Sea Holly Waistcoat Knitting Pattern

Sea Holly Waistcoat in Juniper Moon Findley Dappled

What is Being Made

The Sea Holly Waistcoat is a loose-fitting knitted waistcoat designed by Janine Le Cras as part of The English Garden Collection. This garment features draped fronts and an ornate lace panel running up the center of the back, creating an elegant and sophisticated silhouette. The waistcoat is available in seven sizes ranging from XS to 3X, with finished bust measurements from 34 inches to 52 inches and lengths from 21½ inches to 24¼ inches.

Knitting Techniques Used

This waistcoat employs several intermediate knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive design. The garment incorporates lace work with an ornate central panel on the back, requiring the knitter to work from charts and follow written instructions for lace construction. Decreasing techniques are essential throughout the pattern, including double decreases, slip-slip-knit decreases (ssk), and knit-together decreases (k2tog and k3tog) to shape the armholes and create the lace pattern's openwork details. Seed stitch is worked in sections to provide textural contrast and structure to the draped front panels. The pattern also utilizes yarn-over increases (yo) to create the openwork characteristic of the lace design. Shaping is accomplished through strategic bind-offs at the beginning of rows to form the armholes, combined with decreases worked within rows to refine the silhouette.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St st) – The primary stitch used throughout most of the waistcoat, creating a smooth, classic knitted fabric
• Seed Stitch – Worked in both odd and even stitch variations, providing textured panels on the draped fronts
• Lace Stitches – Including yarn-over increases paired with various decreases to create the ornate central back panel
• Knit Two Together (k2tog) – A right-leaning decrease used throughout the pattern for shaping and lace construction
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk) – A left-leaning decrease used for balanced decreasing in lace and shaping
• Knit Three Together (k3tog) – A double decrease used in the lace panel for more dramatic openwork
• Slip, Slip, Slip, Knit (sssk) – A triple decrease for the most pronounced lace effects
• Central Double Decrease – A specialized decrease technique used in the ornate lace panel
• Yarn Over (yo) – Creates the openwork holes essential to the lace pattern

Materials and Tools

The Sea Holly Waistcoat is knitted using Juniper Moon Farm Findley Dappled yarn in color #118 Vineyard, requiring 2 balls of yarn to complete the garment. The pattern calls for a US #3 (3.25 mm) circular needle measuring 36 inches (90 cm), or a needle size adjusted to achieve the specified gauge. The recommended gauge is 24 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, which is important to achieve proper fit across all seven size options. Additional notions include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, and scrap yarn or a stitch holder for securing stitches during construction.