1363 Winesap - Vest Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Worthington

1363 Winesap Slipover Vest by Julie Turjoman

What Is Being Made

The 1363 Winesap is a women's knitted slipover vest designed by Julie Turjoman for Valley Yarns. This versatile layering piece features a crew neckline and an easy, relaxed fit suitable for wearing over various garments. The vest is available in sizes ranging from XS through 5XL, with finished bust measurements from 32¾ inches to 64¾ inches, designed to fit with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease for comfortable wear.

Design Features and Colorwork

The Winesap showcases a striking two-color stranded colorwork design concentrated at the lower body. A deep stranded colorwork border frames the hem and crew neckline, creating visual interest and contrast. The main color is Valley Yarns Worthington in Oatmeal, paired with a contrasting color in Storm. Above the colorwork border, the upper body is worked in solid stockinette stitch, allowing the textured yarn to shine without pattern complexity. This thoughtful color placement makes the vest an accessible introduction to stranded colorwork techniques for knitters newer to the method.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Stranded colorwork: A two-color technique worked throughout the lower border sections, where both yarn colors are carried across the row and floated behind the working stitches to create the pattern
• Bottom-up construction: The vest is knitted from the lower hem upward toward the shoulders and neckline
• Worked flat: The body pieces are worked flat on straight needles or circular needles used back and forth
• Worked in the round: Certain sections, including the ribbed hems and neckline finishing, are worked circularly
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces are knitted separately and then seamed together to form the finished vest

Stitches and Finishing

The primary stitch throughout the vest is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for showcasing the yarn's tweedy texture and color palette. Ribbed stitching is used for the hems at the lower edge and around the hip area, providing elasticity and a neat, finished appearance. The armhole edges are finished with knitted-on edgings, a technique where stitches are picked up and knitted directly from the armhole opening to create a polished, professional edge without the need for additional seaming.

Yarn and Materials

The Winesap is designed for Valley Yarns Worthington, a DK-weight yarn with a luxurious fiber blend of 50% wool, 25% alpaca, and 25% viscose. Each ball contains 50 grams and yields 174 yards. The main color (MC) requires 3 to 7 balls depending on size, while the contrasting color (CC) requires 2 to 3 skeins. The tweedy texture and lovely palette of Worthington provide visual depth and interest, particularly in the stranded colorwork sections. Knitters will need appropriate needles for DK-weight yarn, typically US sizes 4–6, along with stitch markers and a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends.

Skill Level and Difficulty

This pattern is rated Advanced Beginner, making it an excellent choice for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to explore stranded colorwork. The concentrated colorwork sections are limited to the lower border, allowing newer colorwork practitioners to build confidence without overwhelming complexity. The straightforward stockinette upper body and simple ribbed finishes ensure the vest remains approachable while introducing the visual and technical rewards of two-color knitting.