We interrupt our regularly scheduled seasonal programming (“Whining About My Ankle” and its recent spin-off “Tom, I Can’t Get To My Closet”) to tell you about my latest knitting . . . which turns out to be a quest, of sorts..

But first, some back story.

Do you watch Shrinking, Apple TVs brilliant sitcom series juxtaposing grief and trauma . . . with levity and grace? It’s definitely TV worth watching; the kind of feel-good show most of us need these days. Anyway . . . one of the regular characters is Liz Bishop (played by Christa Miller), the neighbor of main character Jimmy Laird. And Liz Bishop? She’s probably the only television character I’ve seen . . . that “shares” my (ahem) “style sense.” (She’s my style-icon-spirit-animal I guess you could say . . . ) What does she wear? Easy layers, lots of stripes – often with plaids or more stripes layered over top, graphic tees, fun sweaters, overalls, ball caps, Birkenstocks, little scarves, denim.

And vests!
She layers with lots of vests!

Last winter, when Tom and I were watching seasoon 3, Liz had this vest on in one episode (5 maybe?). I made Tom go back (more than once) so I could look more closely at the screen . . . because THIS IS THE VEST I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR!!!

Basic. Oversized. Deep V-neck. Not cropped. (She’s also worn one very similar to this one, maybe a bit longer, with patch pockets!)

Anyway. I’ve been on a quest . . . for this vest . . . ever since.

I’ve looked to buy one. I’ve looked to make one. But nothing I’ve seen is quite the same. Either they’re too cropped or too tailored or too fussy or the V is not quite deep enough.

So. Here’s my quest (my Vest Quest, you could say): I want to find THIS VEST. Or something very similar. I’m too lazy to figure out this pattern for myself, but I’m comfortable basic modifications to an existing pattern instead.

I‘m starting with this vest, which I’ve knit before. it looks NOTHING like Liz’s-vest-of-my-dreams, but some elements are there. The deep V, the oversized fit. The center cable? Not so much. But it’s a fine place to start, and at least I’ll end up with a vest (I’m pretty sure) I’ll like.

Other vests I’ve been considering? (These are all Ravelry links, by the way.)

Stockholm Slipover V-neck (this one looks too tailored as designed, but the V-neck is deep and could be modified)

Garter Edge Vest (not quite, but closer; I like the simplicity; would have to figure out how to make it more overrsized for me)

Alchemist Slipover (this one looked kinda promising – although fussy, for sure – and then I realized there are no side seams, just side-ties)

Boulevardier (a menswear design; this could get me the oversize look I’m going for, but the V isn’t nearly deep enough)

So. Tag along with me over the next few months on my . . . Vest Quest! Let me know if you’ve knit any of the vest patterns I’ve mentioned in this post — and if you think I might be able to modify to my personal “specs” (with minimal effort). Or maybe let me know if you see any possibilities for me when you’re out in the knitting-world. (Keep in mind that I don’t really want to start from scratch. And that I’m basically a lazy knitter.)

And if you haven’t watched Shrinking yet, maybe add it to your “watch list.”