Knitting Preview: November 20, 2021 Issue


knitting pattern waistcoat

We have the knitting pattern for a winning waistcoat in the magazine this week.

Our waistcoat is a unisex design available in sizes ranging from 76/81 cm (30/32 ins) to 127/132 cm (50/52 ins).

Actual size is approx. 18/13 cm (9/5 ins) bigger so we would recommend you work your usual size.

The yarn used is Rico Essentials Soft Merino Aran in Turquoise (075), a lovely vibrant shade. If you would prefer another colour, there are lots to choose from ranging from traditional natural creams and greys to bright blues, oranges and red.

Rico Essentials Merino Aran is available in your local Rico stockist or you can order direct from www.loopknittingshop.com where you can also view the range of shades available.

knitting pattern waistcoat

Photograph by Ally Stuart.

We have graded our waistcoat as intermediate. The Aran panel is worked over 22 stitches and 20 rows to create cables and crossover stitches. You work it on the back, too.

If you have never worked a design like this before, we would suggest you practise the panel before you start. There is nothing too tricky, but it is better to be familiar with the stitches.

The shaping on the design is kept to a minimum and involves the front slopes with no more shaping until the shoulders. This lets you concentrate on the stitch pattern.

Finally, good buttons add the finishing touch, and ours came from www.duttonsforbuttons.co.uk who have a huge selection of buttons available.

We have designed this for men or women so why not make a matching set?


The knitting pattern for this waistcoat appears in this week’s issue of “The People’s Friend”, on sale from Wednesday.

Or you can subscribe to “The People’s Friend” here, to make sure you’ll never miss another one of our great patterns and projects!

Liz O’Rourke

Liz is part of our Features Team and her hobbies include knitting and crafts, reading and foreign travel which are also her main responsibilities on the “Friend”. If you walk into the office you will soon spot her desk, it’s the one piled high with knitwear and balls of yarn!