Noro Kenton Waistcoat Knitting Pattern

Noro Kenton Waistcoats

What Is Being Made

The Noro Kenton is an intermediate-level knitted waistcoat available in seven sizes ranging from X-Small to 3X. This garment features a fitted silhouette with finished bust measurements from 36 inches (91cm) in the smallest size to 62 inches (157cm) in the largest size. The waistcoat length ranges from 22 to 26 inches (56 to 66cm) depending on the size selected, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various body types and proportions.

Knitting Techniques

The Noro Kenton employs several fundamental knitting techniques to construct the garment. The waistcoat is worked flat on straight needles for the majority of the construction, using a bottom-up building method that allows knitters to try on the piece as it progresses and easily adjust length if needed. Seaming is used to join the various pieces together, with selvage stitches incorporated along edges to facilitate neat and secure seaming. The design incorporates striped colorwork throughout, creating visual interest and demonstrating color-work techniques. Additionally, pick up and knit techniques are employed to add stitches along finished edges, allowing for the seamless integration of ribbing or other edgings. A circular needle is used for specific sections, indicating that portions of the waistcoat are worked in the round, which eliminates seaming in those areas and creates a more polished finish.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Noro Kenton utilizes a variety of knitting stitches and techniques. Stockinette stitch (St st) forms the foundation fabric throughout the garment, providing a smooth, classic surface ideal for displaying the striped colorwork. The pattern incorporates yarn over stitches to create new stitches and add texture or shaping as needed. Slip stitches are used strategically in the colorwork sections, allowing the knitter to carry unused yarn colors along the edge without cutting, reducing the number of ends to weave in. The slip, slip, knit (or slip, slip, purl) decrease technique is employed for shaping, providing a neat, left-leaning decrease that blends seamlessly into the fabric. Purlwise stitches are worked where needed for pattern definition and shaping. The pattern includes work even sections where the knitter continues in the established pattern without increasing or decreasing, allowing for straight vertical sections between shaping areas.

Materials and Tools

The Noro Kenton is designed to be knitted with Noro Silk Garden Lite yarn, a premium blend that provides beautiful color variations. The pattern calls for 4 to 6 balls of 50g each in color #2084 (A) and 3 to 5 balls of 50g each in color #2094 (B), depending on the size being made. The yarn is worked on US 5/3.75mm straight needles for ribbing and edging sections, and US 6/4mm straight needles for the main body fabric, with the larger needle size selected to achieve the correct gauge. A US 5/3.75mm circular needle measuring 16 inches (40cm) is used for in-the-round sections. Additional tools include stitch holders for managing stitches during construction, allowing the knitter to set aside sections temporarily while working other parts of the garment.

Pattern Structure and Design Details

The Noro Kenton features a charted colorwork design that requires careful attention to pattern reading. Each row of the chart represents two rows of actual knitting, with right-side rows read from right to left and wrong-side rows read from left to right, a standard convention in knitting patterns. The colorwork is worked in stockinette stitch with only one color worked over two rows at a time, while stitches in the other color are slipped, creating an efficient and visually striking striped effect. This slip-stitch colorwork technique minimizes yarn waste and creates a fabric with excellent drape and elasticity compared to traditional stranded colorwork.