Women's Waistcoat in Hayfield Super Chunky with Wool - 7056 - Downloadable PDF

Women's Waistcoat in Hayfield Super Chunky with Wool – Pattern 7056

This knitting pattern (pattern number 7056) from Hayfield produces a women's waistcoat worked in Hayfield Super Chunky with Wool yarn. Designed with a beginner-friendly construction, it is an ideal project for those who are new to garment knitting or who want a straightforward, satisfying make. The finished waistcoat is a sleeveless layering piece that suits a wide range of casual and smart-casual outfits.

Sizes and Fit

The pattern is written to cover six sizes, with finished chest measurements ranging from 81 cm to 107 cm (32 in to 42 in). The actual finished lengths range from approximately 41 cm to 55.5 cm (16 in to 22 in) depending on the size chosen, giving a neat, hip-grazing silhouette. Knitters are advised to circle their chosen size before beginning to avoid confusion when following the staggered stitch counts throughout the pattern.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a women's sleeveless waistcoat — a classic, versatile knitwear staple. Waistcoats of this style are typically worked in separate flat pieces (back and fronts) and then seamed together, making them accessible for beginners who are not yet comfortable with working in the round. The sleeveless design also means there is no sleeve shaping to contend with, keeping the construction pleasingly simple while still producing a polished, wearable result.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting – the garment pieces are worked back and forth in rows on straight needles, a fundamental technique well suited to beginners.
• Casting on and casting off – including shaped cast-offs used at armhole and neckline edges to create clean, structured shaping.
• Increasing and decreasing – standard shaping techniques (abbreviated as inc and dec in the pattern) are used to shape the armholes, shoulders, and neckline.
• Tension/gauge swatching – the pattern strongly emphasises checking tension before beginning, a critical step in garment knitting to ensure the finished measurements match those stated.
• Seaming – once the individual pieces are complete, they are joined together using a finishing seam, a standard construction method for flat-knitted garments.
• Button fastening – the waistcoat features a single button closure, adding a neat, minimal detail to the front opening.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch – the main body fabric is worked in stocking stitch (knit on right side rows, purl on wrong side rows), producing a smooth, classic knitted surface. The stated tension is 9 stitches and 12 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch.
• Rib stitch – a ribbed border is typically used on waistcoat hems, armhole edges, and neckbands in patterns of this style, providing stretch and a tidy, professional finish. The use of the smaller 8mm needles alongside the main 10mm needles strongly indicates a rib border worked on the finer needle size, as is standard practice in chunky garment patterns.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Hayfield Super Chunky with Wool, shade 061. This is a super chunky weight yarn, meaning it knits up quickly and produces a wonderfully cosy, substantial fabric. The wool content adds warmth, stitch definition, and a pleasing natural feel. You will need 4 to 6 balls of 100g depending on your size (4 balls for the two smallest sizes, rising to 6 balls for the two largest sizes).
• Needles: One pair of 10mm (UK 000 / USA 15) knitting needles for the main body fabric, and one pair of 8mm (UK 0 / USA 11) knitting needles for borders and edgings.
• Notions: 1 button for the front closure.