Easy Baby Vest (Newborn–12 months)

Simple, classic sleeveless baby vest with a button shoulder opening for easy dressing. Worked flat in separate back and front pieces, seamed, with ribbed edges. Sizes: Newborn (0–3 m, 3–6 m, 6–12 m).

Finished Measurements

Chest circumference: 16 (18, 20, 22) in / 40.5 (45.5, 51, 56) cm
Back length (shoulder to hem): 7 (8, 9, 10) in / 18 (20.5, 23, 25.5) cm

Yarn & Materials

Yarn: Light DK / baby / sport weight yarn. Imperial & Metric quantities: Newborn 100 yds (92 m); 0–3 m 125 yds (115 m); 3–6 m 150 yds (137 m); 6–12 m 175 yds (160 m). Choose a soft, machine-washable baby yarn.
Needles: US 5 (UK 9, 3.75 mm) for ribbing and US 6 (UK 8, 4.0 mm) for body. Circulars or straights OK for flat knitting. (All needle sizes listed: US / UK (old) / mm.)
Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, measuring tape, 3 small buttons (approx. 9–12 mm / 3/8–1/2 in), waste yarn for provisional cast-on if you prefer.

Gauge

22 sts x 28 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch on US 6 (4.0 mm). Adjust needle size to obtain correct gauge.

Abbreviations

k = knit
p = purl
st(s) = stitch(es)
RS = right side
WS = wrong side
k2tog = knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
p2tog = purl two together
CO = cast on
BO = bind off

Notes

This pattern is written for 4 sizes; numbers are given as Newborn (0–3 m, 3–6 m, 6–12 m). When only one number appears it applies to all sizes. The vest is worked flat in two pieces. Lengths given include the ribbed hem. If you prefer a deeper or shorter vest, change lengths before shaping the armholes.

Pattern

Stitch counts / Cast-on

Cast on for back and front pieces (each):

Newborn: 44 sts
0–3 months: 50 sts
3–6 months: 56 sts
6–12 months: 62 sts

Back

Using US 5 (3.75 mm) needles, CO 44 (50, 56, 62) sts. Work in K1, P1 rib for 12 rows (about 1 in / 2.5 cm).
Change to US 6 (4.0 mm). Work in Stockinette (RS: knit, WS: purl) until piece measures 3.5 (4, 4.5, 5) in / 9 (10, 11.5, 12.5) cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Armhole shaping: BO 3 (3, 4, 4) sts at beginning of next 2 rows (BO 3 sts, turn; BO 3 sts, turn). You will have 38 (44, 48, 54) sts remaining.
Continue in Stockinette until armhole measures 3.5 (4, 4.5, 5) in / 9 (10, 11.5, 12.5) cm from the first BO row.
Place a marker for shoulder separation if you like, then BO all sts. Set piece aside.

Front

Work exactly as Back until you reach the armhole BO step (through the first BO rows). After the 2 BO rows you will have the same remaining sts as the Back (38 (44, 48, 54) sts).
Continue in Stockinette until armhole measures 1.5 (1.75, 2, 2.25) in / 4 (4.5, 5, 5.5) cm from the first BO row (this is where we form the neckline).
Neck shaping (RS): Work across 15 (17, 19, 21) sts, turn and work other side separately; leave remaining sts on a holder/waste yarn for the opposite shoulder. Note: The numbers below give a simple shallow neckline; if you prefer a deeper scoop, work fewer center sts before dividing.
Right neck (first half): On RS, after turning, dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 2 times (k2tog at neck edge) — that is, K to last 2 sts, k2tog, turn — until you have 10 (11, 12, 13) sts for the shoulder remaining. Work even until same total length as Back to shoulder, then BO remaining shoulder sts.
Left neck: Rejoin yarn to held sts and work symmetrically: on RS dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 2 times (ssk or slip-slip-knit at neck edge) until you have 10 (11, 12, 13) sts for the shoulder remaining. Work even until same length as Back to shoulder, then BO remaining shoulder sts.
If you prefer a button shoulder opening: instead of joining the two shoulder pieces at the neck, BO shoulder sts on one side and leave other side on a holder. After completing Neck & Shoulder shaping, you will pick up stitches for a neat neckband and create the shoulder band/buttonband as described in Finishing.

Finishing

Block pieces lightly to measurements.
Seam shoulders with mattress stitch, or leave one shoulder unseamed if you are making a button shoulder opening (recommended: seam right shoulder only; left shoulder will have button band).
Sides: Seam side seams from hem up to armhole using mattress stitch, leaving armholes open.
Neck & Armhole Edges (optional neat finish): Using smaller needles (US 5 / 3.75 mm), pick up evenly around neck edge approximately one stitch for every row (pick up and knit 1 around). Work K1, P1 rib for 8 rows (about 3/4 in / 2 cm), then BO in rib pattern. Repeat for each armhole: pick up evenly and work 6 rows of K1, P1 rib; BO in pattern.
Shoulder Button Band (left shoulder opening): With RS facing and US 5 needles, pick up and knit across the left shoulder edge and neck edge where you left stitches on holder (approx the same number of sts you BO earlier). Work K1, P1 rib for 10 rows. On the third rib row from the start make 3 evenly spaced horizontal buttonholes: for each buttonhole bind off 2 sts where needed, on the next row CO 2 sts over the bound-off sts to maintain edge; or make yarn-over buttonholes: (yo, k2tog) as preferred. After completing band, BO in rib. Sew shoulder band to right shoulder edge, aligning buttonholes to overlap when closed. Sew on buttons to the right shoulder band so the band can button onto them.
Weave in all ends and sew on buttons. Give a final light block if desired.

Sizing & Adjustments

To lengthen or shorten the vest: change the number of Stockinette rows before armhole shaping and the armhole depth rows. Keep shaping proportionate.
To change width: adjust cast-on in multiples of 2 sts (to preserve K1,P1 rib pattern) and recompute length of sections by gauge.

Care

Follow yarn manufacturer instructions. For most baby DK acrylic blends: machine wash gentle / tumble low or dry flat. If using wool, hand wash and dry flat unless yarn is labelled machine-washable.

Needle Conversion (for clarity)

US 5 = UK 9 / 3.75 mm
US 6 = UK 8 / 4.0 mm

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