Harvey Wallbanger Vest by Thea Colman

Harvey Wallbanger Vest

Knitting
April 2023
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
18 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches
in striped lace pattern, worked on larger needles.
US 6 - 4.0 mm
US 7 - 4.5 mm
600 - 1300 yards (549 - 1189 m)
37(41,44,48,50.25)(55.5,60.5,63.5,69)”/94(104.25,111.75,122,127.75)(141,153.75,161.25,175.25)cm around bust. See below for more size notes.
English
This pattern is available for $8.00 USD buy it now

Another Harvey Wallbanger!

I cannot emphasize how much I love this stitch pattern, but the fact that I’m designing more things in it must give you some idea. It’s fast, it’s easy, it’s absolutely addictive, and pairing colors together is an amazing way to use up some of my most loved yarn leftovers.

My favorite thing about this fabric might be the way it scallops - first, it knits up into textured “waves” due to the increases and purled decreases in each lace repeat - and then, the color change in the stripes creates a delicate little curve centered perfectly on each of the waves. This subtle combination of color, texture, and lace has me at hello.

Use the code HARVEY for 20% off both Harvey Wallbangers from now until Sunday 4/16/23 at midnight EST - and be sure to take a photo of your swatch, as I have some fun planned!

The Harvey Wallbanger Vest is shown worked in Magpie Nest Worsted, with a deep navy background (Twilight Dark) and a deep brown (Twilight Beaver) accent. I then paired these colors with a vibrant shade of Spincycle Yarns Dream State called Salty Dog. The combination of browns and yellows here gives my vest a really wonderful 70s vibe, but using another color combination can give your vest its own personality! See some of my swatch photos for springy combos, and look at all the finsihed knits (of either the vest or sweater) for a few more ideas!

My photographed swatches use Magpie Nest Worsted in Natural, Magpie (blue), Twilight Whisper (purple), Bougie Beaver (pink), Twilight Honey (mustard), and Twilight Dark (navy). Chartreuse stripe against the Blue is Spincycle Trine in 13.


The vest is mostly about texture and color, but small details play off the design beautifully. The ribbed hem leads right into the texture, and the neckline is perfectly centered on the lace pattern when you split for the V. Shaping around the V-neck opening is outlined distinctly as you work to shoulder, and both armholes and V-neck include garter stitch edges to make the line between pattern and ribbing crisp and simple to work. A narrow purled panel under each arm is outlined clearly with knits, and shoulders are seamed intentionally for a neat and uninterrupted line.

When designing the Harvey vest, I used a more fitted silhouette than I did on the pullover, so measurements around neckline and armhole are more tailored, and the overall shape is less boxy. As noted in the pattern, fit can easily be adjusted if desired.

The body is worked in the round from hem upwards, and then split into front and back pieces at armholes. These upper body pieces are worked flat to shoulder and seamed. Stitches for the collar and armholes are picked up and worked in the round to end along the seamed openings.

As on the pullover, side panels under each arm allow you to easily adjust sizing if needed. Notes are in the pattern for modifying the fit as needed, and the lace pattern is both written and charted. I’ve also included a second lace chart to assist anyone who needs guidance when decreasing in a lace pattern.

More details are below:

Sizes
37(41,44,48,50.25)(55.5,60.5,63.5,69)”
94(104.25,111.75,122,127.75)(141,153.75,161.25,175.25)cm

Sizes reflect actual measurement of vest and are based on final, blocked fabric. Choose the size that allows for the amount of ease you prefer. Sample shown worn with about 3”/7.75cm of positive ease on Samm.

*Background Color*
Shown in Twilght Dark in Nest.

400(500,550,600,650)(750,800,850,900)yds
365(455,505,550,595)(685,730,775,825)m

*Yardage needed of EACH (of 2) stripe colors*
Shown in Twilight Beaver in Nest (brown)
and Salty Dog in Dream State (yellow shades)

100(125,150,150,175)(175,175,175,200)yds
90(115,135,135,160)(160,160,160,185)m

*Total Yardage*
600(750,850,900,1000)(1100,1150,1200,1300)yds
550(685,775,825,915)(1005,1050,1095,1190)m total.

The above are estimates and may vary with modifications or substitute yarns. All estimates include 10-15% extra yardage, so if you are just a bit short, you are probably fine.

Be sure to swatch, and don’t forget to block your swatch as you will your sweater.

If substituting yarn, I suggest a lightweight yarn in a wool or wool blend that will knit to gauge and show off the pattern well. For a more springy vest, a blended fiber with some cotton or linen in it should work beautifully, provided it has some memory and will not grow when worn. I also think that subtle vareigation, speckles, or a yarn with a halo could be gorgeous in this, as long as the colors have enough contrast against one another for the details to show up.