Berroco Lacuna Vest Knitting Pattern

Berroco Lacuna Vest by Norah Gaughan

Project Overview

The Berroco Lacuna is an intermediate-level knitted vest designed by Norah Gaughan, featured in Berroco Volume 12. This garment is worked from the bottom up in a seamed construction, combining lace techniques with stockinette stitch for an elegant, versatile layering piece. The vest is available in seven sizes to fit bust measurements from 30 inches to 54 inches.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a sleeveless vest with a tailored fit. The finished back width at bust ranges from 32 inches to 56 inches depending on size, while the front panels are narrower, measuring 7¼ inches to 11½ inches at the bust. The vest extends to the shoulder with a length ranging from 23½ inches to 26½ inches, making it suitable for wearing over long-sleeved shirts or as a standalone layering garment.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-Up Construction: The vest is knitted from the lower edge upward toward the shoulders, allowing knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and easily adjust length if needed.
• Worked Flat: Pieces are knitted on straight needles rather than in the round, creating separate front and back panels that are later seamed together.
• Lace Work: Decorative lace techniques are incorporated throughout the design, adding visual interest and an open, airy quality to the finished vest.
• Seamed Construction: Individual pieces are sewn together using mattress stitch or similar seaming methods to create a polished, professional finish.
• Shaping: The pattern includes armhole shaping and back neck shaping to create a well-fitted garment. Back neck shaping involves binding off center stitches and working both sides separately, with additional bind-offs at neck edges to create proper shoulder depth.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St St): The primary stitch used throughout the vest, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric that serves as the foundation for the lace pattern work.
• Lace Stitches: Specific lace stitch patterns are incorporated as detailed in the full pattern instructions, creating openwork sections that add elegance and reduce fabric weight.

Materials

The Lacuna vest is knitted with Berroco Captiva yarn in color 5546. Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 5 hanks to 10 hanks of 50-gram hanks. The pattern calls for straight knitting needles in sizes 7 (4.5mm) and 8 (5mm), with size 8 needles used for obtaining gauge. Stitch markers are also required for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points.

Gauge and Fit

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 25 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using size 8 needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and ensuring the vest fits as intended. The pattern provides finished measurements for all seven sizes, allowing knitters to select the appropriate size based on desired fit and ease.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate, making it suitable for knitters with some experience who are comfortable working with lace techniques, managing multiple stitches, and executing shaping instructions. The combination of lace work and seaming techniques requires attention to detail and familiarity with standard knitting abbreviations and methods.