We are surrounded by superheroes. Firefighters, nannies, doctors, and teachers all give selflessly of their time and knowledge to help others. When “out of uniform,” they may quietly pass by us on the street, but when duty calls, they leap into action. The Order of the Phoenix Winged Vest is inspired by this idea of “hidden identity.” Worn with a jacket, it’s an unassuming, timeless vest. When the jacket is removed, the back reveals an intricately stranded wing pattern, symbolizing the wearer’s strengths and abilities. The best thing about stories like Harry Potter is how they remind us that we have the power to make a difference.

Wearing a vest emblazoned with wings is a subtle reminder of how much of an impact the “everyday hero“ has on his or her community. This project is worked flat and requires intermediate knitting knowledge, including stranded knitting, managing floats, simple shaping, and finishing. One row at a time, the knitter attempting a complex stranding project for the first time will gain confidence and learn, as Harry did, that with ordinary determination and practice, something wonderful can happen.

This pattern is known as the Aviary Vest in Interweave’s 2014 book, Knitting Wizardry.