Easy Vest FREE knitting pattern “TRAFUL”

My TRAFUL Vest is worked flat in a breeze. Both fronts are knitted from bottom up and then joined in the same needle to knit the back from shoulders to the bottom edge. It has only 2 seams, one at each side. 4 sizes: 0 to 6 months, 6 to 12 months, 12 to 18 months, 2 years.

• SKILL LEVEL: Advanced beginner / Easy
• TECHNIQUES USED: garter stitch, ssk, k2tog, yo.

THE ENTIRE PATTERN (written and charted) IS BELOW.

If you want to add this pattern to your Ravelry library click HERE.

You can also purchase the pattern in a high quality PDF file for HERE or in my Etsy Shop HERE. 

INSTRUCTIONS

❖ BEFORE STARTING please note that, at some point, you’ll need 2 different balls of yarn, one to knit each front. Or to use both yarn ends of the same ball (inside end and outside end of the skein).

1) LEFT FRONT

I think it is better to start knitting the front that has no buttonholes in it, because you can use it as a model to determine the optimal position of the buttonholes on the right front. We will come back to this topic later.

– CO 17 (19, 21, 23) sts with US 13 (9 mm) needles, leaving a long tail of yarn. You will use it later to sew the left side.

I always cast on and bind off stitches with larger needles than I use for the main work. This prevent my cast on and bind off rows from being too tight.

– With US 11 (8 mm) work in garter stitch until you reach a total length of 6’’ (6.75’’, 7.5’’, 8.75’’) [15.5 cm (17 cm, 19 cm, 22 cm)], ending with a WS row.

Slip first stitch on every row as if you were to knit it, but without knitting it (except on the first row). It will form a nicer border and will allow you to make a quick and neat seam when you need to.

Now you are ready to shape the armhole 😊

Next row (RS): bind off the first 3 (4, 4, 5) sts. 14 (15, 17, 18) sts remain on needle.

Next row (WS): k all sts.

Next row (RS) (decrease row): k 1, ssk, k to end (13, 14, 16, 17).

Next row (WS): k all sts.

– Repeat the last 2 rows 1 (1, 2, 2) more times. 12 (13, 14, 15) sts remain in your needle.

– Keep knitting until you reach a total length of 8.5’’ (9.75’’, 11’’, 12.5’’) [21.5 cm (24.5 cm, 28 cm, 31.5 cm)], ending with a RS row.

Now you will shape the neckline.

Next row (WS): bind off the first 5 (5, 5, 6) sts. (7, 8, 9, 9).

Next row (RS) (decrease row): knit until 3 sts remain in your left-hand needle, k2tog, k1. (6, 7, 8, 8).

Next row (WS): k all sts.

– Repeat the last 2 rows 1 (2, 2, 2) more times. (5, 5, 6, 6) sts remain in your needle.

– Keep knitting until you reach a total length of 9.75’’ (11’’, 12.75’’, 14.25’’) [25 cm (28 cm, 32.5 cm, 36.5 cm)], ending with a RS row.

– Slip your stitches on a stitch holder. DO NOT cut the yarn, since you will be working from here when you are ready to make the back of your vest.

2) RIGHT FRONT

❖ BEFORE STARTING please note that you will be making the buttonholes in this front.

❖ The buttonholes are made by yarn over on the right side of the work. If you have any doubt, read my following post to find a step-by-step tutorial 👉 HERE

❖ How to make each BUTTONHOLE:

Knit the RS row in which the buttonhole is to be made like it follows:

k 2, yo, ssk, k to end.

In the next row (WS) knit the yo through is front loop, allowing to form the hole.

❖ POSITION OF BUTTONHOLES IN EACH SIZE

Make a buttonhole as described before when the right front measures approx.:

– Size 0 to 6 months: 1’’, 3.25’’, 5.25’’ and 7.5’’ (2.5, 8, 13.5 and 19 cm)
– 6 to 12 months: 1.25’’, 3.75’’, 8.75’’ and 7.5’’ (3, 9.5, 16 and 22.5 cm)
– 12 to 18 months: 1’’, 3.25’’, 5.75’’, 8’’ and 10.5’’ (2.5, 8.5, 14.5, 20.5 and 26.5 cm)
– 2 years: 1.25’’, 4’’, 6.5’’, 9’’ and 11.5’’ (3.5, 10, 16.5, 23 and 29.5 cm)

❖ To ensure that buttonholes are distributed evenly, it is best to count the number of ridges of garter st in the left front and plan where they will be made. I show you an example in the next photo:

Now you’re ready to knit the Right Front 😊

– CO 17 (19, 21, 23) sts with US 13 (9 mm) needles.

