Classic Men’s V-Neck Slipover

Bottom-up knitted vest in worsted weight

A straight-fitting, sleeveless pullover vest worked flat in two pieces from the hem up. Stockinette body, 1×1 rib hem, armhole bands, and a mitered V-neckband. Designed as a layering piece with 2–4" (5–10 cm) of positive ease.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Sizes

XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)

Shown in size M. Choose a size with 2–4" (5–10 cm) of ease over actual chest measurement.

To fit chest: 32–34 (36–38, 40–42, 44–46, 48–50, 52–54)" / 81–86 (91–97, 102–107, 112–117, 122–127, 132–137) cm

Finished measurements

• Chest: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56)" / 91.5 (101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142) cm
• Length: 25 (26, 26½, 27½, 28, 29)" / 63.5 (66, 67.5, 70, 71, 73.5) cm
• Armhole depth: 9 (9½, 10, 10½, 11, 11½)" / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28, 29) cm
• Shoulder width (each): 4¼ (4½, 5, 5½, 5¾, 6¼)" / 10.5 (11.5, 12.5, 14, 14.5, 16) cm
• Back neck width: 6½ (6¾, 7¼, 7½, 8, 8½)" / 16.5 (17, 18.5, 19, 20.5, 21.5) cm

Yarn

Worsted weight (CYC 4), approximately 900 (1000, 1150, 1300, 1450, 1600) yd / 825 (915, 1050, 1190, 1325, 1465) m.

Suggested: 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 8) skeins of Cascade 220 (100% Peruvian Highland wool; 220 yd / 200 m per 100 g), or any worsted wool or wool-blend with similar yardage and good stitch definition. Solid or heathered colors show the rib and V-neck cleanly.

Needles

• US 6 / 4 mm: 24" (60 cm) circular for ribbing; 16" (40 cm) circular or double-pointed needles for armhole bands
• US 7 / 4.5 mm: straight or circular for the body
• or size needed to obtain gauge; ribbing needles one size smaller than body needles

Notions

• Stitch markers
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
• Spare US 7 / 4.5 mm needle (optional, for 3-needle bind-off)

Gauge

20 stitches and 28 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked.

Check gauge and change needle size if needed. Row gauge affects length and armhole depth; stitch gauge affects width.

Notes

• Vest is worked flat in pieces, bottom up. Selvedge stitches are included in the stitch counts; seam with mattress stitch, taking half a stitch from each edge.
• The V-neck begins on the same row as the armhole bind-off. You will work both fronts at the same time with two balls of yarn.
• When two numbers are given for the same edge on the same row (armhole decrease and neck decrease), work both.
• Lengthen or shorten the body by adding or removing stockinette rows before the armhole. Every 7 rows ≈ 1" (2.5 cm).
• Blocking the pieces before seaming is essential for a clean V and even armholes.

Abbreviations (US)

BO — bind off CO — cast on dec — decrease k — knit k2tog — knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease) p — purl pm — place marker rem — remain(ing) rep — repeat RS — right side sl — slip (purlwise unless stated) ssk — slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, knit the 2 slipped stitches together through the back loop (left-leaning decrease) st(s) — stitch(es) St st — stockinette stitch (knit RS, purl WS) WS — wrong side wyib — with yarn in back

Centered double decrease (neckband): slip 2 stitches together knitwise, k1, pass both slipped stitches over (sl2tog-k1-p2sso).

Back

With smaller needles, CO 90 (100, 110, 120, 130, 140) sts.

Ribbing Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end. Row 2 (WS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end. Rep Rows 1–2 until hem measures 3" (7.5 cm), ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles.

Body Work in St st until piece measures 16 (16½, 16½, 17, 17, 17½)" / 40.5 (42, 42, 43, 43, 44.5) cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Shape armholes BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. — 82 (90, 98, 106, 114, 122) sts rem (90 − 4 − 4 = 82 ✓).

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts dec) Next row (WS): Purl.

Rep the last 2 rows 3 (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) more times. — 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) armhole decrease rows worked; 74 (80, 86, 92, 98, 104) sts rem (82 − 8 = 74 ✓).

Work even in St st until armhole measures 9 (9½, 10, 10½, 11, 11½)" / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28, 29) cm, ending with a WS row.

