FREE Knitted Vest Pattern

Looking for a stylish and modern knit layer for your wardrobe? Love knitted vest patterns? How about knitting a simple cable vest with contrasting colors? I love to add an extra layer over my shirts during the transitional seasons of spring and fall. Knitted vests come to the rescue to add just a little more warmth! Today have a simple and FREE knit vest pattern for you that works up so quickly with Bulky yarn.

Keep reading to learn how to knit a vest using simple stockinette stitch pattern and a cable stitch pattern. Use one solid color yarn throughout, or choose a contrasting yarn color for the bottom edge and armholes.

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Knitted Vest Pattern Free

The idea behind this knit vest pattern is to work in the round bottom-up, then separate to work in rows to create the top front & back panels. You will use BASIC KNIT STITCHES for the stockinette pattern, as well as a simple cable pattern for the front center of the knit vest.

The following is a list of supplies you would need to create one knit vest. Use similar yarn (size 5, Bulky weight yarn) and the same knitting needle sizes to make your own.

Yardage is for these sizes: XS, (S, M, L, XL)

Supplies

• Lion Brand Hue + Me Size 5 (137 yds per skein)
  • Main Color (MC): Salt, Contrast Color (CC): Desert
  • approx 250 (280, 315, 380, 415) yds total
• Size 13 (9.0 mm) circular needles, at least 24″ length
• Size 15 (10.0 mm) circular needles, at least 24″ length
• Scissors
• tapestry (yarn) needle
• Stitch Markers
• cable needle

Knitting Abbreviations

approx – approximately

BO – bind off

CO – cast on

K – knit

P – purl

pm – place marker                              

sm – stitch marker

sts – stitches

Rep – repeat

RS – Right Side

WS – Wrong Side

Special Stitch in pattern:

C8B (Cable 8 Back): Slip next 4 sts onto a cable needle and hold at back, knit next 4 sts from left-hand needle, then knit the 4 sts from the cable needle.

PATTERN INFORMATION

The FREE simple vest knitting pattern is provided below.

• but you can also get the ad-free, printable pdf pattern for the KNIT CABLE VEST in the ETSY SHOP!  The pdf has some helpful photos & diagrams included, as well as seaming instructions.

Pattern Knitted Vest

Can a beginner knit a vest?

Yes! Especially with a repetitive easy stitch pattern using basic knit stitches and simple techniques! This pattern has an Intermediate skill level, but an advanced beginner can give it a try. The cable stitches are simple to master, and the overall pattern is very repetitive.

Here I will walk you through each step of making this modern vest knit top, using your favorite yarn color(s) . You will be using the simple stockinette stitch pattern throughout most of the vest pattern, with an easy front cable stitch pattern.

Finished Measurements:

• Measurements are for finished garment
• Snug Fit, approx. 0-2″ ease

Sizes XS, (S, M, L, XL) :

Bust: 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) inches

Length: 20 (20, 20, 22, 22) inches

Gauge: 4″ (10cm) square = 9.5 Sts by 13 Rows in stockinette stitch worked in the round, blocked

Make sure to get the correct gauge for an accurate fit.

FREE Vest Knitting Pattern

Follow stitch and row counts using sizing XS, (S, M, L, XL) :

NOTES –

First, you will knit the bottom ribbing in the round with smaller needles. Next, you will continue knitting in the round with larger needles, working a stockinette pattern with front centered cable stitches, bottom up. Next, you will separate the piece and work front and back panels in rows to create openings for the armholes. Lastly, you will seam the shoulders together and add a finishing edge to armholes (with smaller needles).

Circular needles are used to work in round and in straight rows.

Bottom of Knit Vest

With size 13 (9mm) circular needles, CO 72 (80, 92, 100, 108) sts with size 5 yarn in CC.

Stitch count will remain the same when working in rounds.

Carefully join sts for Round 1, being careful not to twist stitches.

Use a sm (stitch marker) to keep track of rounds.

Bottom Edge in Ribbing

Round 1: [K2, p2] around.

Rep Round 1 until bottom of vest measures approx 3 inches length.

Break CC yarn.

Body of Vest:

Join MC yarn at the start of the next round.

Switch to US size 15 (10mm) circular needles.

You will be placing markers (pm) in this next set-up round to distinguish when to start and end the cable pattern. Use a different color for these two stitch markers than the end-of-round stitch marker.

Set-Up Round: K 12 (14, 17, 19, 21), pm, k 12, pm, k to end of round.

(Please note that the vest photographed in this pattern did not include this Set-Up Round. I added it to the pattern after making the sample vest, to avoid the obvious color change in the purl stitches on RS.)

Continuing with MC, work in a stockinette stitch (with cable) pattern as follows:

Stockinette with Cable Pattern:

Round 1: K to 1st sm, work [p2, k8, p2] between markers, k to end of round.

Round 2: Rep Round 1.

Round 3: K to 1st sm, work [p2, C8B, p2] between markers, k to end of round.

Rounds 4-8: Rep Round 1.

Rep Rounds 1-8 until piece measures approx 12-13”, ending with a Round 8.

Top of Knit Vest

Split for Armholes:

In this section you will divide the top of the vest into two halves and work them separately in rows. This will create openings for the armholes.

