Little Man Vest
While planning our wedding, Ihad 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! But unable to find a good pattern (free) that I could use for a wide variety of boy (and girl) sizes, I chose to make my own. While thevest is knit up n size 6 needes, it knits up fast and furious, offering up a quck gift for the little ones in your life!
Gather Your Supplies: ●Two skeins Red Heart Designer Sport Weight yarn (or yarn weight needed to meet gauge). Size 6 needles, both $20^{\circ}$ circulars and dpns. ·A darning needle. ·Four stitch markers. · A small amount of waste yarn. Gauge: 5.5 stitches and 6 rows per 1" Sizes /Finished Chest Measurements: 2T (4, 6, 8) 22" (23.5", 26", 28") Getting Down To Business: CO 120 (128, 144, 152) stitches. Join for working in the round, placing marker at the beginning of new round. Work in 1x1 ribbing for $1\ ^{1/\!}\!\!\!/_{2}$ (2, 2, 3) inches. Continue on in stockinette for 9 (11, 12, 14) inches. Now you'll separate the front 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 beginning of the row. Knit to the second marker, leaving all other stitches on needles. Row 3: Bind off4 stitches at beginning of the row. purl Row 4: k2tog, knit to last two stitches, k2tog. Row 5: purl Repeat rows 4 and 5 four more times. (4 more left) Crafivit Designs $\copyright$ 20fvisissl please don't use it to make money! All pitures thanstChrisyNelsn (htp://christyelt)
Front Left:
Row 1: knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog. Continue to shape neck hole by decreasing one stitch at neckline every RS row until armhole measures 5 (6, 6, 7) inches. End with purling on the WS. Place stitches on waste yarn. (you should end with [7, 6, 10, 9] stitches)
Front Right:
Attach yarn on a RS row. Shape neck hole by decreasing one stitch at neckline every RS row until armhole measures 5 (6, 6, 7) inches. Place stitches on waste yarn. (end with [7, 6, 10, 9] stitches)
Back:
[60 (64, 72, 76) stitches on the needle] Rows 1 and 2: bind off4 stitches at beginning of each row, working in stockinette. Row 3: k2tog, knit to last stitches, k2tog. Row 4; purl Repeat rows 3 and 4 four more times, ending with 32 [36, 44, 48] stitches Work in stockinette stitch until armhole measures 5 (6, 6, 7) inches. Finishing: Turn vest inside out, and place right shoulder stitches onto one needle, with right back stitches on another. Work three-needle bind-off for 7 (6, 10, 9) stitches. Knit through back stitches to left shoulder, and repeat above for left front/back stitches. Turn vest right side out. Armholes: using DPN's, pick up 46 (54, 54, 64) stitches evenly spaced around armhole. Work in 1x1 rib, decreasing twice at the underarm every other row. Work for 1 $(1\ ^{1}/2\,,\ 1\ ^{1}/2$ 2) inches and bind off. Neck: pick up 55 (73, 73, 91) stitches evenly around neck as follows: 18 (24, 24, 30) from back of neck {these should already be on your circular needle, and can just be transferred over}, 18 (24, 24, 30) on the left side front, one in the center, and 18 (24, 24, 30) on the right side front. Work in 1x1 rib, working a double decrease\* at the center front of every other round. Work neck stitches for $1^{\circ}$ and bind off. Weave in all ends. \*\* double decrease: Starting one stitch before the center stch, sli stitches together as if to knit. Knit next stitch, and pullthe two slipped stitches over the new stitch and off the needle. This will keep the decrease in the center of the neck.