– With US 11 (8 mm) work in garter stitch (do not forget the buttonholes!) until you reach a total length of 6’’ (6.75’’, 7.5’’, 8.75’’) [15.5 cm (17 cm, 19 cm, 22 cm)], ending with a RS row. You can check the measurement by counting the ridges on the left front, from the start to the armhole. You should have the same amount here.

Now you are ready to shape the armhole.

Next row (WS): bind off the first 3 (4, 4, 5) sts. (14, 15, 17, 18).

Next row (RS) (decrease row): k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k 1 (13, 14, 16, 17).

Next row (WS): k all sts.

– Repeat the last 2 rows 1 (1, 2, 2) more times. (12, 13, 14, 15) sts remain in your needle.

– Keep knitting until you reach a total length of 8.5’’ (9.75’’, 11’’, 12.5’’) [21.5 cm (24.5 cm, 28 cm, 31.5 cm)], ending with a WS row. Again, do not forget the buttonholes.

Now you will shape the neckline.

Next row (RS): bind off the first 5 (5, 5, 6) sts. (7, 8, 9, 9).

Next row (WS): k all sts.

Next row (RS) (decrease row): k 1, ssk, k to end (6, 7, 8, 8).

Next row (WS): k all sts.

– Repeat the last 2 rows 1 (2, 2, 2) more times. (5, 5, 6, 6) sts remain in your needle.

– Keep knitting until you reach a total length of 9.75’’ (11’’, 12.75’’, 14.25’’) [25 cm (28 cm, 32.5 cm, 36.5 cm)], ending with a WS row. Cut the yarn.

3) BACK

By now, hoy have both fronts knitted:

– Slip the left front back into the same needle the right front is:

– Knit all the sts of the left shoulder, cast on 9 (11, 11, 13) new sts for back neckline, and knit all sts from the right shoulder. You now have 19 (21, 23, 25) sts in your needle. Your vest will look like this:

– Knit 1 row.

Next row (RS): increase 1 st at each side of the new sts by making a yo. In other words, work as follows:

k 5 (5, 6, 6), yo, k 9 (11, 11, 13), yo, k 5 (5, 6, 6)

You now have 21 (23, 25, 27) sts in your needle.

Next row (WS): k all sts. Both yo of the previous row should be knitted twisted to avoid making a hole. If you never did this, or are not sure how to do it, please visit my tutorial 👉 HERE.

Keep knitting until you reach a length of 2.75’’ (3.25’’, 3.5’’, 4’’) [7 cm (8 cm, 9 cm, 10 cm)] from the back neckline, ending with a WS row.

Now you are ready to shape the armholes.

Next row (RS) (increase row): k 1, yo, k until 1 sts remain on needle, yo, k1 (23, 25, 27, 29).

Next row (WS): k all sts, twisting both yo of the previous row.

– Repeat the last 2 rows 1 (1, 2, 2) more times. (25, 27, 31, 33) sts remain in your needle.

Next row (RS): cast on 3 (4, 4, 5) new sts at the end of the row (28, 31, 35, 38).

Next row (WS): cast on 3 (4, 4, 5) new sts at the end of the row (31, 35, 39, 43).

– Keep knitting until you have the same number of ridges on your back, from the armhole to the lower edge, as in the front:

– Bind off loosely with US 13 (9 mm) needle. When you finish binding of, the yarn should be on the right side of the vest. Cut the yarn leaving a long tail to sew.

4) FINISHING

Sew sides. I usually do this using the knots left by the side k stitches:

– Weave in all yarn ends. Be careful to secure especially the yarn end that was left on the neckline.

– Sew on buttons.

Enjoy your work!!

© Cecilia Fameli, 2018.
You’re welcome to sell your items produced from Oh La Lana! patterns! But you may not re-sale or re-distribute commercially my patterns in any manner. Thank you in advance for being respectful with my work!

HAPPY KNITTING!!

Ceci

You can also purchase this pattern in a high quality PDF file for HERE or in my Etsy Shop HERE.