Shape right back neck and shoulder Next row (RS): BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) sts, knit until there are 16 (17, 19, 20, 21, 23) sts on the right needle, turn. Place remaining sts on a holder.

Next row (WS): BO 2 sts (neck edge), purl to end. — 14 (15, 17, 18, 19, 21) sts.

Next row (RS): BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) sts, knit to end. — 7 (7, 9, 9, 9, 11) sts.

Next row (WS): Purl.

Next row (RS): BO remaining 7 (7, 9, 9, 9, 11) sts. (Shoulder total 7 + 7 + 7 = 21 ✓; 8 + 8 + 7 = 23 ✓; 8 + 8 + 9 = 25 ✓; 9 + 9 + 9 = 27 ✓; 10 + 10 + 9 = 29 ✓; 10 + 10 + 11 = 31 ✓.)

Shape left back neck and shoulder With RS facing, rejoin yarn to sts on holder. BO center 28 (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) sts, knit to end. — 23 (25, 27, 29, 31, 33) sts (28 + 2 + 2 = 32 neck sts ✓).

Next row (WS): BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) sts, purl to end. — 16 (17, 19, 20, 21, 23) sts.

Next row (RS): BO 2 sts (neck edge), knit to end. — 14 (15, 17, 18, 19, 21) sts.

Next row (WS): BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) sts, purl to end. — 7 (7, 9, 9, 9, 11) sts.

Next row (RS): Knit.

Next row (WS): BO remaining 7 (7, 9, 9, 9, 11) sts.

Front

With smaller needles, CO 90 (100, 110, 120, 130, 140) sts.

Work ribbing and body as for Back until piece measures 16 (16½, 16½, 17, 17, 17½)" / 40.5 (42, 42, 43, 43, 44.5) cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. Place a marker between the two center stitches to mark the V (after stitch 45 (50, 55, 60, 65, 70)).

Shape armholes and begin V-neck You will now work both sides of the front at the same time with two balls of yarn.

Row 1 (RS): BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts, knit to 2 sts before the center marker, k2tog, remove marker; join a second ball of yarn, ssk, knit to end.

Row 2 (WS): BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts, purl to neck; with second yarn, purl to end.

— 40 (44, 48, 52, 56, 60) sts each side (First side: 45 − 4 BO − 1 k2tog = 40 ✓; second side: 45 − 1 ssk − 4 BO = 40 ✓.)

Armhole decreases Working both sides at once: On every RS row, at each armhole edge, work: k1, ssk at the beginning of the left front (wearer’s left / first side), and k2tog, k1 at the end of the right front (wearer’s right / second side).

Work this armhole decrease 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) times total (the first of these is the next RS row after Row 2 — do not count the bind-off row as a decrease row).

V-neck decreases (at the same time) The first neck decrease was already worked on Row 1 (k2tog on left front, ssk on right front).

Then, decrease 1 st at each neck edge every 4th row (i.e., every other RS row) 15 (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) times more.

Neck decrease method (RS rows):

• Left front (neck at the end of the RS row): knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
• Right front (neck at the beginning of the RS row): k1, ssk, knit to end.

On WS rows, purl each side.

When an armhole decrease and a neck decrease fall on the same RS row, work both.

After all armhole and neck decreases: — 21 (23, 25, 27, 29, 31) sts rem each side (40 − 4 armhole − 15 neck = 21 ✓; 44 − 5 − 16 = 23 ✓; 48 − 6 − 17 = 25 ✓; 52 − 7 − 18 = 27 ✓; 56 − 8 − 19 = 29 ✓; 60 − 9 − 20 = 31 ✓).

Work even on remaining sts (if any rows remain) until armhole measures 9 (9½, 10, 10½, 11, 11½)" / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28, 29) cm, matching the Back to the start of shoulder shaping, ending with a WS row. If a neck decrease is still due, work it during shoulder shaping.

Shape left front shoulder (wearer’s left; armhole at beginning of RS rows) BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) sts at the beginning of the next RS row, work to neck, turn. Purl 1 WS row. BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) sts at the beginning of the next RS row, work to neck, turn. Purl 1 WS row. BO remaining 7 (7, 9, 9, 9, 11) sts.

Shape right front shoulder (wearer’s right; armhole at beginning of WS rows) BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) sts at the beginning of the next WS row, work to neck, turn. Knit 1 RS row. BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) sts at the beginning of the next WS row, work to neck, turn. Knit 1 RS row. BO remaining 7 (7, 9, 9, 9, 11) sts.

