Courtyard Duster in Tahki Yarns - TSS18 - Downloadable PDF

Courtyard Duster Knitting Pattern by Teresa Chorzepa – Tahki Yarns TSS18

The Courtyard Duster is a striking, long-line knitted waistcoat designed by Teresa Chorzepa and published by Tahki Yarns (Tahki Stacy Charles Inc.) as a downloadable PDF pattern. With a generous length of approximately 31 to 33 inches from shoulder and a relaxed, oversized bust measurement ranging from 52 to 68 inches, this duster-style waistcoat is designed to drape elegantly and make a bold colorful statement. It is available in three sizes: Small/Medium, Large/XL, and 2X/3X, making it an inclusive and versatile design suitable for a wide range of body types.

Design Overview and Construction

One of the most distinctive structural features of the Courtyard Duster is its side-to-side construction. Rather than being knitted from the bottom hem upward in the conventional manner, the garment is worked from side to side in two identical panels, which are then sewn together at the center back. This seamed, worked-flat approach gives the finished piece excellent structure and drape, and it also creates a natural framework for the colorwork striping that defines the design's visual character.

Because the duster is worked flat in two mirrored panels, knitters will find the construction logical and methodical. The seamed technique means that finishing skills — specifically mattress stitch or a similar seaming method — are part of the making process, producing clean, professional joins at the back. This side-to-side method is also a clever way to showcase the multiple yarn colors as vertical stripes when the garment is worn, adding length and elegance to the silhouette.

Techniques and Construction Methods

• Worked flat on a long circular needle, knitting back and forth in rows rather than in the round
• Seamed construction — two identical panels are sewn together at the center back upon finishing
• Side-to-side knitting — an unconventional and rewarding construction direction that naturally integrates the colorwork
• Carrying yarn — color A (ash) is carried loosely along the side edge to minimize the number of ends to weave in, a practical technique that streamlines finishing
• Colorwork striping — multiple yarn colors are introduced and cut at intervals, with specific row sequences repeated for each color block

Stitches Used

The Courtyard Duster is rated as a beginner-friendly pattern, and the stitch vocabulary reflects this accessibility. The primary fabric is worked in pattern — a combination of knit and purl stitches consistent with a rib or textured pattern stitch. Specific stitch details visible in the pattern include:

• Slip stitch selvedge — rows begin with a slipped stitch (Sl 1) for neat, even edges
• Rib stitch — a [k1, p1] rib is used, particularly at the bind-off edge, creating a tidy, slightly elastic finish
• Bind off in rib — the final stitches are bound off maintaining the rib pattern for a professional, stretchy edge
• Knit and purl combinations worked across rows to create the main body fabric

The repetitive row sequences — for example, Rows 6–23 repeated for each new color — make the pattern easy to memorize and rhythm-friendly for beginner knitters building confidence with multi-color projects.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

This pattern is designed specifically for Tahki Yarns TANDEM, a worsted weight yarn, used across six carefully curated colorways to create the duster's vibrant striped palette. The six colors called for are:

• Color A – #16 Ash (used as the anchor/background color, carried throughout): 3 (3, 5) balls
• Color B – #06 Northern Lights: 2 (3, 3) balls
• Color C –