Ella Rae Waistcoat Knitting Pattern

Ella Rae Austin & Abigail Tank Tops

What Is Being Made

The Ella Rae Austin & Abigail Tank Tops are striped knitted waistcoats designed for infants and young children, available in six sizes ranging from 0-6 months through 4-5 years. These are gender-specific designs featuring two coordinating colorways: shade 29 Icicle for boys and shade 30 Astilbe for girls, with shade 13 Ivory used as the contrasting stripe color for both versions. The finished chest measurements range from 17¼ inches for the smallest size to 26¾ inches for the largest, with full lengths varying from 10 inches to 16 inches depending on size.

Techniques Used

These tank tops are constructed using several key knitting techniques that create both structure and visual interest. The garments are worked flat on straight needles, meaning the front and back pieces are knitted separately as flat panels rather than in the round. The pieces are then seamed together to form the finished garment. The design features stripes throughout, which are maintained consistently across shaping rows for a polished appearance. The tank tops are worked bottom-up, beginning at the lower edge and progressing upward toward the neckline and armholes. Armhole shaping is accomplished by binding off stitches at the beginning of rows, followed by graduated decreases worked using slip stitch and knit together techniques to create sloped edges. Neck shaping on the front is worked by dividing stitches and shaping each side separately, allowing for a fitted neckline.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the Austin & Abigail Tank Tops is striped stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric with alternating rows of knit and purl stitches. Decreases are worked using slip stitch, knit one, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K1, psso) and knit two together (K2tog) techniques, which are positioned two stitches in from the edges to create neat, decorative decrease lines. These decreases are used for both armhole shaping and neck shaping. The pattern includes a neckband worked from live stitches held on a holder, which is a common technique for creating a finished, professional neckline edge.

Materials and Gauge

The Austin & Abigail Tank Tops are designed to be knitted in Ella Rae Cashmereno Sport, a fine-weight yarn. Yardage requirements are 1 or 2 balls of 50g each depending on size, with one color for the main shade and one ball of the contrasting Ivory shade for stripes. The pattern calls for US 2½ (3 mm) needles and US 3 (3.25 mm) needles as a pair, allowing for gauge adjustment and potentially tighter ribbing if desired. The recommended gauge is 25 stitches and 34 rows to 4 inches (10 cm) measured over striped stockinette stitch using the US 3 (3.25 mm) needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit, particularly important when knitting garments for young children.