Jojoland Free Style Vest Waistcoat Knitting Pattern

Jojoland Free Style Vest

What is Being Made

The Jojoland Free Style Vest is a knitted waistcoat designed by Lijuan Jing, available in three finished bust measurements: 38 inches, 42 inches, and 46 inches. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a sleeveless garment with decorative lace patterning and structured shaping, suitable for layering over various outfits.

Techniques Used

This vest is constructed using a bottom-up approach, meaning knitting begins at the lower edge and progresses upward toward the shoulders. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for easy manipulation of stitch patterns and shaping. The finished pieces are then seamed together to create the complete garment, with specific seaming lines indicated on the pattern chart for precise assembly.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Free Style Vest incorporates multiple stitch techniques to create visual interest and structure:

• Lace Pattern: The main body features a repeating lace motif worked across rows using yarn overs (yo) and decreases. The pattern evolves across rows, with yarn overs paired with slip-slip-knit (ssk) and knit-two-together (k2tog) decreases to create openwork designs. The center decrease technique (slip 2 knitwise, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over) adds decorative shaping within the lace pattern.
• Ladder Stitch: This textured stitch pattern is used in sections of the garment, worked over four rows with alternating knit and purl stitches to create a distinctive ladder-like appearance. The gauge is measured in ladder stitch at 6.4 stitches by 11 rows per 1-inch square.
• Seed Stitch: This reversible stitch, created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard pattern, provides a textured finish and is likely used in ribbing or edging sections.
• Garter Stitch: Knit stitches on right-side rows and purl stitches on wrong-side rows create the garter stitch texture used in various sections.

Shaping and Construction Details

The vest features strategic decreases to create fitted armholes and waist shaping. Decreases are worked at the beginning and end of rows at varying intervals—every 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 10th rows depending on the size—to gradually reduce stitches from the initial cast-on of 89 stitches to the final bind-off of 50, 56, or 62 stitches. This graduated decrease schedule creates a tailored silhouette.

Materials and Tools

The Jojoland Free Style Vest is made with Jojoland Melody yarn, a 100% wool fiber available in multiple colorways. The sample shown uses color MS103. Yardage requirements vary by size: 5 balls (1,100 yards) for the 38-inch size, 7 balls (1,540 yards) for the 42-inch size, and 8 balls (1,760 yards) for the 46-inch size. The pattern requires two needle sizes: U.S. size 2 (2.75mm) needles for ribbing or edging, and U.S. size 4 (3.5mm) needles for the main body fabric. The larger needle size creates the appropriate gauge for the lace and textured stitch patterns.

Gauge and Fit

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit. The pattern specifies a gauge of 6.4 stitches by 11 rows per 1-inch square when measured in ladder stitch on U.S. size 4 (3.5mm) needles. Knitters should swatch before beginning to ensure their tension matches the pattern specifications, as variations in gauge will affect the finished bust measurement and overall proportions of the vest.