Vest Waistcoat Knitting Pattern

Vest in Noro Miyabi

What is Being Made

This is an intermediate-level knitted vest designed in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X-Large. The finished garment features a bust measurement of 38¼ inches (Small) up to 56 inches (3X-Large), with length measurements varying from 22½ inches to 24½ inches depending on size. The vest is shown and photographed in size Small, providing a clear reference for the final appearance of the completed project.

Techniques Used

The Vest in Noro Miyabi employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques throughout its construction. Increases are created using the make one method, which involves lifting the strand between stitches and knitting or purling into the back loop to add new stitches. Decreases are accomplished through the slip, slip, knit (or slip, slip, purl) method, where two stitches are slipped individually and then worked together to reduce stitch count. The pattern utilizes stitch markers to help track pattern repeats and shaping points. Pick up and knit or pick up and purl techniques are employed to add stitches along edges, allowing for seamless integration of borders or additional sections. The pattern also incorporates selvage stitches at edges to facilitate easier seaming during finishing.

Stitches Used

The vest construction relies on essential knitting stitches presented in both knitwise and purlwise variations. Knit stitches are worked by inserting the needle as if to knit, while purl stitches are created by inserting the needle as if to purl. The pattern includes slip stitches, where stitches are passed from the left-hand needle to the right-hand needle without being worked, allowing for stitch manipulation and shaping. The pattern is charted, meaning some areas may contain no stitch spaces (indicated by shaded areas on the chart) where stitches have been decreased or not yet created; these spaces are simply skipped during chart reading. The combination of knit, purl, and slip stitches creates the fabric structure and any textural or colorwork elements in the design.

Materials and Tools

The Vest in Noro Miyabi is constructed using Noro Miyabi yarn, a premium Japanese yarn in colorway #12. The yardage requirement is 3 hanks of 100g each for sizes Small through Large, and 4 hanks for sizes X-Large, 2X-Large, and 3X-Large, allowing for adequate material across the full size range. Size US 9/5.5mm circular needles are required in two lengths: a 16-inch needle for smaller sections and a 32-inch needle for working larger circumferences, with needle size adjusted as needed to obtain the correct gauge. Stitch markers are essential notions for tracking pattern repeats and shaping throughout the project.