The next new Hillesvåg design I will show you is the vest Balika, knitted by my brilliant sample knitter Nadia in Ask using a 3.5 mm/US 4 needle with a gauge of 22 stitches and 30 rows in Stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ after blocking. The idea for the oversized vest came from seeing similar silhouettes in so many of the clothes shops in Oslo. The yarn kit is already available directly from their website ull.no, while the test knit of the pattern begins on the 5th of June in my Ravelry group.

Named Balika, of Greenlandic origin, is this straight oversized vest with a deep armhole bind off replaced by a wide armholeband. Balika is adorned with an allover check pattern, except for the sides which have a line of stocking stitch. The neckband is worked in the round with shaping, the armhole bands are worked flat and seamed in, and the body is worked back and forth in two pieces with side seams for a better fit. Balika is knitted in the airy Ask by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

In these photos taken by my husband you see me wearing size S with 19.5 cm/7.75″ positive ease. I have graded the pattern in sizes XS to 5XL with a bust circumference of 102 to 167.5 cm/40.25 to 66″.

Here is a detail of the front neck. Before the test knit I will show you how wonderful it looked on Emmalin Williams at our photoshoot in last December.