Gardiner Waistcoat Knitting Pattern

Gardiner Waistcoat: Knitted Vest in Berroco Suede and Plush

What Is Being Made

The Gardiner Waistcoat is a tailored knitted vest designed by the Berroco Design Team. This garment is a classic sleeveless layer featuring a fitted silhouette with waist shaping and armhole construction. Available in seven sizes ranging from 32" to 56" bust measurement (closed), the finished length varies from 22½" to 26" depending on size. The waistcoat is designed as an intermediate-level knitting project, making it accessible to knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle shaping techniques and garment assembly.

Techniques Used

The Gardiner Waistcoat employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its structured, fitted design:

• Waist Shaping: The pattern incorporates strategic decreasing and increasing rows to create a defined waistline. Decreases are worked every 4 inches using k2tog and SSK (slip, slip, knit) decreases positioned one stitch in from the edges for a neat selvage. Increases are then worked every 3 inches using M1R (make one right) and M1L (make one left) techniques to add fullness below the waist.
• Armhole Shaping: Bind-off stitches at the beginning of rows create structured armholes, with graduated bind-offs for a professional fit.
• Gauge Matching: The pattern emphasizes checking gauge with both the main color and contrast color yarns on their respective needle sizes to ensure proper fit and fabric drape.
• Circular Needle Construction: A 29" circular needle is used for certain sections, allowing for seamless transitions and easier stitch management during construction.

Stitches Used

The Gardiner Waistcoat is constructed primarily using fundamental stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for a tailored waistcoat. Stockinette stitch is worked by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. The pattern begins with a purl row to establish proper stitch orientation. Decreasing stitches are accomplished using k2tog (knit two together) and SSK (slip, slip, knit) techniques, while increases utilize M1R and M1L (make one right and make one left) methods. These stitch techniques work together to create smooth, nearly invisible shaping lines that maintain the garment's polished appearance.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Gardiner Waistcoat is designed to be worked in two complementary Berroco yarns that create visual interest through texture and color contrast:

• Main Color (MC): Berroco Suede in colorway #3718 Holster forms the primary fabric. Quantities range from 4 to 9 balls (50 grams each) depending on size, providing approximately 200 to 450 grams of yarn for the main garment.
• Contrast Color (CC): Berroco Plush in colorway #1901 Cream is used as an accent, requiring 1 to 2 balls (50 grams each) for trim or detail work.

The pattern calls for straight needles in size 8 (5.00 mm) for the main body work with Berroco Suede, achieving a gauge of 18 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. A larger 29" circular needle in size 10 (6.00 mm) is used for sections worked in Berroco Plush, which produces a gauge of 12 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches. A size 6.00 mm (J-10) crochet hook is also required for finishing details. One stitch marker and one 1" button complete the notions list. The pattern strongly recommends using the specified Berroco yarns to achieve the intended gauge, fit, and finished appearance of the garment.