Olivia Vest in Ella Rae Four Seasons: A One-Skein Wonder

Some projects come together so quickly that you find yourself immediately planning the next one. That’s exactly how I felt after knitting the Olivia Vest by Leanne Prouse from the Ella Rae Four Seasons pattern leaflet.

I chose Ella Rae Four Seasons, a soft chainette-style bulky yarn that creates beautiful color transitions with very little effort. The yarn does the colorwork for you, moving through shades of blue, teal, green, and purple as you knit.

For my sample, I knit the 1–2 year old size and added three purple flower buttons for a playful finishing touch. The result is a cozy little vest that looks far more complicated than it actually is.

Project Details

Pattern: Olivia Vest by Leanne Prouse
Yarn: Ella Rae Four Seasons, Enchanted Ivy
Yarn Used: 1 skein (100g)
Needles: US 8 and US 10
Size Made: 1–2 years

Finished Measurements:

Approximately 22″ around
Approximately 11″ tall

I used double-pointed needles for the armhole edging, but a short circular needle would work just as well if that’s your preference.

About the Ella Rae Four Seasons

I’ve been genuinely impressed with Four Seasons. The chainette construction makes it lightweight for its thickness and very pleasant to knit. It glides easily on the needles, creates excellent stitch definition, and the gradual color changes keep the knitting interesting from beginning to end.

If you’ve never worked with a chainette yarn before, this is a great introduction. You get the warmth and quick progress of a bulky yarn without the heaviness that some bulky yarns can have.

Why I Love This Pattern

The Olivia Vest is simple enough for an adventurous beginner but polished enough to make a wonderful gift. The construction is straightforward, the sizing is practical, and the colorful yarn really shines.

Perhaps my favorite feature is that it only took a single skein to make this toddler size. That’s a satisfying project when you’re looking for something that can be completed over a weekend.

Free Pattern Offer

I’m currently offering a free digital PDF of the Olivia Vest pattern with any purchase of Ella Rae Four Seasons yarn while supplies last.

I wasn’t able to locate the pattern on Ravelry, and it appears to be available primarily through local yarn shops that carry the yarn. Because I suspect more knitters will want to make one after seeing the sample, I’ll also be ordering printed pattern leaflets for the shop.

If you’d like to knit your own Olivia Vest, stop by the shop or pick out your favorite Four Seasons colorway online. I have a feeling this won’t be the last one I make.

Another Project Idea: A Tunisian Crochet Scarf

Not a knitter? Four Seasons works beautifully for crochet as well.

My friend Frieda crocheted a generous scarf using two skeins of Four Seasons in Jewel Radiance and the Tunisian Simple Stitch. The stitch pattern highlights the gradual color transitions while creating a wonderfully textured fabric.

Project Details

Yarn: Ella Rae Four Seasons – Jewel Radiance
Quantity: 2 skeins
Technique: Tunisian Crochet
Stitch Pattern: Tunisian Simple Stitch