The Besty Vesty is a unisex pattern for a basic vest. It is knit in the round from the bottom up until the armholes and then the back and the front are knit back-and-forth before being joined at the shoulders with a three-needle bind-off.

Choose from the v-neck or a scoop neck options as well as either basic 2x2 ribbing or mock-cable ribbing for the edging.

The Besty Vesty works with both variegated yarns and solid colours. It’s basic enough that you can work your own imagination into it - a stripey vest would be great for stash-busting, or add a bit of fair-isle.

This is an intermediate knit but suitable for an advanced beginner keen on gaining new skills.

Skills Needed:

• cast on
• cast off
• knitting
• purling
• decreasing (k2tog, p2tog, ssk, ssp)
• knitting flat
• knitting in the round
• ribbing
• stockinette
• mock cables (RT, optional, explained in pattern)
• three-needle bind-off (explained in pattern)

The top is sized with a finished chest from 52 to 89 cm / 20.5 to 35”, roughly corresponding to 1-16 years, and is meant to be worn with a couple of inches of ease. For best results, choose a size based on the child’s measurements rather than age.

Approximate Yardage:
Size (finished chest): m / yd

Size 1 (52 cm / 20.5”): 225 m / 250 yd
Size 1.5 (56 cm / 22”): 255 m / 280 yd
Size 2 (60 cm / 23.5”): 300 m / 325 yd
Size 4 (65 cm / 25.5”): 375 m / 405 yd
Size 6 (68.5 cm / 27”): 420 m / 460 yd
Size 8 (72.5 cm / 28.5”): 475 m / 515 yd
Size 10 (76 cm / 30”): 515 m / 565 yd
Size 12 (81 cm / 32”): 570 m / 625 yd
Size 14 (85 cm / 33.5”): 625 m / 685 yd
Size 16 (89 cm / 35”): 670 m / 735 yd

Note: the larger sizes overlap with small adult sizes.

File Size: Approximately 760 kb.

Acknowledgments: Many thanks to my testers Abelo, Angeldogknitter, Prinsazz, Sandyvar, Noisybabe007, love2knitnpurl, hexlein, Walkthedog, Bing27, stitchknitwitch, mamma5, stitchbystitch, maritere, Mummywant2craft.

For pattern support and general interest please visit the SparrowPlay group here on Ravelry.

Copyright Statement: Please respect my copyright and do not duplicate this pattern other than for personal use. Do not steal this pattern by selling it for your own profit or giving copies of it away. I am an independent designer and it took a lot of work to create and write up this pattern.
If you have purchased this pattern, I regard any items you make from it as your own creative work and thus you may dispose of them as you wish – gifts, fundraising, charity knitting, even cottage-selling. I reserve the right to negotiate a different arrangement for any larger scale commercial enterprises.
By purchasing this pattern, you agree to these terms and conditions.