THIS KNIT: The Windowpane Vest by Diana Lam
Highlighting my new obsession with blown yarn
I would love to be a slipover person. PetiteKnit looks so chic in her mohair-fuzzy versions on the streets Denmark and I still think about the stunning cream vest that my coworker wore to an event in New York City last fall. Still, I fear that I’d knit a painstaking pattern with expensive yarn and complex patterning and never have the courage to wear it out the door.
What could be cozier, though, than slipping on a vest over a long sleeved tee on a chilly work from home day? How midcentury cool would I look in a slipover and trousers? Maybe being a slipover person is just a mindset that I need to adopt…
The Pattern
With these aspirations in mind, this week’s feature is the The Windowpane Vest by Diana Lam.
I love the neutrals in the designer’s sample. They balance the quirky windowpane pattern to make a cohesive 60’s style. The folded collar also adds some structure to the neckline, although I might omit it to reduce the bulk around my neck.
The adorable windowpanes are made my a combination of stipes and surface crochet. That’s right, no intarsia here! You could even skip the vertical lines to have a simple striped vest.
The gauge is bulky, knit at 15 stitches per 4 inches. This appeals to the slipover skeptic in me, insuring that I wouldn’t sink a ton of time into a garment that I may only wear once or twice. And if I fall in love with it, I’ll have a gorgeous new top in only a weekend or two.
Another great bonus is that this is a size inclusive pattern, going from finished bust circumference of 29.75 to 64 inches. As a side note, one of the other patterns I considered featuring this week had a significantly smaller size range and I decided not to write about it. I’d like to prioritize size inclusivity here and I’m hoping that you readers can help keep me honest!
The Yarn
One of the things I’m most excited about in this pattern is the suggested yarn. The designer’s sample is knitted using Hobbii Divina, which is an Alpaca/Wool/Poly blown yarn. This means that instead of having a traditional ply, the fibers are blown into a hollow tube to create an extremely lightweight strand. The designer helpfully suggests a number of alternative yarns and boy are there a lot of fun options out there.
My current project, which will be shown in an upcoming post, is knit using CaMaRose Snefnug and it is such a pleasure to knit with. I’m gifting this to my mother and I trust that it will be comfortable for her to wear because it is both light and soft.
There is an almost inexhaustible list of these beauties. People swear by Drops Air (I’ve seen many a cozy Sunday Cardigan knit in these on YouTube) and KnitPicks never fails to deliver affordable options with its Wonderfluff. I even have a pile of Berrocco Mochi that I bought on a whim after seeing it on Popsicle Frog Knit’s 2022 recap video. God, I’m a sucker for a bright speckle or tweed!
I honestly have no idea how these yarns wear overtime, but I’d expect that the mesh would keep its shape well. If you have any experience putting these yarns through their paces, please give me the low down.
The Projects
There aren’t a large number of projects on Ravelry but the #windowpanevest hashtag has a slew of inspiring color combinations. Not feeling the neutrals? Check out these vibrant vests:
Or maybe you do want to keep it subtle, with just a pop of color:
This garment could be a blank canvas for my slipover dreams. And you don’t have to buy as much yarn when there are no sleeves right?? Maybe you’ll see me enjoying the slipover mindset sooner than expected…
Go for it! With the right pair of pants (maybe ones you already own), you'd rock the 60's look.
whoa! it’s so cool that one pattern becomes so widespread. I LOVE this pattern (the windowpanes, the crop) and also agree that removing the bulk around the neck might be nice.
also I’m obsessed with the way you fantasy-write about the version of yourself that slips into certain clothes and magically becomes an aspirational persona. it’s so relatable, makes me chuckle, makes me dream!