925 Tamarind - Waistcoat Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Conway

925 Tamarind – Women's Lace Waistcoat Knitting Pattern by Julie Turjoman

The 925 Tamarind is an elegant, large-scale lace waistcoat designed by Julie Turjoman and published as a downloadable PDF pattern. Described as a sophisticated statement piece, this sleeveless topper is designed for three-season wear, sitting beautifully over a tee shirt or blouse. The generous, flowing silhouette and open lace construction make it a versatile wardrobe addition for intermediate knitters looking for a rewarding and wearable project.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's knitted waistcoat — a sleeveless, open-front vest or topper — featuring a dramatic large-scale lace design across the body. The finished garment is intended to be worn with positive ease, giving it a relaxed, draped quality. Three sizes are available:

• S/M – finished bust measurement of 38¾ inches, length 28 inches
• L/XL – finished bust measurement of 49 inches, length 31¼ inches
• 2XL/3XL – finished bust measurement of 59 inches, length 32¼ inches

Each size is built with 4 to 6 inches of positive ease, meaning the garment is intentionally larger than the wearer's actual bust measurement to create a relaxed, flowing fit. The sample shown in the pattern photography is knitted in Size S/M.

Techniques Used

The 925 Tamarind pattern incorporates several knitting techniques that place it firmly in the intermediate skill level category. Knitters comfortable with basic shaping, reading lace charts or written lace instructions, and working with circular needles will find this pattern an enjoyable and achievable challenge.

• Bottom-up construction: The waistcoat is worked from the lower edge upward, which is a traditional and intuitive approach that allows knitters to try on the piece as they progress and adjust length if desired.
• Worked flat: Despite being knitted on circular needles, the body is worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round, which is common for open-front garments like waistcoats and cardigans. Circular needles are used to accommodate the large stitch count comfortably.
• Lace knitting: The defining feature of this design is its large-scale lace pattern. Lace knitting involves a combination of yarn-overs (to create deliberate holes or eyelets) and corresponding decreases (to maintain stitch count), producing an open, decorative fabric. The lace repeat in this pattern is substantial in scale, giving the waistcoat its bold, statement-making character.
• Seamless construction: Elements of the construction are worked seamlessly, reducing the need for finishing seams and resulting in a cleaner, more polished final garment.

Stitches Used

The pattern draws on a combination of foundational and decorative stitches to build its textured, lace fabric:

• Stockinette stitch – used as the base fabric and for gauge measurement; 22 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches blocked on US 5 needles
• Knit through the back loop (k1 tbl) – a twisted knit stitch that adds definition and a subtle decorative detail within the lace repeat, as referenced in the pattern abbreviations
• Purl stitches – used in combination with knit stitches to frame and define the lace motifs
• Yarn-overs and decreases – the building blocks of all lace patterns, creating the open eyelets and maintaining the stitch count throughout the lace repeats

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Valley Yarns Conway, a DK weight yarn with a composition of 60% Pima Cotton and 40% Acrylic, available in 50g skeins of approximately 127 yards each. The cotton-acrylic blend makes this yarn breathable, lightweight, and easy to care for — ideal for a three-season garment. The sample is knitted in Color 05 Winter Lake. Yarn requirements are: