12 Best Vest Knitting Patterns

The first garment I ever knitted for myself (or anyone else, for that matter) was a vest.

A simple vest…No sleeves, just a Back and Front(s)…I can do that! Basically, it was like knitting three rectangles and then seaming them together.

I was so excited to complete that project that I immediately knitted three more using different yarns.
I think what I loved most was the sense of satisfaction I received after making clothes and being able to wear them.

I knitted that first vest about 30 years ago. Many projects have passed through my fingers since then, but a simple vest project will always be near and dear to me.

Have you knitted any garments for yourself?

Or have you been holding off because the thought of making an entire sweater is scary…or you don’t want to knit something that big…or you don’t feel like you deserve to make something for yourself?

Today, I want you to treat yourself.

I also want you to grow as a person and have that same sense of fulfillment that I received when I made my first vest.

I also want you to know that you can do it!

We’re going to start with something easy and do-able. A vest.

I’ve rounded up 12 absolutely gorgeous vest knitting patterns.

Some are cardigans, and others are pullovers. I’ve also included projects that start at either the top-down and bottom-up.

So you have no excuses.

Choose one of these twelve vests and dive in!

Tips to remember when knitting a vest:

  • Measure your bustline before choosing a size to knit. Don’t just select your bra size.

  • Do a gauge swatch. If your swatch doesn’t match the number of recommended stitches per inch, you’ll need to go up or down in needle size to get the right fit. Learn more about getting gauge here.

  • Block your vest after completion for a finished look. Learn how to block your garments.

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12 Best Vest Knitting Patterns

UraUe Vest Knitting Pattern with detachable turtleneck

#1. UraUe Vest Knitting Pattern

UraUe is a relaxed-fit vest worked seamlessly from the top down. It combines Half Fisherman’s rib and Stockinette stitch and can be worn reversibly. 

It can be worn like a turtleneck vest with the optional cowl.

Uses fingering weight yarn

Designed by Natsuko Iida

Nancy’s Vest Knitting Pattern

#2. Nancy’s Vest Knitting Pattern

This stockinette-stitch vest has fine ribbing details and pretty cable decreases. A slightly slanted buttonband creates a subtle A-line shape, for a very flattering fit that dips a little in the front and flares a little in the back.

Construction: Vest is knit from the bottom in one piece with edges and shaping worked continuously. The only finishing required are at shoulders, stitching the band at the back of the neck and sewing on buttons.

Uses sport weight yarn

Designed by Carol Sunday

Mielie Vest Knitting Pattern

#3. Miele Vest Knitting Pattern

Mielie (South African maize) is simple, classic, and utterly wearable in a number of ways. This vest is knit in Stockinette Stitch from the top down, mostly in one piece, with waist shaping. A ribbed collar is added once the body is complete, and is folded and sewn down for a thicker, warmer, and more dramatic shape.

Mielie can be worn all snapped up, barely fastened with the collar falling open, or all open for a more relaxed look – the use of snaps allows you to choose the best placement after trying the finished vest on.

Uses worsted weight yarn

Designed by Hilary Smith Callis

Omena Vest Knitting Pattern - Knit it in a solid color or 3-color ombre version

#4. Omena Vest Knitting Pattern

Everything about Omena is fun, from cast on to total wearability.

Pattern includes options for a 1-color or a 3-color gradient, the seamless construction is totally unique! The armholes are self-finishing, so all that’s left is to weave in a few ends, and you are ready for a chill in the air.

Uses worsted weight yarn

Designed by Jill Zielinski

Waterrock Vest Knitting Pattern

#5. Waterrock Vest Knitting Pattern

Waterrock is a slightly cropped top that can either be worn as a layering piece, or alone as a summer top.

Featuring lots of texture, and a split hem, it’s sure to be a staple in your wardrobe. While it has been designed to be slightly cropped, adding length is easy to do, and is noted where to do so in the pattern.

Waterrock is worked from the bottom up, with the front and back hems worked flat separately in seeded rib, then joined together to work in the round. The sides of the vest are continued in seeded rib, while the body of the vest is worked in a slipped stitch pattern.

Uses DK weight yarn

Designed by Jennifer Kelley

Shoreline Vest Knitting Pattern

#6. Shoreline Vest Knitting Pattern

Shoreline is a vest knitted from the bottom up. It features high low shaping at the bottom hem accompanied by wide ribbing. The body of the vest is worked in stockinette stitch and edged with ribbing for neckline and armholes.

Uses DK weight yarn

Designed by Carrie Bostick Hoge

Pineland Vest Knitting Pattern

#7. Pineland Vest Knitting Pattern

Pineland is an asymmetrical seamless vest, knit all in one piece.

Front bands and armhole bands are worked as you knit, so there’s no picking up of stitches at the end. It features an easy lace rib stitch and the finished vest can be worn in a variety of ways.

In the photographs here, a shawl pin is used to keep the vest closed and the collar is folded down. Buttons can also be attached to the garter band on the left front and the lace rib stitch on the right front can be used as buttonholes. The collar can also be worn up simply by placing the shawl pin or buttons closer to the neck.

Since there is no need to plan in advance for buttonholes, you can wait until you have finished the vest and try it on to decide how you prefer to wear it.

Uses worsted weight yarn

Designed by Elizabeth Smith

Mountain Moraine Vest Free Knitting Pattern

#8. Mountain Moraine Vest Free Knitting Pattern

Knitted vest in DROPS Air. The piece is worked top down with in brioche Tuck-stitch.

Layer Mountain Moraine over long-sleeved t-shirts, tank tops, and blouses.

Uses Aran weight yarn

Created by DROPS design

Lett-Lopi Fair Isle Vest Free Knitting Pattern

#9. Lett-Lopi Vest Free Knitting Pattern

This Icelandic vest is knitted in the round from the top down. Lett-Lopi is a seamless project that features a circular-yoke neckline accented with Fair Isle patterning (stranded-colorwork).

Uses aran weight yarn

Designed by Vedis Jonsdottir

Library Vest Knitting Pattern - available in long or short versions

#10. Library Vest Knitting Pattern

With simple styling that lends itself to the classroom, workplace or weekend, this vest is so classic, so quintessential, it could become your uniform.

Pattern includes instructions to knit vest in waist or hip lengths.

Uses DK weight yarn

Designed by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas

Malva Fair Isle Vest Knitting Pattern

#11. Malva Vest Knitting Pattern

This vest is worked from the bottom up, in the round and seamless. The bottom hem is worked in a lace pattern and then the body in a colorwork pattern. In the armholes, Front and back pieces are separated and worked flat up to shoulder seams. In the end armhole and neckline bands are worked over picked up sts along the selvedges.

The lace pattern is described in chart and written instruction. You can choose to work this pattern in Portuguese style colorwork, meaning you will work the body part with wrong side facing and always purling. Or in traditional continental/english style colorwork, working in the round with right side facing and knitting all stitches.

Uses light fingering weight yarn

Designed by Filipa Carneiro

Stockholm Slipover Vest Knitting Pattern

#12. Stockholm Slipover Vest Knitting Pattern

The Stockholm Slipover vest is worked from the top down. The back part of the yoke is worked first, then the shoulders and front and finally the two sections are joined for the body of the slipover.

It has slanting shoulders that create a very good fit and which are shaped using short rows. Rib edges are worked along the neck edge and armholes, and all the edges are finished with an Italian bind-off. 

Uses worsted weight yarn

Designed by Petite Knit

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sweater patterns, knitting patterns, knitting ideasNancy Queen9 Comments