The stories of the Moomins were read to Julia Wilkens as a child. Their gentle yet slightly eerie nature — the perfect recipe for unforgettable tales — made them linger in her mind ever since. Julia is especially intrigued by the Moomins’ peculiar noses. With her own slightly upturned nose, she has long felt a special kinship with these little beings. 

Julia transformed her love of the Moomins into her Gentle Creatures vest, worked in stockinette stitch and finished with embroidery. Julia believes there is no such thing as too many vests: they are perfect for those in-between days when a jacket is too much and a sweater not quite enough.

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)

Recommended ease: 5” / 13 cm of positive ease.   

Finished Measurements
Chest Circumference: 35.25 (39.5, 43.25, 47, 51.25) (55, 59.25, 63, 68.25)“ / 89.5 (100.5, 110, 119.5, 130) (139.5, 150.5, 160, 173.5) cm.

Shoulder Width: 5.25 (5.75, 6.25, 6.75, 6.75) (7.25, 7.25, 7.25, 7.25)“ / 13.5 (14.5, 16, 17, 17) (18.5, 18.5, 18.5, 18.5) cm.

Armhole Depth: 9 (9.5, 10, 10.5, 11) (11.5, 12, 12.5, 13)“ / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28) (29, 30.5, 32, 33) cm.

Underarm to Hem: 9.5 (9.5, 9.25, 9.5, 9.25) (9, 8.5, 8.5, 8)“ / 24 (24, 23.5, 24, 23.5) (23, 21.5, 21.5, 20.5) cm.

Total Length: 18.5 (19, 19.25, 20, 20.25) (20.5, 20.5, 21, 21)“ / 47.5 (48, 49, 51, 51.5) (52, 52, 53.5, 53.5) cm.

Materials
Yarn:  MC: 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 3, 3, 3) balls of Haunui by Noro (100% New Zealand wool, 437 yds / 400 m – 200 g), in the colourway Southern Alps. 

Or approx. 480 (550, 610, 690, 760) (830, 890, 970, 1055) yds / 440 (505, 560, 630, 695) (760, 815, 885, 965) m of worsted-weight yarn.

Alternative yarn suggestions are for example Rios by Malabrigo or Fado by Fonty.

For the embroidery
CC1: 1 skein of Organic Merino by The Dutch Yarn Barn (100% Merino wool, 328 yds / 300 m – 100 g), in the colourway Texeler Night (for the embroidery of the characters).

CC2: 1 ball of Gilliatt by De Rerum Natura (100% Mérinos d’Arles and Portuguese Merino wool, 270 yds / 247 m – 100 g), in the colourway Émeraude (for the embroidery at the collar and armholes).

Or approx. 20 g of scrap yarn in sport- to worsted-weight yarn in 2 colours.

Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm 40” / 100 cm circular needles and a spare US 7 / 4.5 mm needles for the 3-Needle Bind-Off.

Notions: 4 stitch markers, stitch holder or waste yarn, embroidery hoop and needle, 18” × 40” / 45 cm × 100 cm water-soluble embroidery stabiliser that can be cut to size.

Gauge
16 sts × 24 rows to 4” / 10 cm on US 7 / 4.5 mm needles in St St, after blocking.