Ella Rae Ribbed Vest Waistcoat Knitting Pattern

Ella Rae Ribbed Vest

What Is Being Made

The Ella Rae Ribbed Vest is a sleeveless waistcoat designed for knitters seeking a classic, fitted garment. This downloadable knitting pattern from Knitting Fever, Inc. produces a structured vest with ribbed texture throughout, suitable for layering or wearing as a standalone piece. The design features shaped armholes, angled front edges, and tailored shoulder shaping for a polished, professional finish.

Sizes and Finished Measurements

The pattern is available in three sizes:

• Size A: Bust 80–90 cm (31½–35½ inches), Length 58 cm (22¾ inches)
• Size B: Bust 95–105 cm (37½–41¼ inches), Length 58 cm (22¾ inches)
• Size C: Bust 110–120 cm (43¼–47¼ inches), Length 60 cm (23½ inches)

Yarn and Materials

This vest is knitted using Ella Rae SEASONS yarn in color number 01. Yardage requirements vary by size: Size A requires 4 balls of 100g, Size B requires 5 balls of 100g, and Size C requires 6 balls of 100g. Knitters will also need one pair of 6.00mm needles (US 10) and one pin or closure for finishing.

Gauge and Tension

Achieving proper gauge is essential for this fitted garment. The pattern specifies two different gauges depending on the stitch being worked:

• Stockinette stitch: 16 stitches and 20 rows measured over 10 cm (4 inches)
• Rib pattern: 19 stitches and 22 rows measured over 10 cm (4 inches)

Both gauges are measured using 6.00mm needles. Checking gauge before beginning is crucial to ensure the finished vest fits correctly.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Ribbed Vest employs several fundamental knitting techniques to create its structured appearance:

Rib Pattern

The vest is constructed primarily in a two-row repeat rib pattern with a multiple of 2 plus 1 stitch. The pattern is worked as follows:

• Row 1 (Right Side): Knit 3 stitches, then repeat slip 1 stitch with yarn in front, knit 3 to the end of the row
• Row 2 (Wrong Side): Knit 1 stitch, then repeat slip 1 stitch with yarn in front, knit 3 to the last 2 stitches, slip 1 stitch with yarn in front, knit 1

This two-row sequence is repeated throughout the garment to create the characteristic ribbed texture. The abbreviation wyif (with yarn in front) is used in the pattern to indicate when yarn should be brought to the front of the work before slipping stitches.

Shaping Techniques

The vest incorporates several shaping methods to achieve its fitted silhouette:

• Increases: Single stitch increases are worked at the front edge of the left and right fronts on every fifth row, with the number of increases varying by size (31–33 increases total per front piece)
• Decreases: Knit two together (K2tog) decreases are used at armhole edges to create the shaped armholes
• Cast-off shaping: Multiple stitches are cast off at the beginning of rows to shape both armholes and shoulders, creating clean, finished edges

Pattern Construction

The Ribbed Vest is knitted in three separate pieces: a back panel and two front panels (left and right). The back piece is cast on with 95–115 stitches depending on size and worked straight until the armhole shaping point. At this stage, stitches are cast off to create the armhole depth, then the piece continues straight until shoulder shaping is reached. The shoulders are shaped by casting off 18–23 stitches at the beginning of right-