Kate Davies – Another Song / Òran Eile Vest Knitting Kit
Designed by Kate Davies – KDD & Co
A cropped colourwork vest in two shades, with a diagonal lattice of flowers running all over it. Kate took her inspiration from the work of William Ross, the eighteenth-century Gairloch bard, and named it for him in both English and Gaelic.
The construction is the interesting part. It starts with two small knitted epaulettes, worked flat and blocked, from which the shoulder stitches are picked up. Front and back neck stitches are cast on, steeks go in at the top of each armscye, and the upper body is worked downwards from the chart. Increases shape the underarms, the steeks are bound off and then cut, and twisted rib finishes the hem, both armscyes and the neck.
We have kitted this in Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight, the classic Shetland jumper weight and our choice for this design in place of the yarns named in the pattern. Two-shade colourwork over a large area is exactly what this yarn is for: it blooms when blocked, the lattice evens out, and it holds a cut steek without complaint.
Choosing your palette
Seven palettes, each a ground shade and a motif shade.
- Shetland Palette 1 · A Light Fawn 202 · B Dark Navy 36
- Shetland Palette 2 · A Natural White 1A · B Dark Navy 36
- Shetland Palette 3 · A Light Fawn 202 · B Purpley Blue 131
- Shetland Palette 4 · A Natural White 1A · B Bright Pink Mix FC22
- Shetland Palette 5 · A Light Grey 203 · B Dark Fuchsia 43
- Shetland Palette 6 · A Light Fawn 202 · B Dark Green 82
- Shetland Palette 7 · A Light Fawn 202 · B Dark Brown 5
We have matched Kate's palette as closely as the Jamieson & Smith range allows, but these are not the shades she used and the yarns are different, so your vest will not look identical to the photographs of the original.
Skill Level: Advanced ★★★★ (4 out of 5)
Sizes: Eight sizes, 94.5 to 162.5cm / 37¼ to 64in finished chest. See Choosing your size below.
Gauge: This pattern has two gauges, and which one you knit to decides which sizes are open to you. Odd-numbered sizes are 30 sts and 36 rounds to 10cm (4"), starting from 2.75mm. Even-numbered sizes are 28 sts and 33 rounds to 10cm (4"), starting from 3.25mm. Kate asks you to wash and block your swatch before measuring, because the stitch gauge sets the garment circumference.
The Kit Includes
- Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight in the two shades of your chosen palette, in the quantities your size needs. See the table below for ball counts
- Printed pattern in English, with a code to download the digital version
You'll Also Need
- Gauge-size needles in lengths to suit the body
- Below gauge-size needles in lengths to suit the hem, armscye and neck edges
- Stitch markers
- Sewing needle and thread for securing the steek edges
- Wool needle
Choosing your size
Choose a size above your own measurements, with the ease you want. The sample is knitted in the first size. Ball counts are for both shades and are built into the price of each size.
| Size | Chest | Armscye depth | Length from underarm | A | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 94.5cm / 37¼in | 22cm / 8¾in | 28.5cm / 11¼in | 7 | 3 |
| 2nd | 101.5cm / 40in | 23cm / 9in | 29cm / 11½in | 7 | 3 |
| 3rd | 113.5cm / 44¾in | 23cm / 9in | 31cm / 12¼in | 8 | 4 |
| 4th | 122cm / 48in | 23.5cm / 9¼in | 32cm / 12½in | 8 | 4 |
| 5th | 132.5cm / 52¼in | 24cm / 9½in | 33.5cm / 13¼in | 9 | 4 |
| 6th | 142cm / 56in | 25cm / 9¾in | 34.5cm / 13½in | 9 | 4 |
| 7th | 152cm / 59¾in | 25.5cm / 10in | 35cm / 13¾in | 11 | 5 |
| 8th | 162.5cm / 64in | 26cm / 10¼in | 35.5cm / 14in | 11 | 5 |
Body length is adjustable. If you want to add more than 5cm / 2in, order an extra ball in each shade.
Techniques used
- Knitted epaulettes, worked flat and blocked before the body is begun
- Picking up shoulder stitches along the epaulette edges, with cable cast-on neck stitches between
- Inserted steeks at both armscyes, secured and cut
- Two-shade stranded colourwork worked downwards from a chart
- m1l and m1r increases worked in pattern to shape the armscyes
- Twisted rib at hem, armscyes and neck, picked up and worked in the round
Kate's tutorial on keeping pattern correct while shaping deals with this chart specifically, and her steek notes point to the felted securing method. Both are on the KDD site.
Why You'll Love It
- An allover lattice that reads as traditional Fair Isle and as something quite modern
- Real Shetland wool from Jamieson & Smith in Lerwick
- Seven palettes, each chosen as a pair
- Eight sizes to a 162.5cm / 64in finished chest
- Two shades only, so the colourwork stays manageable over a whole garment