Little Layers Chunky V-Neck Slipover

A pull-on knitted waistcoat for age 5 years – Beginner

Size & Finished Measurements

To fit age 5 years (actual chest 58 cm / 23").

Materials

• Yarn: Chunky (bulky) wool, approx. 100 m per 100 g. You need 3 × 100 g balls (approx. 250 m used).
• Needles:
  • 6 mm (UK 4 / US 10) straight needles.
  • 5.5 mm (UK 5 / US 9) straight needles.
• Notions:
  • 2 stitch holders (or spare yarn).
  • 1 removable stitch marker.
  • Tapestry needle.

Tension (Gauge)

14 sts and 19 rows = 10 cm (4") over stocking stitch on 6 mm needles, measured after washing.

Check your tension before you start:

• If you have more stitches than this, use a larger needle.
• If you have fewer stitches, use a smaller needle.

Abbreviations

Pattern Notes

• The garment is worked flat in two pieces from the hem up.
• Decreases are worked one stitch in from the edge. This gives neat seams and tidy band pick-ups.
• Row numbering: Rows are numbered from the start of the armhole shaping (Row 1 = first cast-off row). Count your rows on the back and front so both pieces match.

BACK

Hem rib

1. Using 5.5 mm needles, cast on 46 sts.
2. Rib Row 1 (RS): k2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.
3. Rib Row 2 (WS): p2, *k2, p2; rep from * to end.
4. Repeat these 2 rows until the rib measures 4 cm (approx. 8 rows), ending with a WS row.

Body

1. Change to 6 mm needles.
2. Beginning with a k row, work in st st until the piece measures 23 cm from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row (approx. 36 rows of st st). (46 sts)

Shape armholes

• Row 1 (RS): Cast off 3 sts, k to end. (46 − 3 = 43 sts ✓)
• Row 2 (WS): Cast off 3 sts purlwise, p to end. (43 − 3 = 40 sts ✓)
• Row 3 (RS): k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (38 sts)
• Row 4: Purl.
• Rows 5–6: Rep Rows 3–4. (36 sts)
• Rows 7–8: Rep Rows 3–4. (34 sts ✓: 40 − 6 = 34)

Continue straight in st st until the armhole measures 17 cm from Row 1, ending with a WS row (approx. 32 rows from Row 1).

Shoulders

• Next row (RS): Cast off 10 sts, k to end. (24 sts)
• Next row (WS): Cast off 10 sts purlwise, p to end. (14 sts)

Leave the remaining 14 sts on a holder for the back neck. (10 + 10 + 14 = 34 ✓)

FRONT

Work as for the Back until you have completed armhole Row 2 (40 sts).

Divide for V-neck (worked on the same row as the first armhole decrease)

Row 3 (RS): k1, ssk, k14, k2tog, k1, turn. Count check: 1 + 2 + 14 + 2 + 1 = 20 sts worked.

• You are now working on the First Side only, which has 18 sts.
• Slip the remaining 20 sts onto a holder for the Second Side.

First Side (armhole at the beginning of RS rows, neck at the end)

• Row 4 and every WS row: Purl.
• Row 5: k1, ssk, k to end. (17 sts)
• Row 7: k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (15 sts)
  • The armhole shaping is now complete: 3 armhole decreases have been worked.
• Row 9: Knit.
• Row 11 (neck decrease): k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (14 sts)
• Rep the neck decrease on Rows 15, 19, 23 and 27. (10 sts)
  • Check: 7 neck decreases in total (Rows 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27) → 20 − 3 − 7 = 10 ✓

Work straight until the armhole matches the Back (17 cm from Row 1), ending with a WS row. Cast off the remaining 10 sts.

Second Side (neck at the beginning of RS rows, armhole at the end)

Row 3 (RS): With RS facing, rejoin yarn to the 20 held sts. Work k1, ssk, k14, k2tog, k1. (18 sts)

• Row 4 and every WS row: Purl.
• Row 5: k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (17 sts)
• Row 7: k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (15 sts)
• Row 9: Knit.
• Row 11 (neck decrease): k1, ssk, k to end. (14 sts)
• Rep the neck decrease on Rows 15, 19, 23 and 27. (10 sts ✓)

Work straight to match the First Side, ending with a WS row. Cast off the remaining 10 sts.

MAKING UP & BANDS

Block both pieces to the measurements given: lightly mist or steam them, pin them flat, and leave them to dry.

1. Right shoulder seam With RS facing, sew the front and back right shoulder seam (as worn) using mattress stitch. Leave the left shoulder open.

2. Neckband Using 5.5 mm needles and with RS facing, pick up and knit stitches as follows:

1. Start at the open left front shoulder. Pick up and knit 24 sts down the left side of the V.
2. Pick up and knit 1 st in the centre of the V. Place the removable marker on this st.
3. Pick up and knit 24 sts up the right side of the V.
4. Knit the 14 sts from the back neck holder.

Total: 24 + 1 + 24 + 14 = 63 sts ✓. The marked centre st is st 25, which is a knit st.

Work the band as follows. In every row, "rib" means knit the knit sts and purl the purl sts as they face you.

• Row 1 (WS): p1, *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
• Row 2 (RS): Rib to 1 st before the marked st, s2kpo, rib to end. (61 sts)
  • Move the marker up onto the centre st each time.
• Row 3: Rib as set. Purl the centre st.
• Row 4: Rep Row 2. (59 sts)
• Row 5: Rib as set.
• Cast-off row (RS): Cast off in rib, working s2kpo at the centre as you go.

3. Left shoulder seam Sew the left shoulder seam, continuing the seam neatly across the ends of the neckband.

4. Armhole bands (both alike) Using 5.5 mm needles and with RS facing, pick up and knit 54 sts evenly around the armhole edge. Pick up 27 sts from the side seam edge to the shoulder seam, then 27 sts from the shoulder seam to the other side edge.

Tip: pick up 3 sts in the cast-off sts, then approx. 3 sts for every 4 rows along the edge.

1. Every row: *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
2. Work 5 rows in total.
3. Cast off loosely in rib.

5. Side seams Sew the side seams using mattress stitch. Begin at the edge of the armhole band and work down to the hem rib.

6. Finishing Weave in all ends along the seams. Steam the seams and bands gently.

Fit note: This is a pull-on style with no fastenings. The deep V-neck (approx. 15 cm) and generous neckband let it slip easily over a child's head. Wear it over a shirt or long-sleeved top for a smart waistcoat look.