Little Man Vest
While planning our wedding, I had tons of ideas for making the entire event handmade. On that list? Handmade items for the flower girls and ring bearers. Oh how I'd dreamed of adorable ring bearers in super cute hand-knit vests! Unable to find a good (and free!) pattern that I could use for a wide variety of sizes, I chose to make my own. While the vest is knit up on size 6 needles, it knits up fast and furious, offering up a quick gift for the little ones in your life!
Directions:
Supplies:
Two skeins Red Heart Designer Sport Weight Yarn (or yarn needed to meet gauge) Size 6 needles, both 20" circulars and DPNs. Darning needle Four stitch markers Small amount of waste yarn
Gauge:
5.5 stitches x 6 rows = 1"’
Sizes:
2T (4, 6. 8) = 22 (23.5, 26, 28) inches around chest CO 120 (128, 144, 152) stitches. Join for working in the round, placing a marker at the beginning of the round. Work in 1x1 ribbing for 1.5 (2, 2, 3) inches. Work in stockinette for 9 (11, 12, 14) inches. Now you'll separate for the fronts and back of the sweater.
Front:
Row 1: Knit around, placing markers after stitch 30 (32, 36, 38) and 60 (64, 72, 76). Row 2: Bind off 4 stitches at the beginning of the row. Knit to the second marker. You will now be working the first 60 (64, 72, 76) stitches only - the remaining stitches can be held on waste yarn or on Minimalist Knitter Designs. This pattern is for personal and/or charity use only, not for resale. For questions on the pattern,pleasecontactRobyn at rmcdevine@gmail.com the needles until you are ready to knit the back. Row 3: Bind off 4 stitches at the beginning of the row. Purl all stitches. Row 4: K2tog, knit to last 2 stitches and k2tog. Row 5: Purl all stitches. Repeat rounds 4 and 5 four more times. Now you will divide the front into two halves, working both the armholes and the neck shaping.
Front Left:
Row 1 : Knit to 2 stitches before marker 1, k2tog. Row 2: Purl all stitches. Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have 7 (6, 10, 9) stitches on the needles. Ending with a WS Row, place stitches on waste yarn.
Front Right:
Row 1: Attach yarn. K2tog, knit to end of row. Row 2: Purl all stitches. Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have 7 (6, 10, 9) stitches on the needles. Ending with a WS Row, place stitches on waste yarn.
Back:
You should have 60 (64, 72, 76) on your needles for the back of the sweater. Row 1: Attach yarn. Bind off four stitches, knit to the end of the row. Row 2: Bind off four stitches, knit to the end of the row. Row 3: K2tog, knit to the last 2 stitches, k2tog. Row 4: Purl. Repeat Rows 3 and 4 four more times. You should now have 42 (46, 54, 58) stitches. Work in stockinette until armhole measures 5 (6, 6, 7) inches.
Finishing Shoulders:
Turn vest inside out. Place right shoulder stitches onto one needle, with right back stitches on another. Work 3-needle bind-off for 7 (6, 10, 9) stitches. Knit 28 (34, 44, 40) stitches, and work 3-needle bindoff for 7 (6, 10, 9) stitches. Break yarn, and turn vest right-side out.
Armhole Ribbing:
Using DPNs, pick up 46 (54, 54, 64) stitches evenly spaced around armhole. Work in 1x1 ribbing, decreasing twice at the underarm every other row. Work for 1.5 (1.5, 2, 2) inches and bind off. OMinimalist Knitter Designs. This pattern is for personal and/or charity use only, not for resale. For questions on the pattern, please contact Robyn at rmcdevine@gmail.com Repeat for other armhole.
Neck Ribbing:
Pick up 55 (73, 73, 91) stitches evenly around the neck - you should have 28 (34, 44, 40) of these stitches on your needles from the back of the neck. Work in 1x1 rib, working a double decrease\*\* at the center front of every other round. Work for 1.5 (1.5, 2, 2) inches and bind off. Weave in all ends. \*\* Double Decrease: Starting one stitch before the center stitch, slip two stitches together as if to knit. Knit the next stitch, and pull the two slipped stitches over the new stitch, and off the needle. This will keep one decrease at the center of the neck.
