Knit a versatile waistcoat with our free pattern!

At this time of year, layering pieces make a great addition to your wardrobe – and this cosy waistcoat will be ideal for slipping on over tops, shirts and dresses when the weather turns a little chilly!

This design from Stylecraft Yarns is knitted in Softie, a chunky blend of wool and acrylic that feels amazingly light and airy yet will keep you warm. It comes in 12 modern colours, including the Matcha green used here. The knitting pattern uses fishermen’s rib to give a plump and comfortable fabric. 

Keep scrolling to find our free waistcoat pattern.

What you will need to make your waistcoat

Yarn

Stylecraft Softie
(Chunky/bulky weight; 80% acrylic, 20% superwash wool; 185m/202yds per 100g ball)

Matcha (3870); 4 (5:5:6:6) x 100g balls

Yarn stockists

For details of your nearest stockist:
Visit stylecraft-yarns.co.uk
Email info@stylecraftltd.co.uk
Call 01484 848435

Needles and accessories

1 pair 5mm (UK 6/US 8) knitting needles
Stitch holders
7 x 2.5cm (1in) buttons

Tension

16 sts and 32 rows to 10cm (4in), over pattern on 5mm needles
It is essential to work to the stated tension to ensure the correct size of garment and you should always knit a tension square.

Size

To fit bust:
81-86 (91-97: 102-107: 112-117: 122-127) cm
32-34 (36-38: 40-42: 44-46: 48-50) in

Actual bust:
101 (111: 121: 131: 141) cm
39¾ (43¾: 47¾: 51½: 55½) in

Full length (measured from back of neck):
52 (54: 58: 61: 63) cm
20½ (21¼: 22¾: 24: 24¾) in

Abbreviations

alt: alternate
beg: beginning
cm: centimetre(s)
cont: continue
dec(s): decrease(s)
foll: following
g: grams
in: inch(es)
k: knit
K1 below: knit into stitch one row below:
k2tog tbl: knit two stitches together through back of loop
k2tog: knit two stitches together
mm: millimetre(s)
p: purl
patt: pattern
rem: remaining
rep: repeat
RS: right side
sl: slip
skpo: slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over
st(s): stitches
tog: together
WS: wrong side
yfwd: yarn forward

1×1 Rib
Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 2: P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rep rows 1 and 2.

Pattern notes

Instructions are given for the first, smallest size. Larger sizes are given in backets. Where only one figure is given, this applies to all sizes.

Where the figure 0 appears, no stitches, times, or rows are worked for this size. After casting off, one stitch will remain on the right hand needle which is not included in the instructions that follow.

Although every effort has been made to ensure that instructions are correct, Stylecraft cannot accept any liabilities.

Pattern instructions

BACK

Using 5mm needles and the thumb method, cast on 81 (89:97:105:113) sts.

Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, knit to end.
Row 2: Sl 1, *k1 below, p1; rep from * to end. 
Rows 1 and 2 form patt. 
Cont in patt until Back measures 28 (28:31:33:34) cm, 11 (11:12:13:13½) in, ending with a WS row.

Shape armholes
Cast off 4 (4:5:5:5) sts in patt at beg of next 2 rows. 
73 (81:87:95:103) sts. 

Next row: Sl 1, k5, skpo, knit to last 8 sts, k2tog, k6.
71 (79:85:93:101) sts.
Next row: Sl 1, patt 5, p2tog, patt to last 8 sts, p2tog tbl, patt 6.
69 (77:83:91:99) sts.
Rep last 2 rows 0 (1:1:1:2) more times. 
69 (73:79:87:91) sts.

Next row: Sl 1, k5, skpo, knit to last 8 sts, k2tog, k6.
67 (71:77:85:89) sts.
Next row: Sl 1, patt 5, p1, patt to last 7 sts, p1, patt 6.
Rep last 2 rows 3 (2:3:4:4) more times. 
61 (67:71:77:81) sts. 

