While Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar may be famed for it’s incredible market of all things bright and beautiful, the quieter Arasta bazaar is no less fabulous. This vest in homage to Turkish carpets which are everywhere, painting the country in glorious color and pattern.

The Arasta vest is knit component-style in your favorite colors. I chose HandMaiden’s variegated silk/Seacel in a colorway called ‘Phoenix’ for my main yarn to echo a Turkish carpet’s intricate patterns when knit in this simple lace stitch.

Three panels of lace – two fronts and one back—are framed by bands of yarnovers-knit-two-togethers and garter stitches. Sizing is made easy by working the side ‘frames’ to suit your measurements, working the underarm gussets accordingly. Once the fronts and back are joined at the shoulder, you can decide how wide or long you want your finished vest to be. Easy to size to suit your body and preferences!

The vest can either be closed down the front or buttoned at the top with either one or two buttons.