Tahki Yarns Courtyard Duster Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Courtyard Duster Pattern Summary

What is Being Made

The Courtyard Duster is a sophisticated knitted waistcoat designed by Teresa Chorzepa. This garment is a side-to-side constructed piece that creates an elegant, elongated silhouette. The duster features a relaxed fit with finished bust measurements of approximately 52 (61, 68) inches and a length from shoulder of approximately 31 (32, 33) inches, making it suitable for layering over other garments. The design includes front and back panels that are sewn together, with strategically placed slits and open edges for the neck and front opening.

Techniques Used

The Courtyard Duster employs seamed construction and is worked flat, making it an accessible project for beginner-level knitters. The garment is constructed from two identical panels that are worked from side to side, then sewn together at the center back. This approach minimizes the complexity of shaping while creating a cohesive finished piece. The pattern uses a technique of carrying yarn loosely along the side edge when not in active use, which reduces the number of yarn ends requiring finishing work. The construction method includes strategic marker placement to define key measurements for neck opening, front edges, armholes, and side slits before seaming.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch – forms the primary fabric structure
• Purl stitch – creates textural contrast and ribbed edging
• Ribbed pattern – used for borders and edge definition, created by alternating knit and purl stitches
• Yarn over (yo) – creates decorative eyelet details
• Purl two together (p2tog) – used in conjunction with yarn overs for lace-like patterning
• Slip stitch (sl 1) – maintains neat edge stitches throughout the piece

Materials and Tools

This pattern calls for Tahki Yarns TANDEM yarn in six coordinating colorways. The color palette includes 3 (3, 5) balls of color #16 ash (A) as the primary yarn, with 2 (3, 3) balls each of five accent colors: #06 northern lights (B), #19 lava (C), #09 iris garden (D), #10 copacabana (E), and #27 autumn leaves (F). The yarn is worked on one size 8 (5mm) circular needle measuring 36 inches long, or a size adjusted to obtain proper gauge. Additional supplies include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and construction points, and a yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends.

Gauge and Construction Details

The pattern requires a gauge of 16 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in pattern stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements. The cast-on for each panel consists of 241 (249, 257) stitches depending on size. The pattern features color work that is introduced progressively throughout the piece, with color changes occurring at specific row intervals. The construction includes ribbed edging at the beginning and end of each panel, with the main body featuring a combination of stockinette stitch and textured patterning created by the yarn over and purl two together sequences.

Finishing and Assembly

After completing both identical panels, the finishing process involves blocking pieces to measurements to ensure consistent sizing. The panels are then positioned with their cast-on edges adjacent to each other, and markers are placed 27 (28, 29) inches from one end to define the back seam placement. The side seams are sewn from marked points to the bottom edges, leaving the upper portions open to form the neck and front openings. Armholes are defined by markers placed 8½ (9½, 10½) inches down from the fold line, with additional markers at 8 inches up from the bottom edges indicating slit placement. The final step involves weaving in all remaining yarn ends for a polished appearance.