Next row: Sl 1, k5, skpo, knit to last 8 sts, k2tog, k6. 
59 (65:69:75:79) sts.
Next row: Sl 1, patt 5, p1, patt to last 7 sts, p1, patt 6.
Next row: Sl 1, knit to end.
Next row: Sl 1, patt 5, p1, patt to last 7 sts, p1, patt 6.
Rep last 4 rows 1 (2:2:3:3) more times. 
57 (61:65:69:73) sts. 

Next row: Sl 1, knit to end.
Next row: Sl 1, patt 5, p1, patt to last 7 sts, p1, patt 6.
Last 2 rows form patt with armhole borders.
Cont in patt without shaping until armholes measure 23 (25:26:27:28) cm, 9 (9¾:10¼:10¾:11) in, ending with a WS row. **

Shape shoulders
Cast off 7 (8:8:9:10) sts in patt at beg of next 2 rows. 
43 (45:49:51:53) sts.
Cast off 8 (8:9:9:10) sts in patt at beg of next 2 rows. 
27 (29:31:33:33) sts. 
Cast off rem sts in patt.

LEFT FRONT

Using 5mm needles and the thumb method cast on 42 (46:50:54:58) sts. 
Row 1  (RS): Sl 1, knit to end.
Row 2: Sl 1, p1, *k1 below, p1; rep from * to end. 
Rows 1 and 2 form patt. 
Cont in patt until Left Front measures 28 (28:31:33:34) cm, 11 (11:12:13:13½) in, ending with a WS row. 

Shape armhole
Next row (RS): Cast off 4 (4:5:5:5) sts in patt, patt to end. 
38 (42:45:49:53) sts. 
Next row: Sl 1, patt to end.

Next row: Sl 1, k5, skpo, knit to end. 
37 (41:44:48:52) sts.
Next row: Sl 1, patt to last 8 sts, p2tog tbl, patt 6.
36 (40:43:47:51) sts.
Rep last 2 rows 0 (1:1:1:2) more times. 
36 (38:41:45:47) sts. 

Next row: Sl 1, k5, skpo, knit to end. 
35 (37:40:44:46) sts.
Next row: Sl 1, patt to last 7 sts, p1, patt 6. 
**
Rep last 2 rows 3 (2:3:4:4) more times. 
32 (35:37:40:42) sts. 

Next row: Sl 1, k5, skpo, knit to end. 
31 (34:36:39:41) sts.
Next row: Sl 1, patt to last 7 sts, p1, patt 6.
Next row: Sl 1, knit to end.
Next row: Sl 1, patt to last 7 sts, p1, patt 6.
Rep last 4 rows 1 (2:2:3:3) more times. 
30 (32:34:36:38) sts. 

Next row: Sl 1, knit to end.
Next row: Sl 1, patt to last 7 sts, p1, patt 6.
Last 2 rows form patt with armhole border.
Cont without shaping until armhole measures 14 (16:16:17:18) cm, 5½ (6¼:6¼:6½:7) in, ending with a RS row. 

Shape neck
Break off yarn.
Next row (WS): Slip first 7 (8:8:9:9) sts onto a stitch holder, rejoin yarn to rem 23 (24:26:27:29) sts and patt to end. 
Work 2 rows dec 1 st at neck edge in every row. 
21 (22:24:25:27) sts. 
Work 5 (5:7:7:7) rows dec 1 st at neck edge in next and every foll alt row. 
18 (19:20:21:23) sts. 
Work 9 rows dec 1 st at neck edge in next and every foll 4th row. 
15 (16:17:18:20) sts. 

Cont without shaping until armhole measures 23 (25:26:27:28) cm, 9 (9¾:10¼:10¾:11) in, ending with a WS row.

Shape shoulder
Next row (RS): Cast off 7 (8:8:9:10) sts, knit to end. 
8 (8:9:9:10) sts.
Next row: Sl 1, patt to end.
Cast off rem 8 (8:9:9:10) sts.

Mark positions for 7 buttons, first one to be placed 7 rows up from lower edge. The last button will be positioned in row 5 of the neckband with the remaining 5 buttons evenly spaced between these 2.

