We can now offer this pattern as either a downloadable PDF version or as a hard copy printed out and mailed to you -- your choice. The printed copy is more expensive as it is set to allow for printing costs and shipping fees. 

*****

Wow!

And wow again!

When Susan Pandorf of Sunflower Designs sent me this stunning vest pattern I was in awe. This is a really beautiful piece. Designed as one of her Fellowship of the Rings series, it was inspired by the priceless mail shirt worn by Bilboa as made by the dwarves using a magical process.

This vest looks like it belongs in a magical realm.

Requiring on 700 yards of fingering weight yarn and 1000 size 8/0 beads the designs and construction, as Susan puts it, "while not for the faint of heart, this vest is an heirloom quality piece, sure to be noticed wherever you wear it."

She continues: "It is also a lot of fun to knit."

We think it is amazing.

The beads are added as you come to them via the crochet hook method, and are optional -- you can choose to leave them out. The vest is knit in one piece with shoulders seamed at finish. It has a beaded front which angles down to a long pointed back. The sizing is accomplished through the repeated stitches to the side of the lace panels. The pattern itself has 12 charts and uses short rows for shaping.

And consider it definitely is advanced lace knitting -- which will yield you a truly heirloom quality vest.

Note that this web page offers the pattern, printed out, all twenty pages on heavy-weight paper and slid into a sheet protector.

*****

Stunningly gorgeous indeed.

****

P.S. It can be hard to add 8/0 beads via the crochet hook method onto fingering weight yarn -- you might find the yarn splits or the beads simply are too small to work well with the crochet hook you have. We include a link below where this is discussed and other methods tried and linked. Take a look so you have the data.