Plymouth Yarn Easy Vest Waistcoat Knitting Pattern

Plymouth Yarn Easy Vest

What is Being Made

The Plymouth Yarn Easy Vest is a classic sleeveless waistcoat designed for knitters of all skill levels. This garment is available in four finished sizes: 36", 40", 44", and 48" bust circumference, with finished lengths ranging from 20" to 22" depending on size. The vest features a button-front closure with four buttons and is constructed as a single piece from the bottom up to the armholes, then divided for the front and back sections.

Construction Techniques

This vest employs a bottom-up seamed construction method, meaning the knitter begins at the lower edge and works upward toward the shoulders. The garment is worked flat on straight needles, allowing for straightforward shaping and buttonhole placement. The vest is knitted as one continuous piece to the armhole division point, which simplifies assembly and creates a cohesive fabric structure.

The design incorporates strategic buttonhole placement every 3½" along the right front edge, created using the yarn-over and knit-two-together (YO, K2TOG) technique. This method produces neat, functional buttonholes suitable for standard buttons. The vest features garter stitch edging along the front bands and lower edge, which provides a finished appearance and prevents curling of the stockinette stitch body.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch throughout the body of the vest, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. This produces the classic smooth, V-textured fabric characteristic of knitted garments.
• Garter stitch: Used for the front bands and lower edge (5 stitches on each side), created by knitting every row. This creates horizontal ridges and provides structure and stability.
• Yarn-over (YO): Used in conjunction with knit-two-together to create buttonholes, adding decorative eyelets while maintaining stitch count.
• Knit-two-together (K2TOG): A right-leaning decrease used both for buttonhole creation and for armhole shaping at the front edges.

Materials and Gauge

The Easy Vest is worked in Encore Worsted, a durable worsted-weight yarn by Plymouth Yarn. Yardage requirements vary by size: 4 balls (100g each) for the smallest size, increasing to 5 balls for the two middle sizes, and 6 balls for the largest size. This yarn choice provides excellent stitch definition and durability for a frequently-worn garment.

The pattern specifies US Size 6 and Size 7 circular needles measuring 24" in length for ribbing and initial setup, with US Size 8 straight needles for the main body knitting. The recommended gauge is 18 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the larger needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements. Additional materials include 4 buttons, 1 stitch marker, 4 removable markers, and 1 stitch holder for managing stitches during construction.

Pattern Structure and Sizing

The pattern provides detailed instructions for all four sizes, with stitch counts and measurements clearly delineated. Cast-on begins with 166 (182, 198, 214) stitches depending on desired size. The lower edge is worked in garter stitch for 4 rows before transitioning to the stockinette body. The vest body is worked to approximately 10½" before the armhole division occurs, at which point 16 stitches are bound off on each side to create armholes. The armhole depth ranges from 7½" to 10½" depending on size, allowing for proper fit across different body types.