Looking for a versatile project? Explore my free knitting pattern for vest page—THIS pattern is at the bottom, others at the featured link!
Knitting has always been my happy place. Seriously, give me yarn, needles, and a good cup of coffee, and I’ll happily knit for hours. That’s why I’m super excited to share this free knitting pattern for vest with you today. If you’ve ever knit the Youth Peter Sweater, you’re going to love this adult vest version—introducing the Peter Vest pattern!
I absolutely adore how this pattern combines elegance with simplicity. Trust me, even if you’re new to knitting, you’ll find this free knitting pattern for vest approachable and oh-so-satisfying. And if you’re a seasoned knitting pro, it’ll be the quick, rewarding project you’ve been craving.
Why You’ll Love This Free Knitting Pattern for Vest
I genuinely think the Peter Vest is a total classic. It’s the kind of garment you can easily layer over your favorite shirt or dress, instantly making any outfit feel polished and cozy. The cables and clean lines of this vest scream timeless style—exactly why I couldn’t wait to share this free knitting pattern for vest with you.
And here’s the best part: it’s knit flat from the bottom up, making it an absolute breeze, even if you’re still getting the hang of knitting. Seriously, it’s just the right balance of challenging and relaxing. With both charted and written instructions for the cable stitches, you’ll feel supported every stitch of the way. Plus, who doesn’t love a project that’s quick enough to finish before you even think about losing interest?
Yarn You’ll Need for This Free Knitting Pattern for Vest
To knit this cozy vest, you’ll want to grab some Premier Yarns Anti-Pilling Everyday Worsted (affiliate link). I can’t stress enough how much I adore working with this yarn—it glides smoothly on the needles, and the anti-pilling feature means your beautiful vest will stay looking fresh wear after wear.
Since this free knitting pattern for vest is designed with worsted-weight yarn, it’s perfect for quick, satisfying progress without feeling overwhelming. I always appreciate a project that feels achievable—because let’s face it, finishing a garment is the best part!
Easily Accessible and Completely Free Knitting Pattern for Vest
Another reason I’m super excited to share this vest pattern is because it’s available right here, totally free. Yep, you heard me right—completely free! Of course, if you’d prefer a handy, ad-free PDF, there’s an option to purchase one on Ravelry right here, but otherwise, everything you need is right at the bottom of this post. I love making knitting accessible, especially for those on a tight budget.
Knitting should be fun, easy, and rewarding—never stressful. And this vest pattern hits that sweet spot perfectly. All you need is your Premier Yarns Anti-Pilling Everyday Worsted (affiliate link), straight needles, and a cozy spot to curl up in.
Personalizing Your Free Knitting Pattern for Vest
What I especially love about the Peter Vest pattern is how easy it is to personalize. You’re totally free to choose yarn colors that match your style—bright and vibrant or classic and neutral. Want something more textured or soft? Experiment away! There’s nothing better than crafting a garment that feels uniquely yours.
And don’t worry if you prefer your vests a little longer or shorter—modifying length is easy-peasy with this free knitting pattern for vest. The possibilities really are endless, and that’s exactly why I keep coming back to it.
Enjoy the Creative Journey with this Free Knitting Pattern for Vest
Let me get a little sentimental here: there’s honestly nothing quite like making your own clothing. In our fast-fashion world, knitting feels wonderfully intentional, sustainable, and rewarding. You know exactly what I’m talking about if you’ve ever finished a project and immediately felt a burst of pride (and probably started showing it off to everyone nearby—guilty!).
This vest is exactly that kind of project. Every stitch you knit will add up to something special—something you’ll genuinely love wearing. I promise this pattern is so much fun you might even knit one in every color!
Let’s Get Knitting Your New Favorite Vest!
Ready to start knitting your own Peter Vest? Perfect! Scroll down to find the full instructions for this particular free knitting pattern for vest at the bottom of this post. And if you’re hungry for even more vest patterns, be sure to explore the featured link to my full free knitting pattern for vest page—there’s plenty more where this came from!
