Nissi Vest in Berroco Nuvola

Nissi Vest in Berroco Nuvola — Pattern Summary

The Nissi Vest is a beautifully structured, sleeveless pullover vest designed by Åsa Buchta and published by Berroco. Knitted in the luxuriously soft Berroco Nuvola yarn, this intermediate-level pattern offers a sophisticated silhouette with thoughtful construction details that make it a rewarding project for knitters ready to expand their skills beyond the basics.

What Is Being Made

The Nissi Vest is a chunky-weight, sleeveless knitted vest designed for a relaxed, comfortable fit. It is available in an impressive range of 12 sizes, with finished bust measurements spanning from 32½" / 82.5 cm up to 73" / 185.5 cm, making it a genuinely size-inclusive pattern. The sample shown is knitted in size 3 (40" / 100 cm), modeled with approximately 6" / 15 cm of positive ease. The recommended ease is 2–6" / 5–15 cm of positive ease, giving knitters flexibility in how fitted or relaxed they prefer the finished garment to feel. Finished lengths range from approximately 21" to 25" / 53.5 to 63.5 cm depending on size, providing a versatile, wearable length suitable for layering over shirts, blouses, or turtlenecks.

Construction Techniques

The Nissi Vest uses a clever and satisfying top-down construction approach that allows knitters to try on the garment as they go and make fit adjustments with ease. The construction sequence is as follows:

• The Upper Back is worked first, knitted flat and worked downward from the shoulders. Short row shaping is incorporated at this stage to create a smooth, well-fitted shoulder and back neck area.
• Front stitches are then picked up along the Back cast-on edge and worked downward, mirroring the back construction.
• Back and Fronts are joined at the underarms, after which the body is worked in the round as a single piece, continuing downward with slight waist shaping for a flattering, tailored silhouette.
• Stitches for the collar are also picked up and worked as part of the finishing process, creating a clean and integrated neckline treatment.

This top-down, seamless-style construction minimizes finishing work and eliminates the need for complicated seaming, making it a particularly satisfying knit despite its intermediate rating. The use of short rows for shoulder shaping is a key technique that elevates this pattern above beginner level and adds a professional, polished finish to the garment.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Nissi Vest incorporates a focused set of knitting stitches and techniques that are well within reach for an intermediate knitter:

• Stockinette stitch (St st) — the primary stitch pattern used throughout the body of the vest, creating a smooth, classic fabric that showcases the texture of Berroco Nuvola beautifully.
• Short row shaping — used in the upper back to shape the shoulders and create a refined, well-fitted upper body.
• Flat knitting — the upper back section is worked back and forth in rows before transitioning to working in the round.
• Circular knitting (in the round) — once the back and fronts are joined at the underarms, the body is worked in the round for seamless construction.
• Stitch pick-up — front stitches and collar stitches are picked up from existing edges, a technique that requires attention to even spacing for a neat result.
• Waist shaping — subtle decreases and increases are worked to shape the body slightly at the waist, adding structure and elegance to the silhouette.

Materials: Yarn, Needles, and Notions

This pattern is written specifically for Berroco Nuvola, a chunky-weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. The colorway used in the sample is #11408 Silver. Depending