Women's Waistcoat in Hayfield Super Chunky with Wool - 7385 - Downloadable PDF

Women's Waistcoat Knitting Pattern – Hayfield Super Chunky with Wool (Pattern 7385)

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Hayfield provides full instructions for knitting a classic women's waistcoat in Hayfield Super Chunky with Wool yarn. The design is a structured, sleeveless waistcoat worked in a clean, timeless style, suitable for a wide range of dress sizes and ideal for knitters looking for a satisfying but relatively quick project thanks to the super chunky weight yarn.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a women's knitted waistcoat — a sleeveless, button-front layering piece designed to be worn over other garments. It is a practical and stylish wardrobe staple that works well as a transitional-season layer. The waistcoat features shaped armholes, a ribbed lower border, and a button fastening, giving it a neat, tailored appearance despite the chunky construction.

The pattern is sized to fit dress sizes 10 through 20, covering bust measurements from 81 cm (32 in) to 107 cm (42 in). Actual finished measurements range from 87 cm (34¼ in) to 111 cm (43¾ in) across the chest, with a full length of approximately 68 cm to 76 cm (26¾ in to 30 in) depending on size. This generous range of sizing makes the pattern accessible to a broad audience.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Hayfield Super Chunky with Wool, shade 063 (colourway F043) — a super chunky weight yarn containing wool for warmth and stitch definition. You will need 5 to 7 x 100g balls depending on size (5 balls for sizes 10–12, 6 balls for sizes 14–16, and 7 balls for sizes 18–20).
• Knitting Needles: One pair of 10mm needles (UK 000 / USA 15) for the main body fabric, and one pair of 8mm needles (UK 0 / USA 11) for the ribbed sections.
• Buttons: 3 buttons are required for the front fastening.

Tension

The stated tension is 9 stitches and 12 rows to 10 cm (4 in) measured over stocking stitch on 10mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential to ensure the finished waistcoat matches the stated measurements. Knitters are advised to work a tension swatch before beginning and to adjust needle size accordingly — using a thinner needle if too few stitches are produced, or a thicker needle if too many.

Techniques Used

• Thumb method cast on — used for casting on stitches at the start of both the back and front sections, creating a firm and elastic edge well suited to chunky yarn.
• Shaping — the pattern includes armhole shaping worked by casting off stitches at the beginning of rows and then decreasing one stitch at each end of every row, creating a clean, defined armhole curve. Shoulder and neck shaping are also included.
• Ribbing — a 1x1 rib (alternating knit 1, purl 1) is used for the border sections, worked on the smaller 8mm needles. This creates a stretchy, tidy edge that helps the waistcoat sit neatly and retain its shape.
• Stocking stitch — the main body of the waistcoat is worked entirely in stocking stitch (knit on right side rows, purl on wrong side rows), producing a smooth, classic fabric that shows off the texture and colour of the super chunky yarn beautifully.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k) — the foundational stitch used throughout the stocking stitch body sections and as part of the 1x1 rib.
• Purl (p) — used on wrong side rows in stocking stitch and alternated with knit stitches in the ribbed borders.
• 1x1 Rib — formed by repeating knit 1, purl 1 across the