Noro Kureyon Waistcoat (Akita) Vest Knitting Pattern

Noro Kureyon Waistcoat (Akita)

What is Being Made

The Noro Kureyon Waistcoat is a fitted sleeveless vest designed for a classic, tailored silhouette. This knitted waistcoat features a structured body with shaping at the waist and armholes, finished with button closures. The design comes in three sizes with finished measurements ranging from 38 inches to 42 inches in width and 19 to 21 inches in length, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various body proportions.

Construction Technique

This waistcoat is worked flat and constructed bottom-up, meaning knitting begins at the lower edge and progresses upward toward the shoulders. The pieces are seamed together after completion, creating clean, professional-looking joins. This construction method allows for precise shaping and easier adjustments during the knitting process.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the waistcoat is Stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a neat appearance suitable for a refined garment. The pattern incorporates cable stitches as decorative elements, specifically:

• C7B (Cable 7 Back): Slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the back of work, knit the next 4 stitches from the left-hand needle, then knit 3 stitches from the cable needle
• C7F (Cable 7 Front): Slip 4 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the front of work, knit the next 3 stitches from the left-hand needle, then knit 4 stitches from the cable needle

Additional stitch techniques include M1k (make 1 knit) and M1p (make 1 purl) for increases, which are used to shape the waistcoat at strategic points. The waistcoat features ribbing at the top edge, created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a 1x1 pattern.

Shaping Details

The waistcoat incorporates strategic decreases and increases to create a fitted silhouette. Decreases occur at rows 17 and 29 at each end of the piece to create waist shaping, while increases at rows 41 and 53 provide shaping for the hips. The armholes are shaped by casting off 5 stitches at the beginning of two rows, followed by decreases over the next 7 rows. The back neck and shoulders are shaped through a series of cast-offs that create the neckline opening and shoulder line.

Materials and Tools

The Noro Kureyon Waistcoat requires Noro Kureyon yarn in quantities appropriate to the size being knitted: 180 grams for the smallest size, 200 grams for the medium size, and 220 grams for the largest size. The yarn is worked using US 10 (6mm) needles. The pattern specifies a tension of 16 stitches by 23 rows over a 4-inch (10cm) square measured in Stockinette stitch using US 10 needles, ensuring proper fit and drape.

Finishing Elements

The waistcoat is finished with 5 buttons for the main front closure and 2 small buttons for pocket decoration, adding functional and decorative details to the completed garment. The pattern includes specific placement instructions, with buttons sewn to row 25 as indicated in the accompanying photograph.

Yarn Color Options

The pattern references Noro Kureyon in multiple colorway shades: shade #345, shade #352, shade #349, and shade #348, allowing knitters to choose from Noro's distinctive multi-color palette to suit their preferences and create unique color variations of the finished waistcoat.