Gauguin Waistcoat in Adriafil Knitcol - Downloadable PDF

Gauguin Waistcoat in Adriafil Knitcol – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Gauguin Waistcoat is a sophisticated, sleeveless knitted gilet designed by Adriafil, available as a downloadable PDF. Worked in the brand's distinctive Adriafil Knitcol yarn, this waistcoat delivers striking colour transitions without the need for manual colour changes, making the yarn itself a central design feature. The pattern is rated advanced in difficulty, making it an excellent project for experienced knitters looking to refine their skills in shaping, finishing, and textural stitch work.

Garment Overview

The Gauguin Gilet is a waistcoat — a sleeveless, body-covering garment typically worn as a layering piece. This design features a V-neckline with a ribbed border, ribbed armhole borders, and a ribbed lower hem, giving it a clean, structured finish. It is worked flat in pieces and then seamed, with borders added in the round using double-pointed needles. The pattern is offered in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Adriafil Knitcol in shade 47 — a self-striping, multicolour DK weight yarn that produces bold, painterly colour effects inspired by the work of Post-Impressionist artists
• Quantity: 5 balls for sizes S and M; 6 balls for size L
• Needles: Size 4.5 mm straight knitting needles for the main body pieces, and 4.5 mm double-pointed knitting needles for working the neck border in the round

Tension and Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is essential for this pattern. The stated tension is 22 stitches and 36 rows to 10 x 10 cm measured over the main Pattern stitch. Knitters are advised to take time to check their tension swatch carefully and switch to a different needle size if necessary to match gauge before beginning the project.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Main Pattern Stitch

The body of the Gauguin Waistcoat is worked in a defined Pattern stitch as specified in the PDF. This stitch creates the primary fabric of the garment and, combined with the self-striping nature of Adriafil Knitcol, produces a visually rich, textured surface with organic colour movement throughout.

1x1 Ribbing

1x1 Ribbing — worked by alternating one knit stitch with one purl stitch across each row — is used extensively throughout the finishing of this waistcoat. It appears in the following areas:

• Lower hem border: Stitches are picked up evenly along the lower edges of both the front and back pieces — 84, 94, or 102 stitches depending on size — and worked for 8 cm in 1x1 Ribbing before being bound off in pattern
• Armhole borders: With shoulder seams centred, 96, 100, or 104 stitches are picked up over 44, 46, or 48 cm respectively, and worked for 7 rows in 1x1 Ribbing before binding off
• Neckband: Using double-pointed needles, 170 stitches are picked up along the entire neck edge and worked in 1x1 Ribbing in the round

V-Neck Shaping with Double Decrease

The V-neckline requires a specific double decrease technique worked at the centre front on every row. The method is as follows: work to one stitch before the centre stitch, slip 2 stitches together knitwise, knit 1, then pass both slipped stitches over the knitted stitch. This creates a neat, centred decrease that keeps the V-neck border lying flat and symmetrical — a hallmark of polished knitwear finishing.