You can remove the end-of-round sm, but keep the cable pattern sm’s.

Front Panel:

Row 1 (RS): K to 1st sm, work [p2, k8, p2] between markers, k 12 (14, 17, 19, 21). 36 (40, 46, 50, 54) sts

Move the remaining 36 (40, 46, 50, 54) sts from the round to a large stitch holder or waste yarn. These will be worked later to form the back panel.

You will now be working with 36 (40, 46, 50, 54) sts straight in rows to form the front panel.

Row 2 (WS): P to 1st sm, work [k2, p8, k2] between markers, p to end of row.

Row 3: K to 1st sm, work [p2, C8B, p2] between markers, k to end of row.

Row 4: Rep Row 2.

Row 5: K to 1st sm, work [p2, k8, p2] between markers, k to end of row.

Row 6: Rep Row 2.

Rows 7-8: Rep Rows 5-6.

Rep Rows 1-8 until front panel measures approx 20 (20, 20, 22, 22)” ending on WS with a Row 4 or Row 8.

BO knitwise.

Back Panel:

Move the remaining 36 (40, 46, 50, 54) sts from the large stitch holder or waste yarn back to the size 15 circular needles.

You will now be working with 36 (40, 46, 50, 54) sts straight in rows to form the back panel.

With RS facing, join MC yarn at beginning of row, then bind off sts for bottom of armholes at the beginning and end of next rows on each side (RS & WS) as follows:

Row 1 (RS): BO 1st 2 sts knitwise, k to end. 34 (38, 44, 48, 52) sts

Row 2 (WS): BO 1st 2 sts purlwise, p to end. 32 (36, 42, 46, 50) sts

Work in stockinette stitch (knit each RS row, purl each WS row) until back panel measures approx 21 (21, 21, 23, 23)” ending with a WS (purl) row.

(Note that the back panel length is extended approx 1″ more than the front panel to cover more room for the upper back and shoulders).

BO knitwise.

Seaming/Finishing

SEAM shoulders as follows :

• Decide width of neckline: Place 2 sm’s at the top of the front panel where you want your neckline opening to begin and end. Make sure the neckline is centered and wide enough to fit over your head. (9-11″ width is good)
• Left Shoulder: Use MC yarn and a tapestry needle to join the top of the front and back panels together with an invisible horizontal seam at left shoulder from left edge to the left-wearing sm.
• Right Shoulder: Likewise, work an invisible horizontal seam to join front & back panels at right shoulder from right edge to the right-wearing sm.

Add armhole ribbed edging as follows :

• Seaming: If necessary, work a small seam in the area near the bound off stitches at bottom of one armhole to close up any gap.
• Pick Up Sts: With RS facing, use CC yarn and size 13 circular needles to evenly pick up an even number of sts (multiple of 4 is ideal) around the armhole, including the bound off sts. You may need to skip a st occasionally to avoid flaring the edging. Start and end at bottom of armhole, and pm after picking up all sts to indicate end of round.
• Ribbing: With RS facing, work several rounds of k2, p2 ribbing around the armhole until edging measures approx 1 inch. (Note that if you do not have a multiple of 4 stitch count then you will work k2 at beginning and end of rounds). Feel free to use the Magic Loop method for the armhole rounds.
• Bind off: Bind off in the (k2, p2) ribbing pattern.

Repeat steps 1-4 to add the 2nd armhole edging.

Blocking

Weave in all loose ends.

Block vest to 15 (17, 19, 21, 23)” wide by 20 (20, 20, 22, 22)” length.

Important Tips for Knitting your Vest

Some things to keep in mind as you work the vest knit pattern are:

• Use one stitch marker to keep track of rounds, and two stitch markers to mark where the cable pattern begins and ends.
• You will be working in the round at first, then switching to rows for the upper front and back panels of the vest. (RS always faces when working in rounds. When working rows, RS faces on knit rows, WS faces on purl rows.)
• Customize:
  • Feel free to add or subtract rounds (in multiples of 4) during the stockinette/cable portion of your vest to adjust the length
  • Make a size up or down depending on your desired finished ease
  • Use a coordinating color for bottom and armhole ribbing, or one solid color throughout

Knit Vest

The snug fitting knit vest makes a great layering piece in the transitional seasons, or as a stand-a-lone piece in the summer. The classic design of this cable vest is fun & trendy with the cropped length & contrasting colors – you’re bound to get compliments from making this beautiful pattern. I think the best part is the front cable pattern. It exudes timeless, classic style.

Model in photos below is shown wearing size XS with -4″ ease for a more snug fit:

Wear the knit vest over a tank top or alone during the warm months, or over longer shirts in cooler seasons. You can wear it with different outfits – jeans, shorts, skirt, or leggings. It is the perfect knit vest to provide a little bit of extra style and personality. Both my daughter and I love this vest!

Don’t forget that this knit vest pattern is also available in an ad-free digital pdf pattern.  The pdf has a few helpful photos and diagrams.  Grab the VEST KNIT PATTERN pattern in my Etsy shop.

Love knit top patterns? Check out these other FREE knit projects…

Did you enjoy this free knitting pattern? I think it’s also a perfect idea to make as a gift for a stylish friend.

Check out all of my FREE KNIT PATTERNS HERE.

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