Twist this easy waistcoat around your neck twice or wear it as a halter neck on its own or under a jacket
By: Christa Swanepoel
What do you need?
- About 4–5 balls ELLE FAMILY KNIT DK (50 g) in Bronco
- 4 mm circular needle
Knitting info
- The waistcoat can be knitted for any size.
- It is knitted in one piece and is sewn together in one place. Work out the number of stitches according to the yarn you use and the size of the person for whom you want to knit it.
Abbreviations
dec – decrease
k – knit
k2tog – knit 2 st together
m1 – make 1
p – purl
p2tog – purl 2 st together
psso – pass slipped stitch over
pat st – pattern stitch
sl1 – slip one stitch
yon – yarn over needle
Work out the number of stitches like this
Measure your waist loosely.
W (waist) = … cm
Measure the length from the far side of one shoulder to the other and deduct about 2 cm.
S (shoulder) = … cm
Measure the length from your waist under your breast to the middle at the back of your neck and multiply by 2.
H (halter neck) = … cm
Depending on the yarn you use, work out the number of stitches as follows:
DK yarn = multiply by 2.2
Chunky = multiply by 1.5
Round off to an even number.
Example
W = 75 cm x 2.2 = 165 st (rounded off to even number = 166 st)
S = 45 cm x 2.2 = 99 st (rounded off to even number = 100 st)
H = 100 cm x 2.2 = 220 st
Cast on 486 st (166 + 100 + 220).
Tips
Knit pattern stitch to some (even number) stitches shortly before corners and then knit plain to enable smooth decreasing in corners. Decide for yourself how far from the corner you want to stop the pattern stitch, however it shouldn’t be fewer than 6 st.
You can also knit the whole pattern in garter stitch or whatever pattern you prefer.
Pattern stitch
Multiples of 2
1st to 6th row: k
7th and 9th row: *yon to make st (m1), k2tog, rep from * to end.
8th and 10th row: *m1, p2tog.
Rep 1st to 8th row.
Method
With 4 mm circular needle cast on W + S + H st. Mark first and last st of S.
1st row: 1st row of pat st to st before marked st (corner), sl1, k2tog, psso (2 st dec), k to st before next marked st (corner), sl1, k2tog, psso (2 st dec), k to end.
2nd row: 2nd row of pat st to end.
3rd row: as 1st row.
4th row: as 2nd row.
5th row: as 1st row.
6th row: as 2nd row.
7th row: k2, 7th row of pat st to some st before corner, k to 1 st before marked st, sl1, k2tog, psso, k some st, continue with pat st and work in pat to some st before corner, k to 1 st before marked st, sl1, k2tog, psso, k somer st, pat to end, k2.
8th row: k2, 8th row of pat st, but k across plain st in corners and end with k2.
9th row: as 7th row.
10th row: as 8th row.
Rep 1st to 10th row till there are about 14 st left between marked st.
Rep 1st to 6th row.
Cast off as follows: cast off to 1 st before corner st, cast 1 st off, k2tog, pull last st over, cast off to 1 st before next corner st, cast off 1 st, k2tog, pull last st over, cast off to end.
To complete
Sew up according to sketch.
