Noro Calmness Jumper Knitting Pattern

Noro Calmness Sweater Vest

What is Being Made

The Noro Calmness is a knitted sweater vest (also called a waistcoat) designed for intermediate knitters. This sleeveless garment is available in two size ranges: Small/Large with a finished bust measurement of 43 inches (109 cm) and length of 27½ inches (70 cm), or X-Large/2X-Large with a finished bust of 52 inches (132 cm) and length of 28½ inches (72.5 cm). The vest is worked as a structured, tailored piece suitable for layering over long-sleeved shirts or wearing as a standalone garment.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques that contribute to its intermediate difficulty level. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, meaning each piece is constructed separately and then seamed together at the shoulders and sides. The construction method is bottom-up, beginning with the ribbed edging at the lower edge and progressing upward toward the neckline. The design incorporates lace patterning throughout the body, created using yarn overs and decreases that form decorative openwork sections. This lace pattern is worked from a chart, requiring the knitter to read and follow a visual representation of the stitch pattern across multiple rows.

Stitches Used

The Noro Calmness utilizes a variety of fundamental and decorative knitting stitches. The lower edge features a twisted rib worked over 4 inches (10 cm), created by alternating knit stitches through the back loop (k1tbl) with purl stitches to create a textured, elastic edge that resists rolling. The main body incorporates yarn overs to create the lace pattern—these are formed by placing yarn over the right-hand needle to make new stitches. Decreases are used in conjunction with yarn overs to maintain stitch count while creating the openwork design. The pattern includes slip stitches, where stitches are passed from the left needle to the right needle without being worked, often used for edge finishing or pattern transitions. The chart pattern combines knit and purl stitches in specific sequences to build the lace motif, with the setup row varying depending on which size is being worked.

Materials

The Noro Calmness requires Noro Tsubame yarn in colorway #05. For the Small/Large size, 2 kegs of 200g weight are needed (approximately 400g total), while the X-Large/2X-Large size requires 3 kegs (approximately 600g total). The pattern calls for two pairs of needles: one pair in US size 4 (3.5mm) for working the ribbed cuff and edging, and one pair in US size 6 (4mm) for the main body and lace pattern. Additional notions include stitch markers to track pattern repeats and chart rows, and a small stitch holder or safety pin for securing stitches during construction. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when measured over the chart pattern using the larger needles, making accurate gauge checking essential before beginning the project.