Vest and Slipover Knitting Patterns

This time of year I don’t have it in me to knit (or, most of the time, to wear) a full sweater, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still get cold from time to time. Having lots of vests and slipovers is a great solution, and they’re faster to knit than sweaters with sleeves. If you’ve never knit a sweater before, a vest knitting pattern is a great place to start.

If you’re very new to knitting, the Nexi Vest from Ceradia Studio might be a good place to start. It’s mostly garter stitch worked in one piece flat from the bottom of the front (which starts with an I-cord) up over the shoulders and down the back. There are optional short rows for bust shaping but you can keep it straight if you’d rather. The ties are crochet chains. The pattern come sin 10 sizes.

If you like the look of ties you can also try the Audrey Vest by Adelina Maižiut?, available on Ravelry. This is a longer vest worked in stockinette stitch with ribbed edgings. It’s worked in two pieces from the bottom up, so you only have to sew the shoulder seams. The tie is worked in double knitting. The version shown has three strands of yarn held together to make a DK weight, or you can use a sport and a lace held together or just a DK. The pattern comes in four sizes.

Nicole Sofie Knit’s Flora Vest has a tie at the front instead of the sides. It’s a basic cardigan style vest worked from the top down, starting with the back and then picking up stitches for the front. It comes in six sizes and includes I-cord finishing.

Ysolda Teague’s Clova Slipover (on Ravelry) is a nice classic vest pattern worked from the top down in worsted weight yarn. There are 14 size options. The upper back is knit first and shaped with short rows, then the upper front is knit with options for short row shaping at the bust.

Another one I love is La Tunique by Catherine Clark. This long slipover with pockets has a whopping 17 size options and is worked in DK weight yarn. It’s perfect to throw over anything and is worked flat from the bottom up with a split hem and a relaxed fit. You can find this one on Ravelry.

When my daughter was in early elementary school we were at Joann together (RIP) and she picked out some variegated pink and white blanket yarn for me to knit a blanket for her bed. Now probably 10 years later, it’s one of her favorite possessions. I note this because the blankets we give to little ones might seem simple on the surface, like something they need to keep warm, but they can turn into so much more.

Take the Pocketful of Love Blanket from Purl Soho. On the surface this is a pretty but also easy to knit blanket for a little one. It’s worked in garter stitch stripes using sport weight yarn (the sample is a superwash wool, but this would also be nice in cotton or a blend) and available in a crib or small throw size. Though of course because it’s garter stitch, it’s pretty easy to make it any size you want.

But what makes this blanket extra special is the little details. The slip stitch selvedges and I-cord bind off give it a crisp look that’s perfect with the garter stitch of the body.

And then there’s the pocket.

This is a big pocket. At 10 inches wide and 12.25 inches tall (that’s 25.4 by 31 cm) for the crib size and 12.75 by 14.25 inches (32.4 by 36 cm) for the throw, you can easily fit a favorite stuffed animal, toy or book into the pocket.

I love how even though it uses the same striped garter stitch pattern as the blanket, it’s stitched down so the stripes run the opposite way (horizontal when the blanket stripes are vertical), though of course you can match stripes if you’d rather.

I think this blanket has the potential to be greatly loved by the little one its given to, and by the knitter look for an easy, pretty baby blanket with a little extra useful twist.

Grab the free pattern from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

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