Dandelion Waistcoat in Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino (EN) - RB002-00003-ENP - Downloadable PDF

Dandelion Waistcoat by Erika Knight in Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino – Pattern Summary

About This Design

The Dandelion Waistcoat is an elegant knitted waistcoat designed by Erika Knight as part of the Rowan Bloom collection. Released as pattern reference RB002-00003-ENP, it is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated as an intermediate skill level project. The design combines a classic waistcoat silhouette with refined ribbed edging details and a neat stocking stitch body, making it a sophisticated wardrobe staple suitable for a wide range of bust sizes.

Sizing

The Dandelion Waistcoat is offered across five size ranges to suit a broad spectrum of figures:

• 81–86 cm (32–34 in) bust – actual garment measurement 98 cm / 38½ in
• 91–97 cm (36–38 in) bust – actual garment measurement 108.5 cm / 42¾ in
• 102–107 cm (40–42 in) bust – actual garment measurement 119 cm / 46¾ in
• 112–117 cm (44–46 in) bust – actual garment measurement 129.5 cm / 51 in
• 122–127 cm (48–50 in) bust – actual garment measurement 140 cm / 55 in

The generous positive ease built into the actual garment measurements gives the waistcoat a relaxed, wearable fit across all sizes.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a knitted waistcoat — a sleeveless, body-covering garment designed to be worn over a blouse, shirt, or lightweight top. The Dandelion Waistcoat features structured ribbed side edges that frame the body neatly, a smooth stocking stitch main fabric panel, and an interesting construction detail in which ties are joined to the back at the armhole shaping stage, adding a distinctive and decorative finishing element. The combination of ribbed borders and a clean stocking stitch body gives the garment both visual interest and a polished, tailored appearance.

Techniques Used

Knitters working on the Dandelion Waistcoat will practise and apply a range of intermediate techniques throughout the construction:

• Ribbing – an extended rib section is worked at the lower edge for approximately 40 rows plus an initial foundation sequence, providing stretch and structure to the hem
• Transitioning from rib to a mixed stitch pattern – after the rib section, the pattern introduces a combination of rib at the side edges and stocking stitch across the main body, requiring the knitter to keep stitches correct as set across multiple rows
• Armhole shaping – the pattern includes shaping at the armholes, worked at a specific back length measurement that varies slightly by size (43.5 to 45.5 cm depending on size)
• Joining ties to the back – a notable construction technique in which the right side of the back and wrong side of the ties are held together, indicating a joined or picked-up finishing method at the armhole
• Yarn management and breaking yarn – the pattern instructs the knitter to break yarn at a specific construction point before rejoining for the next stage

Stitches Used

The Dandelion Waistcoat draws on a small but carefully combined set of fundamental knitting stitches:

• Knit stitch (K) – used throughout the stocking stitch body panels and as part of the ribbing sequences
• Purl stitch (P) – used to create the purl columns within the rib and the reverse side of the stocking stitch fabric
• K1, P1 rib – the foundational rib stitch pattern used at the lower hem and maintained as a 9-stitch border at the side edges of the back throughout the body section
• Stocking stitch (st st) – the primary fabric of the main body panel, created by alternating kn