Botticelli Waistcoat in Adriafil Knitcol - Downloadable PDF

Botticelli Waistcoat in Adriafil Knitcol – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Botticelli Waistcoat is a sophisticated hand-knitted waistcoat designed by Adriafil, worked in their distinctive Knitcol yarn. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated advanced in difficulty and is offered in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. The design produces a classic, tailored waistcoat with shaped side seams, armhole shaping, and a neatly finished neckline — making it an impressive project for experienced knitters looking to showcase both their technical skills and the natural beauty of a self-patterning yarn.

Materials Required

Yarn

• Yarn: Adriafil Knitcol (colorway 57, or another available colorway of your choice)
• Weight: DK weight
• Quantity: 8 balls for size Small, 9 balls for sizes Medium and Large

Needles and Notions

• Knitting needles: Size 4 mm and size 4.5 mm straight or circular knitting needles
• Tapestry needle for seaming and finishing

Tension / Gauge

• 20 stitches and 29 rows in Stocking stitch = 10 cm × 10 cm
• Adriafil strongly recommends checking your tension swatch before beginning and switching needle sizes if necessary to achieve the correct gauge

Stitches and Techniques Used

Primary Stitches

• Rib stitch — used for the lower border/welt section, worked on the smaller 4 mm needles to create a neat, elasticated edge that sits close to the body
• Stocking stitch (Stockinette stitch) — the main body fabric, worked on the larger 4.5 mm needles; this smooth, classic knit-on-right-side, purl-on-wrong-side fabric allows the self-patterning colours of Adriafil Knitcol to develop beautifully across the surface

Shaping Techniques

• Side seam shaping: The waistcoat is shaped with decreases and increases worked at regular row intervals to create a fitted silhouette. Specifically, 4 decreases of 1 stitch on both sides every 8th row are worked from the lower edge to pull the fabric in at the waist, followed by 4 increases of 1 stitch on both sides every 12th row to flare back out toward the chest
• Neckline shaping: At 56 cm height, the centre 20 stitches are cast off to begin the neck opening, and the two sections are then worked separately. Further neckline decreases are made in a stepped sequence — 3 sets of 3 stitches, 3 sets of 2 stitches, and 3 sets of 1 stitch, each worked every 2nd row — to create a smooth, rounded neckline curve
• Needle changes: The pattern uses a deliberate switch from 4 mm needles (for the rib border) to 4.5 mm needles (for the main body), a common technique to ensure the border is firm and the body fabric has the correct drape and stitch count
• Stitch count adjustment: At the transition between rib and stocking stitch, stitches are increased or decreased evenly across the final rib row to reach the correct working stitch count for each size — a technique that ensures the stocking stitch body begins with perfectly distributed stitches

Construction and Design Details

The Botticelli Waistcoat is constructed in separate flat pieces that are later seamed together using a tapestry needle. The back piece is cast on with 67 stitches (S), 77 stitches (M), or 87 stitches (L) on 4 mm needles, and the rib border is worked for 10 cm before transitioning