This is a very simple pattern, that I drafted after getting a request for some premature singlets from New Zealand charity Earlybuds.org.nz. They do a great job of providing packs of essentials for parents with babies in NICU in New Zealand. Please feel free to use this pattern for your own use, and if you want to knit some items for earlybuds if you’re in New Zealand, or your local hospital’s NICU. It might be worth checking what they want or need first though.

The vest is designed to be knit in pure wool, as natural fibres are better for such small babies. It is knit in the round, so there are no seams which may irritate, and is ribbed so that it will grow with the baby. The shoulders have sleeves to give easy access to add wires and the like. The vest will fit from around 34 weeks, but you could easily make larger or smaller by casting on more or less stitches.