Milo Vest - Marching Elephants

My sweet niece turned 4 this past weekend (yay!) and I decided that she needed something extra special for her birthday.  Ever since I first saw Grace's version of the Milo Vest, I knew that I needed to make one.  Seriously, is this not the cutest thing ever!?  Come on- you can rave over it, I won't mind. ;-)

This is my first attempt at a knitted garment (I'm continuing with my year of knitting in 2011 and started with learning to knit a garment).  It turned out fantastic!  I was a little confused at first how it was going to turn out (it is knit top down, with no seaming) but I just kept following the pattern and watched it slowly come together.  And I can officially say that I am hooked.  (I fully plan to dress my kids in the cutest hand knit items you have ever seen!)

I replaced the cable down the center of the vest with a chart of the elephants by Jessica Tromp - found here. Are they not the cutest things? Just marching along!  I had a little trouble with them at first.  I'm a very tight knitter and I was pulling too tight on the floats on the back.  I didn't realize this until I was almost done, at which point I had to rip back to the beginning of the chart and start again.  I absolutely hate doing that, but I'm really glad I did.

I used Knitspicks Swish in DK weight for the yarn.  This was my first time using this yarn and I really liked it.  It seems to hold up pretty well and I really love the colors it comes it and it works great for colorwork projects.  Bonus - it is superwash (which I'm sure her mom will appreciate). In the end, I am very very pleased with how this turned out!  I couldn't wait to give it to her.  I only wish I could have been there to see her open it.  But apparently she loved it and that is all that matters. 

Raverly Link
Pattern: Milo Vest by Georgie Hallam
Yarn:P Knitpicks Swish DK in Tidepool Heather and Dove Heather
Needles: US Size 5
Size Made: 22 inch chest (3 year old)
Finished Size:  22" around by 20" long (after blocking, it grew quite a lot.  I hoping that means it will just give her room to grow into it)
Date Started: 12/25/10
Date Finished: 1/17/11
Total Hours Spent:  22.5 Hours