Brooklin Waistcoat in Berroco Vintage Chunky - Pv2-2 - Downloadable PDF

Brooklin Waistcoat in Berroco Vintage Chunky – Pattern Summary

The Brooklin Waistcoat, designed by Elizabeth Smith and published by Berroco as part of Portfolio Vol. 2, is a stylish, relaxed-fit knitted vest for women. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated Easy, making it an excellent project for beginner knitters looking to build confidence while creating a wearable, fashionable garment. The vest is shown in size X-Small/Small and is designed to suit a wide range of body types across four size groupings.

Sizing and Fit

The Brooklin Waistcoat is offered in the following sizes, designed to fit the following bust measurements:

• X-Small/Small: 30–36 inches
• Medium/Large: 38–44 inches
• 1X/2X: 46–52 inches
• 3X/4X: 54–60 inches

Finished measurements include a back width ranging from 14¼ to 15¼ inches and a length from bottom neck to hem ranging from 18½ to 25½ inches, depending on the size selected. The inclusive size range makes this pattern accessible to a broad audience of knitters.

What Is Being Made

The Brooklin Waistcoat is a sleeveless knitted vest — sometimes referred to as a waistcoat — intended for women. This type of garment is a wardrobe staple that can be layered over blouses, long-sleeve tops, or worn on its own during warmer months. Its straightforward construction and beginner-friendly rating make it a satisfying first or early garment project for those new to knitting shaped pieces.

Techniques Used

Despite its beginner rating, the Brooklin Waistcoat introduces knitters to a pleasing combination of techniques that add visual interest and texture to the finished fabric. Key techniques include:

• Working in the round using a circular knitting needle, which is standard practice even for flat knitting on larger stitch counts
• Stitch marker placement to track pattern repeats and shaping points
• Gauge swatching across multiple stitch patterns, which is particularly important in this pattern as different stitch patterns produce different row gauges
• Basic garment shaping, including any increases or decreases needed to shape the armholes and neckline of a fitted vest

Stitches Used

The Brooklin Waistcoat features three distinct stitch patterns, each contributing a different texture and visual element to the design:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The classic knit-on-right-side, purl-on-wrong-side stitch pattern, producing a smooth, flat fabric. Gauge is 14 stitches and 21 rows to 4 inches.
• Basketweave Pattern: A textured stitch pattern created by alternating blocks of knit and purl stitches to mimic the appearance of woven fabric. Gauge is 14 stitches and 22 rows to 4 inches.
• Garter Stitch: Achieved by knitting every row, producing a ridged, stretchy fabric often used for borders and edgings. Gauge is 14 stitches and 30 rows to 4 inches.

The variation in row gauge across these three stitch patterns underscores the importance of checking gauge carefully before casting on, as Elizabeth Smith explicitly notes in the pattern instructions.

Materials Required

The recommended yarn for this pattern is Berroco Vintage Chunky, a chunky weight yarn sold in 100-gram hanks. The colorway shown in the sample garment is #6144 Cork. The quantity of yarn required varies by size:

• X-Small/Small and Medium/Large: 5 hanks
• 1X/2X: