Shibui Knits Angelou Jumper Knitting Pattern

Shibui Knits Angelou Tunic Vest

What Is Being Made

The Angelou is a sophisticated tunic vest designed as a winter statement piece featuring a gravity-defying mock turtleneck. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a sleeveless garment with a distinctive Drift collar that adds textural interest and visual appeal. The tunic is available in seven sizes ranging from XS to XXL, with finished bust circumferences from 36.75 inches to 52.75 inches, making it suitable for a wide range of body types and fit preferences.

Techniques Used

The Angelou employs several advanced knitting techniques to achieve its elegant construction and unique silhouette. The garment is worked flat from the bottom up, beginning with a double turned hem that creates a polished, professional finish at the lower edge. A German Short Row curve is incorporated into the main body construction, allowing the knitter to shape the garment without increasing or decreasing stitches in traditional ways. This technique creates smooth, gradual shaping that contributes to the gravity-defying mock turtleneck effect. The collar stitches are picked up and worked in the round, transitioning from flat construction to circular knitting for the final detail. The garment features seamed construction, with pieces joined together after completion for a refined, tailored appearance. A 3-Needle Bind-Off is used to secure the collar, providing a strong, flexible edge that moves with the wearer.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the Angelou is Stockinette Stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a refined appearance ideal for showcasing the yarn's texture and drape. The collar features a broken rib turtleneck pattern, which combines knit and purl stitches in an alternating pattern that provides elasticity and structure while maintaining visual interest. Standard decreasing techniques including ssk (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit two together) are used for shaping, particularly in the armhole and neckline areas. The pattern also incorporates slipped stitches at the beginning of rows for a neat, finished selvage edge.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Angelou is designed to be knitted using three distinct Shibui Knits yarns, each contributing unique qualities to the finished garment:

• Shibui Knits Birch: 100% Extra Fine Merino wool, 262 yards per 50-gram skein. Four to five skeins are required depending on size, providing the base yarn for the main body construction when held together with Cima.
• Shibui Knits Cima: 70% Superbaby Alpaca and 30% Fine Merino blend, 328 yards per 50-gram skein. Three to four skeins are needed, held together with Birch for the main body to create unique textural depth, then used alone for the collar.
• Shibui Knits Drift: 85% Extra Fine Merino and 15% Cashmere, 110 yards per 50-gram skein. One to two skeins are required for the Drift collar, adding luxury and softness to the neckline.

The combination of these three yarns creates a sophisticated fabric with exceptional depth and movement. The ultrasoft Birch and textured Cima are held together as a two-strand yarn for the main body, creating visual and tactile interest. The gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch after blocking when using one strand each of Birch and Cima held together on size 8 needles.

Tools and Equipment Required

Completing the Angelou requires specific needle sizes and additional tools. Knitters will need size 7 (4.5 mm) needles in a 16-inch circular configuration for the initial hem and setup, size 8 (5 mm) needles for the main body construction, and a spare size 8 needle for executing the 3-Needle Bind-Off on the collar. A size G (4 mm) crochet hook is included in the tools list, likely for finishing details or picking up stitches. Additional supplies include stitch holders for managing active stitches, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming pieces together, and waste yarn for provisional cast-ons or stitch holders.

Construction Overview