Finishing

Weave in ends that will be enclosed in seams. Wet-block Back and Front to the schematic measurements. Let dry completely.

Shoulders Join shoulder seams with mattress stitch, or work a 3-needle bind-off from the WS for a flatter join (pick up the live-st bound-off shoulder edges, or hold the last group of shoulder sts live if you preferred holders).

Side seams Sew side seams with mattress stitch, matching the rib to rib and the armhole bind-offs. Do not sew the armhole or neck edges.

Armhole bands

With smaller 16" (40 cm) circular needle or DPNs, RS facing, beginning at the underarm seam, pick up and knit 96 (104, 112, 120, 128, 136) sts evenly around the armhole:

• 1 st in each bound-off underarm st, plus 1 extra st in each underarm corner
• remaining sts at a rate of about 2 sts for every 3 rows along the vertical edges

Pm for beginning of round. Count must be even.

Round 1: *K1, p1; rep from * to end. Rep Round 1 until band measures 1" (2.5 cm). BO loosely in rib.

Work the second armhole the same way.

V-neckband

With smaller 24" (60 cm) circular needle, RS facing, beginning at the left shoulder seam, pick up and knit:

• 46 (48, 52, 54, 58, 60) sts evenly down the left front V-neck
• 1 st at the center of the V (place a marker on this st — this is the center st)
• 46 (48, 52, 54, 58, 60) sts evenly up the right front V-neck
• 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42) sts across the back neck

— 125 (131, 141, 147, 157, 163) sts (odd count, so the center st can be a knit in 1×1 rib ✓).

Pm for beginning of round.

Round 1: Work k1, p1 rib to 1 st before the center st, work a centered double decrease (sl2tog-k1-p2sso) using the st before the center st, the center st, and the st after it, replacing the marker on the resulting st; continue in k1, p1 rib to end of round. (2 sts dec; the center st remains a knit.)

Round 2: Work even in established 1×1 rib, knitting the center st.

Rep Rounds 1–2 until neckband measures 1" (2.5 cm), ending with a Round 2. The double decrease every other round keeps the V sharp without drawing it up.

BO loosely in rib, working a centered double decrease at the V as you bind off so the point stays flat.

Final finishing

Weave in all remaining ends. Steam or lightly wet-block the ribbed bands so they lie flat without stretching the V or the armholes. Do not press ribbing flat — it should retain elasticity.

Schematic (blocked measurements)

                    shoulder 4¼ (4½, 5, 5½, 5¾, 6¼)"
                   |------|   back neck 6½ (6¾, 7¼, 7½, 8, 8½)"   |------|
                    ________________________________________________
                   /                                                \
                  /                    BACK / FRONT                   \
                 /                      armhole                       \
                |                 9 (9½, 10, 10½, 11, 11½)"            |
                |                                                      |
                |                                                      |
                |         chest (each piece = half)                    |
                |         18 (20, 22, 24, 26, 28)"                     |
                |                                                      |
                |              total length                            |
                |         25 (26, 26½, 27½, 28, 29)"                   |
                |                                                      |
                |______________ 3" rib hem ____________________________|

Front V-neck begins at the armhole bind-off and reaches the shoulder.

Hem to armhole: 16 (16½, 16½, 17, 17, 17½)" / 40.5 (42, 42, 43, 43, 44.5) cm Armhole depth: 9 (9½, 10, 10½, 11, 11½)" / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28, 29) cm Full chest: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56)" / 91.5 (101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142) cm

Fit and modification notes

• Size: Measure the chest over a shirt. Pick the finished chest that is 2–4" (5–10 cm) larger. This is a layering slipover, not a skin-tight vest.
• Length: Men’s slipover hems typically sit at the hip bone. Add length in the stockinette section before the armhole if you want more coverage.
• V depth: As written, the V starts at the armhole and finishes at the shoulder — a classic deep men’s V. For a shallower V, work 1–2" (2.5–5 cm) of armhole shaping before you split the neck, then work the same total number of neck decreases more frequently (every RS row) so they still finish at the shoulder.
• Yarn substitution: Any worsted that matches 20 sts = 4" (10 cm) will work. Animal fiber (wool, wool-blend) gives the cleanest rib and holds the V. Superwash will grow; block a swatch fully before you commit to a size.