In the late 1970’s, on sunny winter days when the roads were clear, I liked to drive to a small town in Vermont with interesting restaurants and stores. By far my favorite store was owned by a woman named Clara Simpler. She sold baked goods, homemade pickles/jams/bread, healthy bulk foods, local maple syrup, books, and gifts. Clara was as eclectic as her store. An older woman with gray hair pulled back into a bun, she exuded all the best qualities of a long-time New Englander and a sense of contentment with a life well-lived. She wore corduroy pants, hand knit woolen sweaters and vest, and handmade socks. She was pragmatic, authentic, and inspired me to live a full life. I think this is a vest that Clara would have liked to knit for her nieces and nephews.

The Clara Simpler Vest is knit from the bottom up. The body is knit in the round until the armholes and is then divided for the front and back yokes. The yokes are knit flat (back and forth). When the yokes are finished, the shoulders are joined using a 3-needle bind off that creates an invisible seam. Stitches are then picked up around the neck and around the armholes for 3-row trims. The vest can be knit in one or more colors.

The vest is knit at a gauge that is achieved by stranding 2 different yarns throughout the project. I generally knit this vest using worsted stranded with fingering/sock. Other yarn combinations that produce the gauge indicated include DK stranded with sport, or light bulky stranded with lace/light fingering. Match yarns that are a similar color for low contrast blending. If using a multicolor yarn, choose one that includes a lighter or darker shade as the solid color yarn.

This pattern has been test knit. Thank you to my test knitters for their time and feedback.