Nolan Vest

Nolan Vest by Triona Murphy

What Is Being Made

The Nolan Vest is a seamlessly knitted colorwork waistcoat designed for babies and young children, ranging from newborn through eight years old. This cute, sharply dressed garment features a classic vest silhouette worked from the bottom up in the round, making it an ideal layering piece for little ones.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The pattern is available in seven sizes spanning from 0-3 months through 6-8 years. Finished chest measurements range from 17.25 inches (44 cm) for the smallest size to 26.75 inches (68 cm) for the largest size, accommodating infants and children up to approximately eight years old.

Design Features and Options

The Nolan Vest offers multiple customization options to suit different preferences and needs:

• Choice between a v-neck or scoop neck neckline
• Flexible colorwork placement at either the hem or chest
• Buttons at the shoulders on the two smallest sizes (0-3 months and 3-6 months) for ease of dressing infants

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs seamless, top-down construction worked in the round, a technique that eliminates the need for seaming and creates a polished, professional finish. The vest incorporates colorwork knitting, allowing crafters to introduce visual interest through contrasting yarn colors. The seamless construction method is beginner-friendly while producing results that appear more advanced than the skill level required.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the provided content, the pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches suitable for a beginner difficulty level. The colorwork technique involves working with two colors simultaneously to create patterned sections, typically using stranded colorwork methods common in children's garment design.

Materials and Yarn Options

The pattern provides two yarn options, each offering different fiber content and yardage requirements:

Version 1: Knit Picks Brava Sport

• Fiber content: 100% acrylic
• Yardage: 273 yards (250 meters) per 100-gram skein
• Main Color: Grass
• Contrasting Color: Caution
• Quantity needed: 1-3 skeins of main color depending on size; 1 skein of contrasting color for all sizes

Version 2: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Sport

• Fiber content: 100% merino wool
• Yardage: 136 yards (124 meters) per 50-gram skein
• Main Color: Ginger
• Contrasting Color: Como Blue
• Quantity needed: 2-5 skeins of main color depending on size; 1 skein of contrasting color for all sizes

Additional Notions and Tools

Beyond yarn, the pattern requires standard knitting notions including stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, and smooth waste yarn or a stitch holder for securing stitches during construction.

Skill Level

Rated as a beginner difficulty pattern, the Nolan Vest is accessible to knitters new to colorwork and seamless construction. The straightforward shaping and fundamental techniques make it an excellent project for building confidence while creating a wearable, practical garment.