Designer’s email: c.hoben@hotmail.com

The Little Old Aran Vest began as a test swatch for a new pair of needles, and then I added a cable, and it just grew from there. My daughter was taking my two year old grandson Jackson on a trip and I thought he might need something to keep him warm. I was taking a knitting class and was inspired to create this vest, so I wrote down the pattern. I always wanted an Aran Vest, so I made one for my grandson. He didn’t want to have his picture taken, so his modeling job went to his even-tempered cousin Andrew. Andrew’s father Tom patiently held him while photographs were taken from every angle.

This pattern is a: Knit Pattern

Skill Level: Intermediate (but Easy Intermediate)

Credits: Proud papa Thomas Murphy holds 6 month old Andrew Murphy. Andrew is wearing his Little Old Aran Vest in honor of his first St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Cathy Hoben took the picture.

Materials:

Yarn:

Color #1: Plymouth Encore, 200 yards/100 G (31/2 oz) skein, 75% Acrylic, 25% Wool, Color #256 (Cream/ Ecru or Off-White color) 1 ball, Knitting Worsted Weight

Knitting Needles and Crochet Hooks:

Knitting Needles: Straight or Circular - US#10 / 6mm mm, Length in inches 16”

Notions and Accessories:

Cable Holder or Double Point Needle Size 10 or smaller
Stitch holders or large safety pins
Stitch markers optional
4 buttons 5/8” (bone or wooden look)
Beige thread
Sewing Needle
Yarn Needle
Measuring Tape

Size:

Baby size 6-12 months

Finished Product Measurements:

Chest/Bust: 17 - 18 inches
Back Waist Length: 7 - 7 1/2 inches
Cross Back: 7 3/4 - 8 1/4 inches

Size and Measurement Note: this vest will fit a 6-12 month old with a “tummy”. Since there are no sleeves, the vest will grow along with the baby until the length is too short.

Pattern Stitch:

To make this vest, you will need to know how to: Cast on, work in a k1p1 rib, knit, purl, work seed stitch, make a 3x3 front cross cable and back cross cable. Join the front to the back by making a 3 needle bind off.
Also you need to attach a button and make a buttonhole stitch, and sew up the sides with a mattress stitch. Please read “Cables are Cool!” by the author to learn how easy it is to make these cable stitches.
This is an excellent project for beginning knitters who want to expand their skills.

Gauge: #20 stitches / 36rows = 4 inch (10 cm) in pattern stitch. To save time, take time to check your gauge.

Design Notes:

This vest will be made on straight needles, or on circular needles, worked flat. You will make a right front, a left front, and a back. You will sew the side pieces together with yarn using a mattress stitch. The shoulders will be joined with a 3 needle bind-off. Buttons will be sewn on with thread, and the buttonholes will be created by using a buttonhole stitch and yarn.

Make sure you measure the baby or toddler’s chest and tummy. You can adjust for width within the pattern by increasing the number of purl stitches evenly. Note the length that will fit the baby or toddler. You can adjust for added length by increasing the number of rows.

Make sure you read all of the directions before you start the pattern.

Pattern:

Vest Fronts:
(Make 2. Both vest fronts are the same)
With Size 10 needles, cast on 30 stitches. Work in k1p1 ribbing for 6 rows.
Row 7 - 14 Work in stockinette stitch (St st)
Row 15 P
Row 16 K
Row 17 P (Adjust for extra length here by adding 2 or more rows of K and P). These rows give the vest the little “pouch “around the tummy for ease.)
Row 18 Begin seed stitch border at beginning and end of each row, and begin pattern:
*K1, p1, k1, p1*, p8, k6, p8, rep from * to end.
Row 19 *p1, k1, p1, k1*, k8 p6, p8, rep from * to end.
Row 20 - 23 cont in pattern
Row 24 *K1, p1, k1, p1*, p8, slip 3 sts to cable holder or dp needle in front, k3 sts, return 3 sts to left needle, k3, p8, rep from * to end. This is a front cross cable.
Continue in pattern. Every 6 rows, work a cable. For next cable, place the 3 cable sts to the back. This is a back cross cable. Continue in pattern, alternating cables to the front and back until vest front has 6 cables and is about 8 inches or desired length.

Armhole decrease: continue in pattern,
on RS, *K1, p1, k1, p1*, p2tog, p6, k6, p6, p2tog, rep from * to end (28 stitches).
On WS, *p1, k1, p1, k1*, k2 tog, k5 p6, p5, p2 tog,, rep from * to end (26 stitches)
decreasing 2 sts every row until you have 16 sts.
Continue in pattern on RS, *K1, p1, k1, p1*, p1, k6, p1, rep from * to end.(16 stitches)
On WS, *p1, k1, p1, k1*, k1 p6, k1, rep from * to end (16 stitches)
working even for 18 rows or until armhole is desired length. Vest front will be about 11 inches in length. Place 16 shoulder sts on st holders. Leave a 2 foot tail and cut yarn.

Vest Back:
Make 1
CO 60 sts,
Repeat rows 1-17 as for Vest Front
Row 18 *K1,p1,k1,p1*, p8, k6,p8, k8,(middle panel in back), p8,k6,p8, *k1, p1,k1,p1.*
Row 19 *p1, k1, p1, k1,*, k8, p6, k8, p8, (middle panel in back) k8, p6, k8, repeat from * to end
Continue in pattern the same as for the vest front until vest back is about 8 inches in length or is desired length and matches vest fronts.

Armhole decreases:
On RS
*K1,p1,k1,p1*, p2 tog, p6, k6,p8, k8,(middle panel in back), p8,k6,p6, p2tog,, *k1, p1,k1,p1.*(58 stitches)
Next row WS: *p1, k1, p1, k1,*, k2tog, k5, p6, k8, p8, (middle panel in back) k8, p6, k5, k2tog, repeat from * to end (56 stitches)
Continue in pattern, decreasing 2 sts every row in the same panels for 5 more rows ( 48 sts). Working even continue in pattern the same as for the vest front until vest back is about 11 inches in length or is desired length and matches vest fronts.

Shoulders: Begin at armhole and moving toward neckline, use 3 needle bind off to join 12 stitches of vest front to vest back, leaving 1 stitch for the last bind off and 4 seed stitches from vest front for neckline. Repeat for other shoulder.

Neck: Place 4 seed stitches and 1 last bind off st from front on circular needle, 48 stitches around vest back, and add 4 seed stitches and 1 last bind off from other vest front (58 stitches).
K2tog, p2tog, continue in seed stitch along back, end with p2 tog, k2tog. (54 sts)
P2tog, p2tog, continue in seed stitch along back, end with k2tog, p2tog. (50 sts)
K2tog, p2tog, continue in seed stitch along back, end with p2 tog, k2tog. (46 sts)
Bind off in pattern loosely. Weave in yarn ends.

Finishing: Sew side seams.

Buttonholes: Place stitch markers evenly where buttonholes should be on vest front. Using a yarn needle and yarn, make worked buttonholes using buttonhole stitch and enlarging an existing “hole”.
Place buttons on vest front opposite buttonholes and sew on, using thread and sewing needle.

Meet the Designer:

Cathy Hoben has been teaching knitting to everyone she can find who is interested. She became interested in knitting while watching her mother and her grandmother create wonderful knitted and crocheted gifts for everyone in the family. Cathy is continuing that tradition, as she knits for her 10 grandchildren. That is, 10 so far! The grandchildren and their parents all live in Arizona. There isn’t much need for warm sweaters in the desert, so she has to make the sweaters quick before they grow out of them. And before it gets too hot!