This pattern is currently only available as part of A Stitch in Time Volume 3, the colourwork edition.

Flora is a fabulous fitted vest pattern from the 1940s, first released in Woman’s Weekly magazine, a weekly magazine which was first published in the UK in 1911 and was one of the first publications to feature a regular weekly knitting pattern often designed exclusively for the magazine. Flora features a low cut front neckline and a close fitting shaped body with a fabulous floral motif which is repeated throughout the garment. The original vintage pattern was single sized and knitted in flat pieces which were then sewn together. The new version of the pattern includes eleven sizes to fit from 71–157cm (28–62in) chest and is knitted in the round, with increases positioned to ensure continuity of the pattern throughout. Steeks are added at the armholes and front neck.

The vintage version of Flora was knitted in separate flat pieces with rows worked back and forth. The pieces then sewn together. Our updated version is knitted in the round to allow the delightful floral pattern to flow without interruption. A choice of three lower body lengths is included for all sizes.

Charlie is shown wearing the 1st size short length, designed to fit a 71-76cm (28-30in) chest without any ease for a very close fitting vintage fit. Flora is designed to be worn with up to 5cm (2in) of positive or negative ease.

Flora is knitted in Byre a fingering weight, 100% British wool, using the natural undyed shade of Dry Stone Wall as the background shade, plus hand-dyed shades of Undergrowth a dark green, Loam an intense dark brown and Red Sky in the Morning a soft, pinkish-red.

Flora comes in 11 sizes to fit from 71–157 cm (28–62 in) chest and with both written and charted to work from plus a clear schematic diagram and sizing charts.

A yarn kit is also available containing all the yarn required to knit Flora.

Yarn
Susan Crawford Byre, fingering weight,
100% British wool
(400m / 427yds per 100g skein/ 100m / 114yds per 25g skein)
Short Length

2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3)100g skeins, shade Dry Stone Wall- Yarn A
2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) 25g skeins, shade Undergrowth - Yarn B
2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) 25g skeins, shade Loam - Yarn C
1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3) 25g skeins, shade Red Sky in the Morning - Yarn D

Medium Length

2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4)100g skeins, shade Dry Stone Wall- Yarn A
2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) 25g skeins, shade Undergrowth - Yarn B
2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) 25g skeins, shade Loam - Yarn C
1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) 25g skeins, shade Red Sky in the Morning - Yarn D

Long Length

2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4)100g skeins, shade Dry Stone Wall- Yarn A
2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) 25g skeins, shade Undergrowth - Yarn B
2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) 25g skeins, shade Loam - Yarn C
1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) 25g skeins, shade Red Sky in the Morning - Yarn D

Gauge
32 sts and 34 rounds = 10cm (4in) over stocking stitch and colourwork, worked in the round, after blocking. We obtained this gauge using 3mm needles.

Suggested Needles
Small needles: 2.75 (US 2) circular needle (60-100cm in length)
2.5 (US 1 / 2) circular needle (40cm in length)
2.5 (US 1 / 2) circular needle (60-100cm in length)

Large needles: 3mm (US 3) circular needle (60-100cm in length)

Notions
Waste yarn or stitch holders
Stitch markers

Techniques
Working top down in the round
Following a chart
Steeks