How sweet is my girl? I know, I am her mother so obviously I think she is the best girl in the world. But I’m here to tell you. She’s the best girl in the world.

Although I finished this vest a while ago, it was hot all summer and I couldn’t bear to make Maggie put it on for pictures. But then I decided pictures needed to be taken, and even though it was in the 90s that day, I made her put it on anyway. She’s a good sport. In the span of about 10 or 15 minutes, we took nearly 200 pictures (click on the following pictures to see them bigger).

The vest was knit entirely in the round, and steeked at armholes and neck. I picked up stitches and finished the edges with simple ribbing.

I added an afterthought pocket.

The edge of the pocket was finished with i-cord, and is perfect for all the little treasures that four-year-olds love to find and collect.

I think my favorite part of the vest is the hidden personalization in the hem.

It says “MAGGIE [diamond motif] 2010″. I situated the message so that when the wearer flips the hem, it is readable to them. You know, if they could read.

I have sensed that there is some interest in a pattern for this vest. I plan to write the pattern, and I’ll let you know when I do.  I hope to get to it in the next few months.

For more information about the yarn (including specific colors of Chickadee that I used) check out the Ravelry project page (visible to Ravelers and non-Ravelers alike).

Like I said, we had a brief photoshoot. Here is the last picture we took.

And when I got the hand, I knew it was time to call it a day.

It will get a pocket! As an afterthought (though I planned it ahead of time).

The yarn is Chickadee from the new yarn company Quince & Co. It is so soft, the colors are to die for, and I loved working with it. The yarn is, as far as I can tell, a worsted spun yarn, meaning the fibers are all aligned nicely and it has a very boing-y quality to it. It is very stretchy and delicious and plump.

The trouble with a worsted spun yarn is that it doesn’t have a tendency to stick to itself like a woolen spun (Shetland style) yarn does.  I used steeks, all the while knowing that the yarn isn’t as felty as I like it to be when using steeks.  I reinforced my steek using the crochet method and I’m not too worried about it, but the yarn is not ideal for steeking.

Still, I love this little vest to pieces. I think I’ll make one for Jerry* and write up the pattern.

*Jerry assured me that, while he doesn’t necessarily want a vest, he will “wear it for pictures”. Good boy.