Linen Vest

Linen Vest by BiggerthanlifeKnits

What Is Being Made

The Linen Vest is a sleeveless knitted garment designed as a summer accessory. This vest pattern, created by designer Noma Ndlovu, offers a lightweight layering piece suitable for warm weather wear. The pattern includes ten different sizes, ranging from a 28-inch bust fit up to a 68-inch bust fit, with a consistent finished length of 24 inches across all sizes. The vest maintains a simple, elegant silhouette with a back width that scales proportionally from 12 inches to 32 inches depending on the chosen size.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project worked in the round using circular needles. The construction method involves knitting with circular needles measuring 32 inches (80 centimeters) long, which allows for seamless construction of the vest body. The pattern employs a lace knitting technique, which creates an openwork design that enhances the breathability of the garment—an ideal feature for a summer vest. Lace patterns in knitting involve strategic yarn overs and decreases that form decorative holes and textured motifs throughout the fabric.

Stitches and Pattern Details

The vest features a simple lace pattern as its primary stitch work. The gauge for this lace pattern is established at 26 stitches and 28 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters) when measured after blocking. This gauge specification is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions and drape of the garment. Blocking—the process of wetting and shaping the knitted fabric to set the stitches and even out the lace pattern—is a critical finishing step for this project.

Materials and Yarn

The Linen Vest is constructed using 100% linen yarn, specifically Quince and Co Sparrow in the Juniper colorway. Linen is a natural fiber known for its exceptional breathability, lightweight quality, and crisp texture, making it an excellent choice for summer garments. The yarn is a 4-ply weight, which provides a balanced thickness suitable for creating defined lace patterns without excessive bulk.

Yardage requirements vary by size:

• Smallest size (28-inch bust): 870 meters / 951 yards (6 × 50g skeins)
• Mid-range sizes: 920–1,185 meters / 1,006–1,296 yards (6–8 skeins)
• Largest size (68-inch bust): 1,410 meters / 1,542 yards (10 skeins)

The pattern requires US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles measuring 32 inches (80 centimeters) in length, as well as a yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the lace pattern itself is described as simple, knitters should have foundational knowledge of lace knitting techniques, including yarn overs and decreases, as well as experience reading lace charts. The use of circular needles and the need for proper blocking also require intermediate-level skills.