This is a classic-styled unisex vest or sweater. Knit in worsted weight yarn, it’s great for an extra layer under a jacket or for playing outside on a sunny but cool day. Knit it in a machine-washable yarn for everyday play clothes, or choose a luxury yarn for a special occasion.

This pattern is at an intermediate level, with lifted increases, cabling and short rows, however there are videos to help with each of these techniques. Be bold, be brave, and give it a go: it’s just sticks and string.

The vest/sweater is made in a top-down seamless method, however the construction may be new: it starts with a provisional cast on in the middle of the back, working up to the shoulders and down the two fronts, then joining in the round at the underarm to work the body all in one. The sleeves are then picked up from the armholes, shaped with short rows, and then knit in the round down to the cuff. The neckline is similarly picked up and worked in the round. The shoulder opening in the nb – 18m sizes needs a few stitches to secure it, but otherwise it’s completely seamless. Hooray!

Choose the size that is closest to the child’s chest measurement, then knit to the appropriate length for the height:

Size - Chest - Vest Yardage - Sweater Yardage
nb - 37.5cm/15” - 165m/180yds - 190m/210yds
3m - 40cm/16” - 180m/200 yds - 210m/230yds
6m - 42.5cm/17” - 195m/215 yds - 240m/260yds
9m - 45cm/18” - 210m/230 yds - 260m/285yds
12m - 47.5cm/19” - 220m/240 yds - 290m/320yds
18m - 50cm/20” - 250m/275 yds - 320m/350yds
2y - 52.5cm/21” - 275m/300 yds - 360m/395yds
3y - 55cm/22” - 300m/330 yds - 420m/460yds
4y - 57.5cm/23” - 340m/370 yds - 475m/520yds
5y - 60cm/24” - 375m/410 yds - 525m/575yds
6y - 62.5cm/25” - 410m/450 yds - 575m/630yds

4Nov13: Often on patterns I find the caveat that knitters may not sell items made with the pattern. After a lot of thought and research I have decided that I don’t agree with this statement. I don’t believe that the designer has any rights over the finished product, so, if you’re handknitting and you want to sell items made from my patterns - Best of Luck, and Go For It! I think handknitting for a living must be quite a challenge, so you need all the luck I can give you. Of course, my rights DO cover the patterns themselves, so you mustn’t copy or distribute them.