Oakley in MODE at Rowan Merino Soft - Downloadable PDF

Oakley Knitted Waistcoat by Quail Studio – Pattern Summary

The Oakley is a sophisticated knitted waistcoat designed by Quail Studio and published as part of the Mode at Rowan collection. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a structured, cable-detailed sleeveless garment suitable for a wide range of chest sizes, making it a versatile addition to any knitter's wardrobe. The design is rated intermediate in difficulty, rewarding knitters who are comfortable with cable techniques and shaping with a polished, wearable result.

What Is Being Made

The Oakley is a classic waistcoat — a sleeveless, close-fitting knitted garment worked in two main pieces: a back and a front. The front features a divided neckline finished with a 45 cm zip, giving the piece a contemporary, practical edge rather than a traditional button band. The garment is worked flat on a pair of needles and seamed, with shoulder stitches cast off in pattern and back neck stitches marked for neat construction. The finished waistcoat is photographed in Snow 017, showcasing the textural cable detailing against a clean, light background.

Sizes Available

The pattern is graded across nine sizes, fitting chest measurements from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with actual garment chest measurements ranging from 90 cm (35½ in) to 171.5 cm (67½ in). This generous size range makes the Oakley accessible to a broad spectrum of knitters and wearers.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Merino Soft by Rowan, a 50 g ball in Aran weight. The pattern requires between 13 and 21 balls depending on size, with the smallest size needing 13 balls and the largest requiring 21 balls.
• Needles: One pair of 4 mm (UK No. 8 / US 6) straight needles, plus a cable needle for working the cable stitches.
• Extras: A 45 cm zip for the front opening.

Tension

The recommended tension is 24 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm, measured over pattern using 4 mm (US 6) needles. Achieving the correct tension is especially important in a cabled fabric, as cables naturally draw in the knitting horizontally. Knitters are advised to swatch carefully before beginning, adjusting needle size as needed to match the stated tension.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting — the back and front are worked separately in rows and then seamed together at the shoulders and sides.
• Cable knitting — the main fabric is a cable-based pattern requiring the use of a cable needle to hold stitches either at the front or back of the work while others are knitted.
• Shaping — the pattern includes shoulder shaping and a divided front neck, with stitches placed on holders and each side of the neck worked separately.
• Seaming and finishing — shoulder seams are joined in pattern, and a zip is inserted into the front opening for a neat, modern finish.

Stitches Used

The Oakley makes use of a rich vocabulary of cable stitches, all clearly defined in the pattern's special abbreviations section:

• C4B — Cable 4 Back: slip 2 stitches to cable needle held at back, knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle. Creates a right-leaning cable twist over 4 stitches.
• C4F — Cable 4 Front: slip 2 stitches to cable needle held at front, knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle. Creates a left-leaning cable twist over 4 stitches.
• C6B — Cable 6 Back: slip 3 stitches to cable needle held at back, kn