Bonnie Waistcoat in Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino (DE) - RB002-00007-DEP - Downloadable PDF

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

About This Design

The Bonnie Waistcoat is a charming baby knitting pattern designed by Erika Knight and published by Rowan. This pattern (reference RB002-00007-DEP) is available as a downloadable PDF and produces a classic, sleeveless waistcoat (vest) sized for babies from 0–3 months through to 9–12 months. It is rated as an intermediate difficulty project, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and working from a structured pattern.

Sizing and Fit

The Bonnie Waistcoat is designed to fit four baby sizes, with the following knitted chest measurements:

• 0–3 months: 38.5 cm knitted chest circumference
• 3–6 months: 40 cm knitted chest circumference
• 6–9 months: 41.5 cm knitted chest circumference
• 9–12 months: 43.5 cm knitted chest circumference

These generous, comfortable measurements are typical of a classic baby waistcoat designed to layer easily over bodysuits or light tops.

Construction and Techniques

The Bonnie Waistcoat is knitted flat in separate pieces — a back and a front — which are then seamed together. This traditional construction method is ideal for intermediate knitters looking to practise garment shaping and finishing skills.

Key construction details include:

• Neckline shaping: Stitches are decreased at the neck edge over the next 3 rows, one stitch at a time, ending with a wrong-side row. This creates a neat, shaped neckline typical of a classic baby garment.
• Shoulder stitches: Remaining shoulder stitches — 4 (4: 5: 5) stitches per side — are placed on a holder for later joining, a technique that produces clean, professional shoulder seams.
• Neck border: A centre neck section of 22 (24: 24: 26) stitches is placed on a holder to be worked later as a neck border in rib, giving the finished garment a tidy, structured neckline finish.
• Front shaping: The front piece is worked identically to the back up to a certain point, then diverges — the front is worked until it measures 2 cm shorter than the back before neckline shaping begins, a standard technique for achieving correct front neck depth on a waistcoat.
• Rib stitch: Ribbing is used for the neck border, adding elasticity and a polished finish around the neckline.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Ribbing – used for the neck border, worked in the round or flat to create a stretchy, neat edge
• Stocking stitch – the main body fabric of the waistcoat, creating a smooth knitted surface
• Decreasing – used for neckline and armhole shaping to create a well-fitted silhouette
• Placing stitches on holders – used for both shoulder and neck stitches to allow for neat three-needle or grafted joins and border pick-up

Yarn and Materials

This pattern is written for Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino, a luxuriously soft 4-ply weight yarn that is perfectly suited to delicate baby garments. The yarn requirements are:

• 1 x 50 g ball for sizes 0–3, 3–6, and 6–9 months
• 2 x 50 g balls for size 9–12 months

The sample shown in the pattern photography is knitted in Puddle