Lola Hooded Vest: Built for Comfort, and Quarantine

Whether you’re out running errands, socializing with friends, or ducking away for some well-earned self-care moments, the Lola Hooded Vest has everything you need to stay cozy and comfortable. Its sleeveless construction and tunic length make it easy to layer under jackets for a chic, casual look.

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Where to Buy the Lola Hooded Vest Pattern

Shop on Ravelry

Shop on Etsy

Get the complete knit kit from Lion Brand Yarn

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Inspiration

Covid quarantine kept us all at home, all the time. I didn’t need to make a fancy sweater for going out, since none of us were going anywhere. What I really wanted were specific characteristics for stay-at-home functionality:

• large pockets to hold my phone, snacks, and an extra mask
• an oversized hood to give the illusion of privacy when everyone was always in the house
• no bulky sleeves
• a longer length to pair with my ubiquitous leggings

And since the best part of being a knitter is to make what you want, I put my wishlist together into a my new favorite design!

Construction

Because of its many textures and features, you build the Lola Hooded Vest in pieces and then assemble it. If you’re looking for a top-down, seamless sweater, this is not it. Lola has plenty of seaming and picking up of stitches.

The body of the vest is worked bottom up and then seamed at the shoulder. A hood and pockets are worked separately and then attached to the body. Finishing touches like a drawstring and ribbed cuffs are added by picking up stitches and adding to the main vest. You can work pieces separately and then assemble it at the end, or assemble as you go.

Skill Level – Intermediate

The Lola Hooded Vest pattern uses several knitting techniques to give it its unique look and functionality. Listed below are some of the techniques used, as well as tutorials to brush up on these skills in case you need a little extra help.

German Twisted Cast-On

Photo tutorial from The Spruce Crafts
Video tutorial from Very Pink Knits
Video tutorial from Andrea Mowry

German Short Rows

Photo tutorial from Tin Can Knits
Video tutorial from Very Pink Knits
Video tutorial from Purl Soho

Crochet Provisional Cast-on

Video tutorial from Very Pink Knits
Video tutorial from Andrea Mowry

3 needle Bind off

Video tutorial from Very Pink Knits

Pick up and knit

https://cocoknits.com/blogs/knit-tutorials/how-to-pick-up-stitches-for-a-button-band-or-collar

False Grafting (Pockets bottom edge)

https://cocoknits.com/blogs/knit-tutorials/how-to-false-graft

Backward Loop Cast On

https://cocoknits.com/blogs/knit-tutorials/how-to-backward-loop-cast-on

Sizes and Measurements

The Lola Hooded Vest has been graded for sizes XS through 5XL. Testers have made the vest up to size XL. (If you wear a 2XL-5XL, and would like to help test future patterns, you can apply to join my tester group.)

Yarn Recommendations and Requirements

I used a Category 5, bulky weight yarn to balance out a soft drape while maintaining overall structure.  In the photos in this post, the olive green vest uses Lion Brand Yarn Color Made Easy in Avocado, which is no longer available for purchase. The golden yellow vest uses Lion Brand Yarn Woolspun in Honey.

Overall yardage requirements are: 850 (930, 1060, 1160)(1265, 1390, 1490, 1630, 1760) yds/ 777 (850, 969, 1061) (1157, 1271, 1362, 1490, 1609)m of Category 5, bulky weight yarn

Both Lion Brand Yarn Woolspun and Hue & Me work well, as they are very similar in weight, and differ only slightly in feel.

Lion Brand Yarn Hue and Me (4.4oz/ 125g, 137yd/ 125m)
7 (7, 8, 9)(10, 11, 11, 12, 13) skeins

Lion Brand Yarn Woolspun (3.5oz/ 100g, 127yd/ 116m)
7 (8, 9, 10)(11, 12, 12, 13, 14) skeins

Testers

1 – @oberstar.knits | size XS | Lion Brand Woolspun in Charcoal, 830yds

2 – @baystreetknits | size S | Lion Brand Woolspun, 890 yds

3 – @knitalieco | size S | Loops & Threads Camden Wool Big!, 896 yds

4 – @mittenpurl | size L | Lion Brand Hue & Me, 1050 yds

5 – @bentonhandmade | size L | Yarnspirations Caron One Pound Worsted, 840 yds

6 – @theknitsmith | size XL | hand-dyed bulky, 1254 yds

7 – @yarnaste | size M | Lion Brand Hue & Me in Terra, 1025 yds

8 – @scheng23 | size M | Lion Brand Hue & Me in Arrowwood, 996 yds

9 – @faithps23 | size XL | Loops & Threads Eco-Cozy, 1073 yds