Grab your Premier Yarns Anti-Pilling Everyday Worsted (affiliate link), put on your favorite playlist, and get ready for a relaxing, rewarding knitting session. I can’t wait to hear how your vest turns out—don’t forget to tag me in your finished creations. Happy knitting!
Materials and Info
MATERIALS AND INFO
Size: XS, S (M, L) 1X, 2X (3X, 4X)
Materials: Approximately 7, 7 (8, 8) 9, 10 (11, 13) hanks of Valley Yarns Ashfield (worsted weigh 117yds/50g)
Needle Size: 7(US) 4.5mm circular needles and dpn, 6(US) 4mm circular and dpn
Gauge (tension): 22sts & 28 rows to make 10cm square, using size 7(US) 4.5mm needles working in stockinette stitch
To fit chest circumference: 74, 78 (82, 90) 98, 107 (119, 131) cm / 29.25, 30.75 (32.25, 35.5) 38.5, 42.25 (46.75, 51.5) in.
METHOD
Peter Vest is bottom-up vest in worsted yarn. It is worked flat. Created as a sister to Peter Sweater which was for our 6th child. He wanted something with cables so I created a v-neck set-in sleeve sweater for him with this vest for myself in the back of my mind. I created it specifically to go over dresses so the bottom edge is supposed to sit at the natural waist.
Abbreviations can be found on the last page.
Note: choose size based on bust measurement for best fit
Row 1 (right side) – p4, 2/1RPC, 2/2LC, 2/1LPC, p4
Row 2 – k4, p2, k1, p4, k1, p2, k4
Row 3 – p3, 2/1RPC, p1, k4, p1, 2/1LPC, p3
Row 4 – k3, p2, k2, p4, k2, p2, k3
Row 5 – p2, 2/1RPC, p2, 2/2LC, p2, 2/1LPC, p2
Row 6 – k2, p2, k3, p4, k3, p2, k2
Row 7 – p1, 2/1RPC, p3, k4, p3, 2/1LPC, p1
Row 8 – k1, p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, k1
Row 9 – 2/1RPC, p4, 2/2LC, p4, 2/1LPC
Row 10 – p2, k5, p4, k5, p2
Row 11 – 2/1LPC, p4, k4, p4, 2/1RPC
Row 12 – k1, p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, k1
Row 13 – p1, 2/1LPC, p3, 2/2LC, p3, 2/1RPC, p1
Row 14 – k2, p2, k3, p4, k3, p2, k2
Row 15 – p2, 2/1LPC, p2, k4, p2, 2/1RPC, p2
Row 16 – k3, p2, k2, p4, k2, p2, k3
Row 17 – p3, 2/1LPC, p1, 2/2LC, p1, 2/1RPC, p3
Row 18 – k4, p2, k1, p4, k1, p2, k4
Row 19 – p4, 2/1LPC, k4, 2/1RPC, p4
Row 20 – k5, p8, k5
1X1 RIB PATTERN
Row 1 (right side row) – (k1, p1) across
Row 2 – knit all the knit stitches, purl all the purl stitches.
Peter Vest Pattern
BACK
Cast on using smaller circular needle: 90, 94 (98, 108) 116, 124 (138, 150) sts.
Do not join. Work back and forth in rows.
Work in 1×1 ribbing for 4cms/1.5ins.
Switch to larger needles.
