Ethridge Vest - Waistcoat Knitting Pattern for Women in Tahki Yarns Whistler

Ethridge Vest – Waistcoat Knitting Pattern for Women by Teresa Chorzepa in Tahki Yarns Whistler

The Ethridge Vest is a beautifully structured women's waistcoat knitting pattern designed by Teresa Chorzepa and published by Tahki Stacy Charles. Rated Easy, this pattern is an ideal project for beginner to confident beginner knitters who want to create a polished, wearable layering piece with just a touch of textural interest. The vest is worked flat in separate pieces and seamed together, giving it a classic, tailored finish that suits a wide range of body types across seven sizes.

What Is Being Made

The Ethridge Vest is a sleeveless waistcoat designed for women, intended to be worn as a stylish layering garment over blouses, shirts, or lightweight sweaters. It features a relaxed but shaped silhouette with a defined hip and bust, making it both practical and elegant. The finished garment is available in a generous size range to suit a variety of figures.

• Sizes: XS, Small, Medium, Large, XL, 2X, and 3X
• Bust measurements: 32 (36, 40, 44)(48, 52, 56) inches / 81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112)(122, 132, 142) cm
• Hip measurements: 36 (40, 44, 48)(52, 56, 60) inches / 91.5 (101.5, 112, 122)(132, 142, 152.5) cm
• Length: 25½ (26, 26½, 27)(27½, 28, 28½) inches / 65 (66, 67.5, 68.5)(70, 71, 72.5) cm

Techniques Used

The Ethridge Vest is constructed using the seamed, worked flat method, meaning each section of the vest is knitted back and forth in rows on a circular needle and then joined together with seaming. This traditional construction approach gives the finished garment excellent structure and stability. Working flat is a foundational knitting technique that is especially approachable for beginners, as it allows the knitter to see the right side of the fabric clearly at regular intervals.

The pattern also incorporates shaping techniques such as decreases (specifically k2tog, or knit two together) to create the fitted silhouette through the waist and bust. Stitch markers are used throughout to delineate pattern sections, making it easy to keep track of the Diagonal Stitch pattern placement relative to the border stitches.

Stitches Used

The Ethridge Vest combines two primary stitch patterns to create its visual appeal:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The foundational stitch of the garment, worked by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows. Stockinette creates a smooth, classic fabric that forms the main body of the vest and serves as the gauge reference — 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in Stockinette Stitch.
• Diagonal Stitch Pattern: A textural stitch pattern that adds visual interest and dimension to the body of the vest. It is worked between stitch markers, framed on each side by a border of knit stitches, giving the fabric a structured, decorative quality without overwhelming the overall design.
• k2tog (Knit Two Together): A standard right-leaning decrease used during shaping rows to reduce stitch counts and create the tailored fit of the waistcoat.

Materials – Yarn, Needles, and Notions

The pattern is specifically designed for Tahki Yarns Whistler, a worsted weight yarn with a luxurious fiber blend of 80% superwash wool and 20% kid mohair. Each hank contains approximately 99 yards / 91 meters and weighs 1.75 oz / 50g. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in color #014 Basil, a rich, earthy green tone. The superwash treatment makes the finished vest easy to care for, while the kid mohair content adds a subtle halo and softness that elevates the texture of