A knit vest is a great middle ground between a hat and a full sweater. There are no sleeves, so you finish faster and use less yarn, but you still get a real garment you can layer all year. Vests look great over shirts, dresses and tees.
Here are 14 free knit vest patterns we checked one by one. They start with easy garter and rib vests and move on to shawl collars, colorwork slipovers and a cabled argyle for more experienced knitters.
Knit Vest Free Patterns
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What You’ll Need
- Worsted or DK wool yarn
- Circular needles, 24″ to 32″
- Smaller circular needle for ribbing
- Locking stitch markers
- Measuring tape
- Tapestry needle
- Blocking mats and pins
1. Franzi Vest
Photo: Maschenfein
Franzi is a short, boxy vest in garter stitch, knit with two strands of aran yarn on big needles. The body is worked flat to the armholes, then the front and back are finished separately and joined at the shoulders. It is rated beginner and is a great first garment.
- Designer: Maschenfein
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: aran held double (bulky)
- Needles: 8 mm (US 11)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
2. Easy Going Vest
Red Heart’s Easy Going Vest has a relaxed fit and a simple shape, which makes it good practice for basic shaping. It is knit in chunky yarn, so it grows fast. The pattern comes in sizes small to 2XL.
- Designer: Red Heart
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Red Heart Chunky (see pattern)
- Needles: see pattern
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
3. Simone Vest
Simone is a slightly cropped vest with a square shawl collar. It is knit top-down in the round, so there is very little sewing. Wear it over a blouse in spring and fall or on its own in summer. The size range is wide, from XS to 5X.
- Designer: Rachel Brockman for Universal Yarn
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Universal Yarn Truva cotton-cashmere (see pattern for weight)
- Needles: 4 mm (US 6) and 3.75 mm (US 5)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
4. Celadon Vest
Photo: Cecilia Lalanne & Gabriella Calderini / Manos del Uruguay
Celadon is an open-front, oversized vest knit in one piece from the bottom up. A broken rib stitch gives it soft texture. With no buttons, it drapes easily and fits many body shapes. It is a cozy layer for cool days.
- Designer: Cecilia Lalanne & Gabriella Calderini / Manos del Uruguay
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: worsted (#4)
- Needles: 5.5 mm (US 9)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
5. Shawl Collar Vest
Photo: Jennifer Miller Comstock
This ribbed vest has a big, cozy shawl collar and a front closure. Aran yarn on large needles means it knits up quickly. The designer notes the sizing is flexible, so read the measurements before you start.
- Designer: Jennifer Miller Comstock
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: aran (#4)
- Needles: 8 mm (US 11)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
6. Fanad Head Vest
Photo: Bonnie Dean
Fanad Head is a no-sew, drop-shoulder vest with a boat neck. It mixes sailor’s rib and stockinette with small textured flag motifs. The shoulders are shaped with short rows and joined with an exposed three-needle bind-off for a neat detail.
- Designer: Bonnie Dean
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: aran (#4)
- Needles: 6 mm (US 10)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
7. Summer Vest
Photo: Julie Beatty
Julie Beatty’s Summer Vest is a top-down racerback vest knit flat with no seams. It is light and simple, a good choice for warm weather layering. It is written in one size with notes on making it bigger.
- Designer: Julie Beatty
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: see pattern
- Needles: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
8. Leni Vest
Photo: Berroco Design Team
Leni is a light layering vest with a shaped back and long, angled front panels. The cut is relaxed and flattering, and it looks great over a tee with jeans. Berroco offers it as a free PDF.
- Designer: Berroco Design Team
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Yarn: Berroco Splash or Mykonos Stonewash (see pattern)
- Needles: 4 mm (US 6)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
9. Hanne Vest
Photo: Lia Moya / Knitty
Hanne is a different kind of vest. It is knit in one long garter piece with mitered corners and two-row stripes, then wraps around the body and closes with a shawl pin. It is sized with a formula, so you can make it fit you exactly.
- Designer: Lia Moya / Knitty
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: see pattern
- Needles: 4 mm (US 6) circular
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
10. Flyaway Vest
Photo: Gina Bonomo
Flyaway is knit sideways in one flat piece with no seams. Lace-weight yarn makes it light and airy, perfect for layering in warmer months. It is written as one size fits most.
- Designer: Gina Bonomo
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: lace (#0)
- Needles: 4 mm (US 6)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
11. Astro Vest
Astro is a fun slipover with star motifs in color. It is knit flat from the bottom up and seamed. Use your favorite Paintbox DK shades for a playful vest that is great over a white shirt.
- Designer: Paintbox Yarns
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Yarn: DK (#3)
- Needles: 3.5 mm (US 4) and 4 mm (US 6)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
12. Hashtag Mosaic Vest
Photo: Svetlana Pakhomova
This vest uses mosaic knitting, where you work only one color per row and slip stitches to make the pattern. It is knit bottom-up in the round in fingering yarn. Mosaic is an easy way to get a colorwork look without stranding.
- Designer: Svetlana Pakhomova
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: fingering (#1)
- Needles: 3 mm (US 2.5) and 2.5 mm (US 1.5)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
13. Sakura Vest
Photo: Kalliopi Aronis
Sakura mixes stripes, colorwork and lace for a pretty, feminine vest. It is knit flat in pieces and seamed, then the neckline and armholes are picked up and finished in the round. A lovely project when you want something a bit special.
- Designer: Kalliopi Aronis
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: sport (#2)
- Needles: 3.5 mm (US 4)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
14. Argyle Sweater Vest
This argyle vest is made with cables and lace instead of colorwork, so it is all one color. The body is knit in the round from the bottom up, then the front and back are worked flat. It is rated advanced and comes in sizes XS to 5X.
- Designer: Kaitlin Barthold / Originally Lovely
- Skill level: Advanced
- Yarn: see pattern
- Needles: 4 mm (US 6) and 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
Which One Should You Make?
- First knit garment ever? Start with #1 (Franzi Vest). Garter stitch, big needles, rated beginner.
- Want a quick, easy layer? Try #2 (Easy Going Vest) or #3 (Simone Vest).
- Love cozy collars? Go for #5 (Shawl Collar Vest).
- Want to try colorwork the easy way? Pick #12 (Hashtag Mosaic Vest), one color per row.
- Ready for a challenge? Make #14 (Argyle Sweater Vest) with cables and lace.
FAQ
Is a knit vest a good first garment?
Yes. A vest has no sleeves, so there is less knitting and less fitting to worry about. Choose a pattern in garter stitch or simple rib with thick yarn. You still learn key garment skills like shaping armholes and finishing a neckline, but you finish much sooner than a full sweater.
How much yarn do I need for a knit vest?
It depends on size, yarn weight and length. A cropped vest in bulky yarn can use as little as 400 to 600 yards, while a longer vest in larger sizes may need 1,000 yards or more. Always check the yardage chart in your pattern and buy one extra skein.
How should a knit vest fit?
Most modern vests have a few inches of positive ease, meaning they are bigger than your chest. Boxy styles can have even more. Look at the finished bust measurement in the pattern, not just the size name, and compare it to a vest you already like wearing.
Choose your favorite, wind your yarn, and enjoy knitting a vest you will wear all year.
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