Work in stockinette stitch until the piece measures 23 cm / 9 in from the cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE BACK ARMHOLES
Cast off 4, 5 (5, 5) 5, 5 (5, 5) stitches at beginning of next 2 rows. 82, 84 (88, 98) 106, 114 (128, 140) sts
Decrease 1 st at each end of following 2, 2 (3, 4) 6, 7 (9, 12) rows. 78, 80 (82, 90) 94, 100 (110, 116) sts
Then decrease 1 st each end of every right side row 2, 2 (2, 2) 2, 3 (5, 5) times 74, 76 (78, 86) 90, 94 (100, 106) sts
Continue without shaping until the work measures 40, 40.5 (41, 42) 42.5, 43.5 (44, 45) cm / 15.75, 16 (16.25, 16.5) 16.75, 17.25 (17.25, 17.75) in from the cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE BACK SHOULDERS
Bind off 5, 5 (5, 6) 6, 6 (7, 8) sts at beginning of the next 2 rows.
Bind off 5, 5 (5, 6) 6, 6 (7, 8) sts at beginning of row, k7, 8 (8, 8) 9, 10 (10, 10) [8, 9 (9, 9) 10, 11 (11, 11) sts on right needle].
Put remaining sts on stitch holder.
Turn, bind off 3sts, work to end of row.
Turn, bind off remaining 5, 6 (6, 6) 7, 8 (8, 8) sts
With right side facing, rejoin yarn to stitches on hold, Bind off 38, 38 (40, 44) 46, 48 (50, 52) stitches for the center back neck, knit to the end. There are 13, 14 (14, 15) 16, 17 (18, 19) stitches in this shoulder section, including the stitch remaining after the bind-off.
Turn. Bind off 5, 5 (5, 6) 6, 6 (7, 8) stitches, then purl to the end.
Turn, bind off 3sts, work remaining stitches.
Turn, bind off 5, 6 (6, 6) 7, 8 (8, 8) sts
FRONT
Cast on using smaller circular needle: 90, 94 (98, 108) 116, 124 (138, 150) sts.
Do not join. Work back and forth in rows.
Work in 1×1 ribbing for 4cms.
Switch to larger needles.
Set-up Row 1 (RS): K32, 34 (36, 41) 45, 49 (56, 62), p2, k2, p2, PM for the beginning of Peter Center Cable, p5, [M1, k1] 4 times, p5, PM for the end of Peter Center Cable, p2, k2, p2, knit to the end.
94, 98 (102, 112) 120, 128 (142, 154) sts.
Set-up Row 2 (WS): P32, 34 (36, 41) 45, 49 (56, 62), k2, p2, k7, p8, k7, p2, k2, purl to the end. Slip markers as encountered.
Begin Row 1 of Peter Center Cable between the markers. Maintain the established stockinette sections and the p2, k2, p2 panels beside the cable, reversing knit and purl stitches on WS rows.
Work in the established pattern until the piece measures 23 cm / 9 in from the cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.
Work the armhole shaping and, at the same time, begin the front neck shaping when the piece measures 29, 29 (29, 29) 29.5, 29.5 (29, 29) cm / 11.5, 11.5 (11.5, 11.5) 11.5, 11.5 (11.5, 11.5) in from the cast-on edge.
SHAPE FRONT ARMHOLES
Cast off 4, 5 (5, 5) 5, 5 (5, 5) stitches at beginning of next 2 rows.
86, 88 (92, 102) 110, 118 (132, 144) sts.
Decrease 1 st at each end of following 2, 2 (3, 4) 6, 7 (9, 12) rows.
82, 84 (86, 94) 98, 104 (114, 120) sts.
Then decrease 1 st each end of every right side row 2, 2 (2, 2) 2, 3 (5, 5) times 74, 76 (78, 86) 90, 94 (100, 110) sts
LEFT FRONT NECK SHAPING
On a RS row, work across 39, 40 (41, 45) 47, 49 (52, 55) stitches in the established pattern.
Place the remaining 39, 40 (41, 45) 47, 49 (52, 55) stitches on a holder and turn.
Continue any unfinished armhole shaping at the armhole edge.
Decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge on consecutive rows until 21, 24 (23, 26) 28, 30 (34, 37) stitches remain, allowing for any unfinished armhole decreases.
