Rowan Bertha Waistcoat Knitting Pattern
By Rowan
Specifications
| Brand: | Rowan |
| Yarn Weight: | DK | Light Worsted |
| Designer: | Lisa Richardson |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English, French |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Pages: | 7 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
| Finished Size: | To Fit Bust: 71cm to 157cm (28" to 62") |
| Needles Required: | 3.25mm (US 3), 3.75mm (US 5) Single Point Needles & 3.25mm (US 3) Circular Needles |
| Pattern Code: | 04 |
| Featured Products: | Rowan Felted Tweed Yarn - Wool DK |
What you'll need
1 Select Size
2 Select Colors
Rowan Felted Tweed Yarn - Wool DK
Stone (190)
Out of stock — not added to kit
× $12.38
Rowan Felted Tweed Yarn - Wool DK
Ginger (154)
In stock
× $12.38
Rowan Felted Tweed Yarn - Wool DK
Bilberry (151)
In stock
× $12.38
Rowan Felted Tweed Yarn - Wool DK
Watery (152)
In stock
× $12.38
Rowan Felted Tweed Yarn - Wool DK
Tawny (186)
Out of stock — not added to kit
× $12.38
Rowan Felted Tweed Yarn - Wool DK
Avocado (161)
In stock
× $12.38
3 Accessories
Product Description
Rowan Bertha from Felted Tweed is a lovely and colorful Fair Isle women’s vest. The sweater features an exaggerated v-neckline with a contrast stripe. The contrast stripe ribbing is also at the hem. Bertha is knit flat in pieces from the bottom up and then seamed. Rowan Felted Tweed is a luxurious blend available in a delightful array of heathered shades. The Fair Isle pattern is in chart form only.
Skill Level: Easy
Sizes: 28–30 (32–34, 36–38, 40–42, 44–46, 48–50, 52–54, 56–58, 60–62)” bust
Finished Measurement:
Bust – 33¾ (37½, 41¾, 45½, 49½, 53¼, 57½, 61¼, 65¼)”
Length – 26½ (27¼, 28¼, 29, 29½, 30½. 31. 31¾, 32)”
Yarn Requirements: Rowan Felted Tweed (50% Merino/ 25%Alpaca/ 25% Rayon; 50g/190yds)
Color A – 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) balls shown in 190 Stone
Color B – 1 ball for all sizes shown in 154 Ginger
Color C – 1 ball for all sizes shown in 151 Bilberry
Color D – 1 ball for all sizes shown in 152 Watery
Color E – 1 ball for all sizes shown in 186 Tawny
Color F – 1 ball for all sizes shown in 161 Avocado
Needles:
US 3 (3.25mm) single points and 40” circular
US 5 (3.75mm) single points to get gauge
Gauge: 26 sts and 27 rows = 4” in patterned stockinette stitch on US 5 (3.75mm)
Rowan Bertha Waistcoat by Lisa Richardson
What is Being Made
The Rowan Bertha is a knitted waistcoat (sleeveless vest) designed by Lisa Richardson. This intermediate-level garment is available in nine sizes, ranging from a chest circumference of 71–76 cm up to 152–157 cm, making it suitable for a wide range of body measurements. The waistcoat features a fitted silhouette with shaped armholes and tailored shoulder seams, offering a classic, structured garment suitable for layering or wearing as a standalone piece.
Techniques Used
The Bertha employs several fundamental knitting techniques to achieve its fitted shape and polished finish. The garment begins with a cast-on of between 104 and 208 stitches depending on size, followed by straight knitting for seven rows. Increases are then worked strategically at each side of the garment to create shaping, with the frequency and timing of increases varying by size to accommodate different proportions. The pattern uses stitch markers to indicate key construction points, such as the base of the armholes. Shoulder shaping is accomplished through a series of bind-offs worked at the beginning of rows, creating a stepped, angled shoulder line. Neckline shaping involves simultaneous decreasing at the neck edge while binding off at the shoulder, a technique that requires working each side of the neckline separately to maintain pattern integrity. The construction method appears to be worked primarily in the round or in flat pieces, with careful attention to maintaining established stitch patterns throughout shaping.
Stitches Used
The Rowan Bertha is worked primarily in stockinette stitch (known as jersey in French patterns), the foundational stitch that creates the smooth, classic fabric characteristic of traditional waistcoats. The pattern references maintaining stitches "according to the established pattern," indicating that stitch pattern consistency is important throughout the garment, particularly during increases and shaping sections. The pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations and techniques including knit rows, purl rows, increases worked into established stitches, and bind-offs for shaping shoulders and necklines.
Materials: Yarn and Needles
The Rowan Bertha is designed to be worked in Rowan Felted Tweed, a wool-based yarn available in multiple colorways. The yarn quantities required vary by size, ranging from 4 to 8 balls of 50-gram weight. Six colorway options are specified in the pattern:
- Stone 190 – 4 to 8 balls depending on size
- Ginger 154 – 1 ball (likely for contrast or trim)
- Bilberry 151 – 1 ball (likely for contrast or trim)
- Watery 152 – 1 ball (likely for contrast or trim)
- Tawny 186 – 1 ball (likely for contrast or trim)
- Avocado 161 – 1 ball (likely for contrast or trim)
The pattern calls for size 3¼ (3.25 mm) knitting needles. Felted Tweed is a durable, textured yarn that provides excellent stitch definition and is well-suited to fitted garments where stitch clarity enhances the finished appearance. The yarn's characteristics make it ideal for a structured waistcoat that maintains its shape through wear and washing.
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