This floral colourwork waistcoat has a modern silhouette
LISA RICHARDSON
DESIGNED TO be a useful summer layering piece, this cropped waistcoat by Lisa Richardson has a one-button fastening. It is decorated with a stranded colourwork pattern inspired by hibiscus flowers, which is worked in two shades of Rowan’s Summerlite 4ply. This is a beautifully soft, matt cotton yarn which comes in a palette of elegant pastels and brighter, jewel-like hues. The garment’s borders are knitted in a striped garter stitch pattern.
BACK
Using 2.25mm needles and yarn B, cast on 117 (131:147:159:173:187:203:215:233) sts. Join in yarn A.
Rows 1 and 2: Using yarn A, knit. Rows 3 and 4: Using yarn B, knit. These 4 rows form striped garter stitch.
Work in striped garter stitch for a further 5 rows, ending with WS facing for next row.
Row 10 (WS): Using yarn A, K4 (2:3:7:5:3:1: 8:8), M1, [K9 (9:10:9:9:9:10:9:9), M1] 12 (14:14:16:18:20:20:22:24) times, K5 (3:4:8:6:4:2:9:9). 130 (146:162:176:192:208:224:238:258) sts.
Change to 3mm needles. Beg and ending rows as indicated, using the Fair Isle technique (stranding colour not in use loosely across the back of the work), repeating the 24-st patt repeat 4 (6:6:6:8:8:8:8:10) times across each row and repeating the 24-row patt repeat throughout, cont in patt from Chart, which is worked mainly in st st beg with a K row, as folls:
Cont straight until work measures 12 (13:13½:14:14½:15:15:16:16) cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
SHAPE ARMHOLES
Keeping patt correct, cast off 9 (10:12:13:14: 15:17:18:21) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 112 (126:138:150:164:178:190:202:216) sts.
Dec 1 st at each end of next 9 (11:13:13:15: 15:17:19:21) rows, then on foll 8 (10:11:12:13: 15:16:18:20) alt rows. 78 (84:90:100:108:118:124:128:134) sts.
Cont straight until armhole measures 25 (26:27½:29:30½:32:33:34:35) cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
SHAPE SHOULDERS AND BACK NECK
Next row (RS): Cast off 3 (4:4:5:6:7:8:8:9) sts, patt until there are 15 (16:19:21:24: 27:29:31:33) sts on right needle and turn, leaving rem sts on a holder. Work each side of neck separately. Keeping patt correct, dec 1 st at neck edge of next 4 rows and AT THE SAME TIME cast off 3 (4:5:5:6:7:8:9:9) sts at beg of 2nd row, and 4 (4:5:6:7:8:8:9:10) sts at beg of foll alt row.
Work 1 row.
Cast off rem 4 (4:5:6:7:8:9:9:10) sts.
With RS facing, slip centre 42 (44:44:48:48: 50:50:50:50) sts onto a holder
