Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Vest and Slipover Knitting Patterns

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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. 

Have you read?

A Nostalgic Christmas Pudding Knitting Pattern for Your Handmade Decorations

There are some Christmas decorations I’ll always have a soft spot for, and a little knitted Christmas pudding is definitely on that list. Brown yarn, white icing and a cheerful red cherry—it’s a simple combination, but it brings back that lovely feeling of unpacking the handmade decorations each December.

This Christmas pudding knitting pattern from CraftBits is a small decorative project worked on straight needles. If you enjoy knitting Christmas ornaments but prefer to avoid working in the round, the flat construction makes this one worth a look.

A Small Project for Leftover Yarn

One of the appealing things about this project is its modest materials list. The pudding uses brown and white 8-ply yarn, with a little red yarn for the cherry and green felt for the holly leaves. You’ll also need 4 mm needles, stuffing and your usual sewing-up supplies.

It’s the sort of project that sends me straight to the leftover yarn basket. Those small balls that seem too useful to throw away finally have somewhere to go, and you can choose a rich chocolate brown or a softer, more muted shade depending on your Christmas colours.

The felt leaves are a practical finishing touch, too. They give the pudding its familiar festive appearance without adding another fiddly knitted component.

How the Knitted Pudding Comes Together

The pattern begins with 40 stitches and a brown stocking-stitch section. Colour changes introduce the white icing, followed by a white top that decreases towards the centre.

Once the knitting is finished, the piece is sewn together, stuffed and gathered at the bottom. A separately knitted cherry and the felt holly leaves complete the decoration.

I like projects where the finishing makes such a difference. A flat piece of knitting becomes a rounded little ornament, and those final details give it personality. It would look lovely tucked into a Christmas shelf display or sitting among greenery on a mantelpiece. You could also add a securely attached hanging loop for the tree.

A Pattern Detail to Check Before Starting

The design is charming, but the published instructions would benefit from a clearer technical edit. Some readers have reported difficulties with the colourwork rows, particularly the stated row endings.

I haven’t knitted a sample myself, so I wouldn’t describe this as a tested recommendation for a first colourwork project. Before starting, read through the pattern and check that each colourwork row accounts for all 40 stitches. Keep the carried yarn loose enough that the fabric can expand when stuffed.

A little more detail about the cast-on colour, finishing and finished measurements would also make the tutorial easier to follow.

A Lovely Idea for a Traditional Handmade Christmas

What appeals to me most is the pudding’s old-fashioned simplicity. It doesn’t need beads, elaborate embellishments or a perfectly coordinated decorating scheme. The knitted texture and little holly topper do the work.

For knitters comfortable checking a pattern and sewing up small projects, it’s a sweet source of festive inspiration. I’d be tempted to make a small collection in slightly different browns, keeping that lovely homemade character rather than trying to make every pudding identical.

Find the Christmas pudding knitting pattern at CraftBits and read through the instructions and reader comments before casting on.