How to Knit a Boy's Sweater Vest
Knitting a boy's vest is a good project to complete before committing yourself to a full-fledged sweater. A vest is basically a sweater without the sleeves. You gain experience in decreasing and shaping necks and armholes when you make a classic V-neck vest. For good results, measure your boy's chest circumference and add a couple of inches of ease to that figure for comfort. Then choose his size in the pattern based on this number. Before you know it, you'll find yourself the creator of a boy-sized garment.
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Knitting pattern
- Sizes 3 and 6 straight knitting needles
- 200 to 450 grams of DK weight yarn
- Stitch holder
- 2 inches of contrasting yarn
- Yarn needle
Instructions
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Classic Vest
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1
Measure the child's chest with the tape measure. Add 1 to 4 inches of ease to this figure based on the boy's size. Ease allows the child to move without restraint. Use the chest-plus-ease number to select the correct size in the pattern.
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2
Cast on the required number of stitches for your chosen size on the size 3 needles. This is the vest front. Knit 2 inches of 1x1 ribbing, ending on a wrong-side row. Change to the size 6 needles and work in stockinette stitch until the armhole is reached in the pattern. End on a wrong-side row.
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3
Bind off a few stitches at the beginning of the next row based on the pattern's instructions. Knit two stitches together and turn your work. Slip the unworked stitches on your left-hand needle to the stitch holder for the time being. Work the stitches on the knitting needles in stockinette stitch, decreasing at the armhole and neck edge as directed by the pattern. Finish knitting the remaining stitches up to the shoulder and bind off the few remaining stitches.
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4
Go back to the stitches on the stitch holder,and slip the center neck stitch on to the contrasting yarn. The right side of the knitting should be facing you. Slip the remaining stitches on to the size 6 needles, knit the first two stitches together, and knit to the end of the row. Continue the second half of the vest front, reversing the decreasing and shaping as directed in the pattern. Bind off the shoulder stitches.
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5
Cast on the size-appropriate number of stitches for the vest's back on the size 3 needles. Knit in 1x1 ribbing for 2 inches, ending on the wrong side. Change to the size 6 needles, and work in stockinette stitch to the armhole. Decrease a few stitches at each armhole following the pattern's instructions. Work without any shaping until the shoulder is reached. Bind off these stitches.
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6
Turn the front and back so their right sides are facing. Sew the right shoulder seams together using the yarn needle and a length of the vest's yarn. Turn the vest right-side out again. Attach the vest yarn at the left front shoulder. Use the size 3 needles to pick up neckband stitches on the left front according to the pattern. Knit the center front stitch on the contrasting yarn. Pick up stitches on the right front equal to those on the left. Pick up stitches on the back of the neck.
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7
Knit one row. The wrong side will be facing you. Decrease a stitch or two there using the purl stitch according to the pattern. Continue knitting up the left and across the back neck stitches. Knit in 1x1 ribbing until you reach the V-neck center front. Continue in ribbing and decrease as directed at the center of the "V" two or three times as the pattern directs. Turn the vest inside out and sew the left shoulder and neck band seam together. Turn the vest right side out.
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8
Pick up stitches for the right armhole band using the size 3 needles. Knit one row. Work in 1x1 ribbing for seven to nine rows depending on the vest size. Cast off in ribbing. Repeat the process with the left armhole.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Circle the size, stitch count, and other decrease figures for the vest you'll be knitting before you begin. You won't lose your place or forget any numbers.
Knit a test swatch yarn before you begin. Cast on at least 20 stitches, and knit until you've formed a square. This is your swatch. Measure its width and height in inches. Compare the result with the pattern's gauge. It should be the same. If it isn't, use a slightly larger or smaller needle to get the right gauge.
References
Resources
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