A sharp early-1960s men's double-breasted waistcoat in fine stocking stitch: deep crossover fronts that slant from the waist to the shoulders, four buttons in two pairs low on the front, and every edge finished with a narrow folded binding over a firm double waistband. Close-fitting, made to wear over a shirt and tie. Men's sizes, chest 34 to 54 in.

Fit

Close-fitting, as the original: the back is half the chest measurement and the fronts cross over

Skill level

Intermediate. Plain stocking stitch, with the long slanting front edge and the armhole shaped at the same time from a tick-off planner, buttonholes, and bands folded over the edges.

Sizes

Men's, chest 34 to 54 in (86 to 137 cm): S to 3XL (UK/US 34 to 54, EU 44 to 64)

Yarns

Fingering / 4-ply, Sport, DK / light worsted

Original yarn

Fingering (4-ply) wool, at about 32 sts and 40 rows to 4 in (10 cm) over stockinette. For the closest match to the photo, use a yarn that knits to this gauge.

Gauge

Your own, from 22 to 34 stitches per 4 in (10 cm)

You get

Your complete pattern straight away, to read on screen, print or save, plus an email link back to it

Nothing thicker than DK is offered: the folded bands and the double waistband turn bulky.

What you'll get

• Every piece written out in full for your size and gauge
• Row counts with the length to check against, so you always know where you are
• Row-by-row planners for the tricky bits, where shaping happens on both edges at once
• Drawings of each piece with your measurements, and full making-up instructions

Every design is chosen by a knitter and checked against its original pattern. If you get stuck, email us and a real person will help.

No swatch? You can use the gauge on your yarn's label. For a perfect fit, knit a swatch and measure it over plain stockinette (stocking stitch) on your main needles, laid flat and lightly blocked. Here's how to measure your gauge.