was much to loose. I opted to swatch with a US 3 to start, and was lucky enough to achieve stitch gauge. While I was able to achieve stitch gauge, I am one row off on my row gauge. After looking over the pattern, I am happy to see that the directions are written in inches/centimeters as opposed to rows, so as long as I calculate length using my row gauge, I’m all set there.

I am one stitch off on gauge for the Tree of Life Panel, but this just may have to do with where I calculated gauge. If I move my knit check over so that two panels are within the window (As opposed to just one, as I did when calculating gauge), I count 28 sts to 4″ (10 cm), so I’m confident the average will produce the correct dimensions. To double check, I am going to cast on the back and block my knitting after a few inches of the pattern has been worked, just to make sure the full width is correct.

We have a work trip to Ireland coming up in December, and this vest would make a perfect layering piece while we travel. (And how amazing would it be to photograph the F.O at the Glencolumbkille Folk Village?)

– KGO