This gorgeous vest was spun in New Zealand in 2006 using a natural dark brown fleece that was hand combed for spinning and the Chilko Fibres “Sundown” colorway of variegated dyed Romney wool.  Two yarns were made:  one, a solid brown two-ply, and the other a two-ply made up of one ply of the brown and one of the variegated wool.  The vest was completed in January of 2008.

The photos can’t do justice to the glowing colors set against the dark brown.  The stitch pattern is a half-linen stitch, which through the use of slipped stitches, accentuates the tweediness of the mixed-ply yarn.

Bill E. of Maryland commissioned this and Bill’s Tan Vest in 2007.  These make his and his wife Maryann’s collection of FHF pieces the largest outside of my own family.  They have the Classic Cardigan, Maryann’s Marvel, the Roseleaf Shawl, the Henley Gansey, several neckties and a classic ripple-stitch afghan I made as their wedding gift.