RIGHT FRONT

Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, knit to end.
Row 2: Sl 1, *k1 below, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Rows 1 and 2 form patt. 
Work 4 rows more in patt.
Row 7 (buttonhole row): Sl 1, k1, k2tog, yfwd, knit to end.
Working buttonholes as before to correspond with markers on Left Front cont in patt until Right Front measures 28 (28:31:33:34) cm, 11 (11:12:13:13½) in, ending with a RS row.

Shape armhole
Next row (WS): Cast off 4 (4:5:5:5) sts in patt, patt to end. 
38 (42:45:49:53) sts. 
Next row: Sl 1, knit to last 8 sts, k2tog, k6. 37 (41:44:48:52) sts.
Next row: Sl, patt 5, p2tog, patt to end. 
36 (40:43:47:51) sts.
Rep last 2 rows 0 (1:1:1:2) more times. 
36 (38:41:45:47) sts. 

Next row: Sl 1, knit to last 8 sts, k2tog, k6. 35 (37:40:44:46) sts.
Next row: Sl 1, patt 5, p1, patt to end. 
**
Rep last 2 rows 3 (2:3:4:4) more times. 
32 (35:37:40:42) sts. 

Next row: Sl 1, knit to last 8 sts, k2tog, k6. 
31 (34:36:39:41) sts.
Next row: Sl 1, patt 5, p1, patt to end.
Next row: Sl 1, knit to end.
Next row: Sl 1, patt 5, p1, patt to end.
Rep last 4 rows 1 (2:2:3:3) more times. 
30 (32:34:36:38) sts. 

Next row: Sl 1, knit to end.
Next row: Sl 1, patt 5, p1, patt to end.
Last 2 rows form patt with armhole border.
Cont without shaping until armhole measures 14 (16:16:17:18) cm, 5½ (6¼:6¼:6½:7) in, ending with a WS row. 

Shape neck
Next row (RS): Sl 1, k6 (7:7:8:8), slip these sts onto a stitch holder, knit to end. 
23 (24:26:27:29) sts. 
Next row: Sl 1, patt to end.
Work 2 rows dec 1 st at neck edge in every row. 
21 (22:24:25:27) sts. 
Work 5 (5:7:7:7) rows dec 1 st at neck edge in next and every foll alt row. 
18 (19:20:21:23) sts. 
Work 9 rows dec 1 st at neck edge in next and every foll 4th row. 
15 (16:17:18:20) sts. 

Cont without shaping until armhole measures 23 (25:26:27:28) cm, 9 (9¾:10¼:10¾:11) in, ending with a RS row. 

Shape shoulder
Next row (WS): Cast off 7 (8:8:9:10) sts in patt, patt to end. 
8 (8:9:9:10) sts.
Next row: Sl 1, knit to end.
Cast off rem 8 (8:9:9:10) sts in patt.

NECKBAND

Join shoulder seams. 
With RS facing, using 5mm needles slip 7 (8:8:9:9) sts held on a stitch holder for Right Front onto right hand needle, pick up and knit 15 (15:17:17:17) sts evenly up Right neck, 27 (29:31:33:33) sts from centre back neck, 15 (15:17:17:17) sts evenly down Left neck and knit across 7 (8:8:9:9) sts held on a stitch holder for Left Front. 
71 (75:81:85:85) sts.

Next row (WS): Sl 1, p1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Next row: Sl 1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Last 2 rows form rib.
Rep last 2 rows once more.
Next row: Sl 1, rib to last 5 sts, k2tog, yfwd, rib 3.
Work 4 rows more in rib.
Cast off in rib.

TO MAKE UP

Join side and armhole border seams. 
Sew on buttons. 
Pin out waistcoat to the measurements given. Cover with clean, damp tea towels and leave until dry. See ball band for washing and further care instructions.  

Stay on-trend with our free waistcoat pattern

Sleeveless sweaters and waistcoats are super popular amongst knitters this season, and our pattern is easy to make and looks great! Combining a soft, chunky yarn with a fishermen’s rib stitch pattern ensures a cosy garment that you’ll love to snuggle up in this autumn and winter.

Knit more:

• Try our two-in-one reversible waistcoat knitting pattern
• Colour block scarf knitting pattern
• This knitted dress is a winter wardrobe staple!