Ladies Waistcoats in King Cole Drifter Chunky - 4607 - Downloadable PDF

Ladies Waistcoats Knitted in King Cole Drifter Chunky – Pattern 4607

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole provides instructions for knitting ladies waistcoats in a range of sizes from 81/86 cm to 122/127 cm (32/34 in to 48/50 in), making it an inclusive pattern that caters to a wide variety of fits. The pattern is rated as advanced in difficulty, making it best suited to knitters who are already comfortable with a range of knitting techniques and can confidently manage shaping, tension control, and more complex stitch work.

A waistcoat is a sleeveless, body-covering garment that sits over the torso. It is a versatile wardrobe staple that can be worn as a layering piece over blouses, shirts, or lightweight tops. Knitted waistcoats are particularly popular for their texture, warmth, and handcrafted character, and when worked in a chunky yarn they knit up relatively quickly while still delivering a polished, structured result.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically for King Cole Drifter Chunky yarn, a chunky weight yarn from King Cole's popular Drifter range. Drifter yarns are well known for their distinctive self-striping, tonal, or marled colour effects, which create visual interest without the need for complex colourwork techniques. The chunky weight means the fabric knits up with satisfying speed and produces a cosy, substantial fabric ideal for a waistcoat worn in cooler seasons.

The recommended needles are 6 mm knitting needles, though the pattern advises knitters to use whatever needle size is required to achieve the correct tension. A cable needle (CN) is also listed among the abbreviations, suggesting that at least one of the waistcoat designs in this leaflet incorporates cable stitch work.

Tension

The stated tension for this pattern is 14 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stocking stitch on 6 mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is described in the pattern as essential in order to produce a garment in the correct size. Knitters are advised to swatch before beginning: if fewer stitches are achieved than stated, thinner needles should be used; if more stitches are achieved, thicker needles are required.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stocking stitch – the primary fabric stitch, formed by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface
• Cable stitch – indicated by the inclusion of a cable needle in the abbreviations list; cables are created by crossing groups of stitches over one another to produce rope-like or twisted textural patterns
• Increasing – used to shape the garment by adding stitches at designated points
• Decreasing – used to shape armholes, necklines, and other fitted areas by reducing stitch counts
• Working from right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) – standard flat knitting construction worked back and forth in rows
• Pattern repeats – sections of stitch patterns are worked in repeating sequences to build up the overall fabric design
• Continuing in pattern – maintaining established stitch sequences while simultaneously working shaping rows

Key Abbreviations Referenced

• k – knit
• p – purl
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• tog – together (as in k2tog or p2tog for decreasing)
• inc – increase
• dec – decrease
• beg – beginning
• rem – remaining
• foll – following
• patt – pattern
• rep – repeat
• alt – alternate
• CN