Feya Vest

Feya Vest by Kelly Menzies

What Is Being Made

The Feya Vest is a downloadable knitting pattern designed for babies and young children, available in six sizes ranging from newborn (0-3 months) through 3-4 years old. This sleeveless garment is tailored to fit chest measurements from 40.5cm (16 inches) up to 58.5cm (23 inches), with finished chest measurements ranging from 44.5cm to 65cm (17.5 to 25.5 inches). The back length varies from 23cm (9 inches) for the smallest size to 37cm (14.5 inches) for the largest size, making it a versatile layering piece for infants and toddlers.

Techniques and Construction

This intermediate-level knitting project employs circular knitting needles as the primary construction method, allowing for seamless or nearly seamless construction typical of modern knitwear design. The pattern utilizes stocking stitch (also known as stockinette stitch) as the primary fabric structure, creating a smooth, classic knit surface. The design incorporates in-the-round knitting techniques, which is evident from the use of circular needles and the requirement for double-pointed needles for smaller circumferences. The pattern includes shaping techniques that require the use of stitch markers and stitch holders to manage increases, decreases, and construction of different garment sections such as armholes and necklines.

Stitches Used

The Feya Vest pattern relies on fundamental knitting stitches suitable for intermediate crafters. The primary stitch throughout the garment is knit stitch (k), combined with purl stitch (p) to create the stocking stitch fabric. The pattern also employs place marker (pm) and remove marker (rm) techniques to track pattern repeats and shaping points. While the provided abbreviations list does not detail specific decreases or increases, the construction method indicates the use of standard shaping techniques common to fitted baby garments, such as yarn overs or decreases for armhole and neckline shaping.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Feya Vest is designed for 3-ply yarn, a lightweight yarn weight ideal for delicate baby garments. Yardage requirements scale with size: the smallest size (0-3 months) requires approximately 153 meters (168 yards), while the largest size (3-4 years) requires approximately 362 meters (396 yards). The pattern samples are shown knitted in Malabrigo Sock yarn in two colorways: shade 35 Frank Ochre and shade Polar Morn, demonstrating the versatility of the design across different color palettes.

The pattern calls for 3mm (US 2.5) circular knitting needles and 3.5mm (US 4) circular knitting needles, allowing for gauge control through needle sizing. 3.5mm (US 4) double-pointed needles are also required for working smaller circumferences, particularly for neckline finishing. The gauge is established at 27 stitches by 37 rounds over a 10cm by 10cm (4-inch by 4-inch) swatch in stocking stitch on the 3.5mm needles, making accurate gauge swatching essential for proper fit across all six sizes.

Additional Notions and Tools

• Stitch marker (quantity: 1) for marking the beginning of rounds or pattern repeats
• Stitch holders (quantity: 6) for temporarily holding stitches during garment construction, particularly for armholes and neckline sections
• Row counter (optional) to track progress through pattern rows

Pattern Format and Details

The Feya Vest pattern is provided in written format as a downloadable PDF, making it accessible for digital devices or printing. The pattern was originally published in July 2019 and features professional photography by Nicholas Graham with flat lay styling by designer Kelly Menzies. The pattern includes detailed sizing information with both centimeter and inch measurements, comprehensive yardage calculations for each size, and clear abbreviations for knitting terminology, making it suitable for intermediate knitters seeking a well-documented, professionally presented design.