Then decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge on each of the next 6, 8 (7, 8) 9, 10 (12, 13) RS rows. Work intervening WS rows without neck decreases.
15, 16 (16, 18) 19, 20 (22, 24) sts remain.
LEFT FRONT SHOULDER SHAPING
Row 1 (RS): Bind off 5, 5 (5, 6) 6, 6 (7, 8) stitches, then work to the end.
Row 2: Work without shaping.
Row 3: Bind off 5, 5 (5, 6) 6, 6 (7, 8) stitches, then work to the end.
Row 4: Work without shaping.
Row 5: Bind off the remaining 5, 6 (6, 6) 7, 8 (8, 8) stitches.
RIGHT FRONT NECK SHAPING
With RS facing, rejoin yarn at the center front and work across the held stitches in the established pattern. Turn.
Continue any unfinished armhole shaping at the armhole edge.
Decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge on consecutive rows until 21, 24 (23, 26) 28, 30 (34, 37) stitches remain, allowing for any unfinished armhole decreases.
Then decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge on each of the next 6, 8 (7, 8) 9, 10 (12, 13) RS rows. Work intervening WS rows without neck decreases.
15, 16 (16, 18) 19, 20 (22, 24) sts remain.
RIGHT FRONT SHOULDER SHAPING
Row 1 (WS): Bind off 5, 5 (5, 6) 6, 6 (7, 8) stitches, then work to the end.
Row 2: Work without shaping.
Row 3: Bind off 5, 5 (5, 6) 6, 6 (7, 8) stitches, then work to the end.
Row 4: Work without shaping.
Row 5: Bind off the remaining 5, 6 (6, 6) 7, 8 (8, 8) stitches.
NECKBAND
Sew shoulder seams.
Pick up and knit 27, 28 (28, 30) 32, 33 (36, 38) sts down left front,
1 st at center of “v”, pm,
Pick up and knit 27, 28 (28, 30) 32, 33 (36, 38) sts up right front,
Pick up and knit 45, 45 (47, 49) 51, 53 (57, 59) sts around back.
Join in the round. 100, 102 (104, 110) 116, 120 (130, 136) sts
Mark the center-V stitch with a removable marker attached to the stitch itself.
Place a separate beginning-of-round marker and join.
V-neck round: Work in 1×1 ribbing to 1 stitch before the marked center stitch.
Work VDD over the next 3 stitches, with the marked stitch in the center. Move the removable marker to the resulting stitch. Continue in ribbing to the end.
Arrange the ribbing so the marked center stitch forms a knit column, with purl stitches immediately beside it.
Repeat the V-neck round until the neckband measures 2.5 cm / 1 in from the pickup edge.
Bind off in pattern.
ARMBANDS
With smaller needles and RS facing, pick up stitches evenly around the armhole edge, picking up approximately 2 stitches for every 3 rows along the row edges and distributing pickups across the underarm bind-off edges. Pick up an even number of stitches. Do not join.
Work back and forth in 1×1 ribbing for 2 cm / 0.75 in.
Bind off in pattern.
FINISHING
Sew the side seams and the ends of the armbands. Weave in all ends and block as desired.
ABBREVIATIONS
2/2LC – slip the next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, k2 from left needle, k2 from cable needle
2/1LPC – slip the next 2sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, p1 from left needle, then k2 from cable needle
2/1RPC – slip, the next st onto cable needle and hold at back of work, k2 from left needle, then p1 from cable needle
K – knit
K2tog -knit 2 stitches together
M1 – Make 1 stitch by lifting the strand between stitches from front to back and knitting it through the back loop.
P – purl
PM – place marker
SM – slip marker
SSK – Slip the next 2 stitches individually knitwise, return them to the left needle without changing their new orientation, then knit them together through the back loops.
VDD – vertical double decrease – slip the next 2 sts together as if to knit, knit the next st, pass over the 2 slipped sts together
Download Peter Vest PDF
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