Noro Lace Waistcoat (Hanami) Knitting Pattern

Noro Lace Waistcoat (Hanami)

What Is Being Made

The Noro Lace Waistcoat (Hanami) is a sleeveless lace garment designed to fit bust sizes 34-38 inches. This waistcoat features an elegant lace pattern worked throughout and is constructed using a seamed, bottom-up method. The finished measurements are 42 inches in width and 20 inches in length, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions.

Construction Technique

This waistcoat is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, with separate pieces for the back and front that are later seamed together. The bottom-up construction method means knitting begins at the lower edge and progresses toward the shoulders and neckline. This approach allows for easy adjustments to length and provides clear shaping points for armholes and neckline details.

Lace Pattern and Stitches

The waistcoat features a repeating lace pattern that incorporates fundamental lace-making techniques. The pattern uses yarn overs (abbreviated as yo and yfrn for yarn forward around needle) combined with knit two together decreases (abbreviated as K2tog) to create openwork sections. These complementary increases and decreases form the characteristic holes and texture of lace knitting.

The stitch pattern alternates between knit and purl stitches in a structured repeat. The main pattern row reads: [K4, P2, K2tog, yfrn, P2] repeated 5 times, K4 on right-side rows, with corresponding purl rows maintaining the knit and purl structure. The ribbed sections at the edges (K2, P2 ribbing) provide stability and definition to the garment edges.

Shaping Details

The waistcoat incorporates strategic shaping for a tailored fit:

• Armhole shaping: Achieved through casting off 8 stitches at the beginning of a wrong-side row, followed by paired decreases on subsequent rows to create sloped armholes
• Front neckline shaping: Accomplished by slipping stitches onto spare needles in stages, creating a gradual neckline curve
• Seamed construction: Separate front and back pieces are knitted individually then joined, allowing for precise fit and professional finishing

Materials and Gauge

The waistcoat requires 230 grams of Noro Kibou yarn in shade #14. Noro Kibou is a premium yarn known for its distinctive color variations and quality construction. Two needle sizes are used: size US 6 (4mm) needles for the initial cast-on and ribbed sections, and size US 7 (4.5mm) needles for the main lace pattern work. The gauge is 20 stitches by 24 rows over 4 inches when measured over the lace pattern using the larger needles, ensuring proper drape and finished dimensions.

Pattern Specifications

The pattern is designed as one size to fit bust measurements of 34-38 inches. The back piece begins with 102 stitches cast on with size US 6 needles, while the right front begins with 53 stitches. After the initial ribbed setup rows, stitches are increased to 55 for the front piece. The lace pattern is then worked continuously until the armhole shaping begins at 12 inches from the cast-on edge, followed by progressive neckline shaping to create the finished garment silhouette.