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Cozy Oversized Vest Knitting Pattern

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I don’t want to be the one to say it, but the fact remains that summer is almost over, at least if you’re reading the school calendar where I live. Yes, it will probably be warm in a lot of the Northern Hemisphere for a long time to come still, but it’s never too early to start thinking about knits for the fall and winter seasons. Or even better, stitching up things that you can use now and still wear when it’s colder outside.

I think the Oversized Vest with Asymmetrical Front from Cascade Yarns falls into that category. This roomy, boxy vest, designed by Deborah Newton, is worked in wool, so it might be a little warm to wear as a shirt in the height of summer, but it’s a good extra layer for cooler evenings (or buildings) and it will be the perfect extra layer when it’s a little cooler out.

It’s worked from the bottom up in one piece on a long circular knitting needle up to the armholes. it comes in six sizes up to a finished bust measurement of 61.5 inches, and is meant to be worn with 7 to 10 inches of positive ease.

The original used wool yarn, but I think you could use wool or cotton blends with good effect, too. The textured pattern used on the vest is pretty easy to memorize, but the pattern is rated for intermediate knitters.

This pattern is available for free from the Cascade Yarns website.

Need more vest patterns to get you through the transition into fall? I recently collected a few of my favorite vest knitting patterns. Or check out this cute, super simple and fast bulky vest knitting pattern that I made earlier this year. You’ll be happy you took an afternoon to stitch this one up when that first unexpected cold snap hits!

[Photo: Cascade Yarns]

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Coffee Cozy Knitting Patterns

During the summer (which is what it is where I am writing from) I like to share patterns for things that you can knit and use even when it’s warm out. And sometimes they are things you can use when it’s cold, too, like this collection of coffee cup cozies. Because hot coffee is a must almost any time of year. 

This simple pattern form Darling Jadore is a great one for beginners and could be a good first knitting in the round project. It uses worsted weight yarn and includes video tutorials if you need extra help. 

If you want a perfectly plain cozy that you can jazz up with your own designs, check out the Base Doodle Cup Cozy from Jamie Lomax. This free pattern on Ravelry comes in two sizes (short and long) and is meant to be used with her doodle charts to make it your own. You could also keep it plain, add stripes or design your own motifs to stitch on it. 

Most coffee cozy patterns that I see are just sleeves meant to go over travel mugs, but what if your mug has a handle? This pattern from Stacey’s Knit Wits has an I-cord loop and button so you can use it on a mug with a handle or a travel cup. It uses DK weight yarn.

Coffee cozies are a fun way to play with stitch patterns and learn new techniques. If you’ve never knit cables before, this cozy from Purple Wool Co. would be a great first cable project, as it features simple braided cables all the way around. It uses worsted weight yarn and is worked in the round. 

Try double knitting to make an extra-insulating coffee cozy with this pattern from Tracy Leming. It includes little color changes so you can get the concept of how double knitting works on a small scale. It also can include a little pocket for a tea bag if you want. This one uses worsted weight yarn and is a free pattern on Ravelry.

Or try stranded knitting with the Love in the Air cozy from Danielle Thuen. It features hearts of different sizes and is worked in sock yarn. You’ll need to make sure those floats are nice and loose so it will stretch to hug your cup. You can find this pattern on Ravelry. 

They’re also a fun way to add a bit of flair to an otherwise plain cup. KnitnKaboodle Designs has this lovely leaf-shaped cozy pattern, which you could use for hot or cold beverages by changing up the fiber you choose (that’s pretty much always true). It is made in pieces that are stitched together and can be worked in a single color or choose different colors for each leaf.