FREE PATTERN: Pebble (Henry’s Cobblestone-inspired Manly Baby Vest)
Obrigado to Claudia for the Portuguese translation!
Merci to Veronique for the French translation!
I loved the garter yoke and hem in brooklyntweed’s beautiful Cobblestone sweater, so I decided to pay homage to it in this little easy-on baby vest. I think it’s very manly. And shouldn’t all babies be manly?
One side and one shoulder are open and button up so you can put the vest on without going over the baby’s head. You’ll start at the bottom edge, work several rows in garter, then proceed up the body, working in buttonholes on the wider edge piece
Finished size: 9″ wide, 10″ tall at shoulder
Gauge: 19st, 27 rows=4″
Yarn: DK weight yarn of your choice, preferrably something tweedy or irregular, and in subdued tones (to keep it manly), about 100g. I’d recommend superwash unless the mom’s a knitter.
I chose my own thick and thin handspun 2ply superwash, because it obscures my baggy Norwegian purl rows, and overdyed it afterwards because the color of the knitted fabric was too much like Barbie skin.
Needles: US4
BODY
Buttonholes: All buttonholes are worked at the beginning of WS rows. To make a buttonhole, substitute Sl 1, K2tog, YO for the first 3 st of the buttonhole row.
CO 80 (I used the twisted German cast-on, because it’s my fav.)
Rows 1 - 12: Sl 1, K to end. (Reminder: Place buttonhole on Row 7)
Row 13 (WS): Sl 1, K4, PM, P 33, PM, K 6, PM, p 33, PM, K3
Row 14 (RS) & all even: Sl 1, K to end
Row 15 & all odd (except buttonhole rows): Sl 1, K4, P 33, K 6, P 33, K3
Reminder: Place a buttonhole at beginning of row 17, 27, 37, & 47.
Continue until 49 rows have been completed.
Row 50: BO all st before the first marker, K to 2nd marker, BO st between 2nd and 3rd markers, K to last marker, BO last 5 st. You’ll have 33 st each for front and back.
With WS facing, rejoin yarn on the half of the vest nearest the buttoholes. This will be your front.
FRONT
Row 1 & 3 (WS) : Sl 1, K to end
Row 2 & 4 (RS): Sl 1, SSK, k to 3 st from end, K2tog, K1
Rows 5-15: Repeat Row 1 (ending with a WS row)
Front Neckline
Sl 1, K 7, BO neck st until 7 st remain on your left needle, K to end. You should have 8 st on either side of neck.
Open shoulder
Row 1 (WS): Sl 1, K to end
Row 2 (RS) : Sl 1, ssk, K to end
Repeat Row 1 ten more times
Buttonhole row: K2tog, YO, K to 2 st from end, YO, K2tog
Work Row 1 twice more, then BO.
Seamed shoulder
With WS facing, join yarn at other shoulder.
Row 1 (WS): Sl 1, K to end
Row 2 (RS): Sl 1, k to 3 st from end, k2tog, K1
Work Row 1 eight more times, then break yarn and transfer live stitches to safety pin, locking stitch marker, or waste yarn.
BACK
With WS facing, join yarn.
Row 1 (WS) : Sl 1, K to end
Row 2 (RS): Sl 1, SSK, k to 3 st from end, K2tog, K1
Rows 3-23: Repeat Row 1 (ending with a WS row)
Back Neckline
Sl 1, K 7, BO neck st until 7 st remain on your left needle (plus one live st beyond the BO on your right needle), K to end. You should have 8 st on either side of neck.
Seamed shoulder
Row 1 (WS): Sl 1, K to end
Row 2 (RS) : Sl 1, ssk, K to end
Work Row 1 four more times, then break yarn, leaving 12″ tail.
Transfer reserved shoulder stitches to other needle. With RSs together (WSs facing out), seam shoulder with kitchener stitch, using tail from first s houlder
Open shoulder
With WS facing, join yarn at other shoulder.
Row 1 (WS): Sl 1, K to end
Row 2 (RS): Sl 1, k to 3 st from end, k2tog, K1
Work Row 1 six more times. BO.
Finishing
Weave in ends.
Sew buttons on non-buttonhole side and shoulder.
Block.
September 21st, 2007 at 3:56 pm
That’s really cute! You could do some increases at the bottom and turn it into a dress for baby girls!
September 21st, 2007 at 8:20 pm
LOVE IT! Perfect. I wish I’d had something like this when my babes were little, but it will be the perfect charity knits project that I need right now. Genius!
September 22nd, 2007 at 5:34 am
Fantastic. Just fantastic.
September 22nd, 2007 at 1:47 pm
i kind of want to make it for myslef in grown up size.
September 25th, 2007 at 11:27 am
just so ya know, i’m so in love with this it’s getting posted on the chum! woot!
September 25th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
This is adorable! thanks, I can’t wait to make a few for the babies.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Hi! My name is Hanane and I run a stash bustin blog on blogger, where I feature really cool easy, Stash Bustin’ patterns. I am going to feature this little guy on there. Thanks for sharing http://www.buststashpatterns.blogspot.com
September 28th, 2007 at 10:57 am
So cute! And the stockinette section is a perfect canvas for duplicate-stitching on a cute picture.
October 1st, 2007 at 6:57 am
so very cute! thanks for the pattern!
October 9th, 2007 at 7:52 am
It’s awsome! So nice for little baby boys. The pattern is printed and I’ll probably cast on for this soon. I also love your woodland shawl pattern!
October 9th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
[…] Pebble (Henry’s Cobblestone-inspired Manly Baby Vest) by The Thrifty Knitter Read More Post a […]
October 10th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Oh I love it but have no babies and so I am thinking you should make one for us grown up girls!!!! the style and pattern is wonderful! thanks!! Hugs Linda
October 15th, 2007 at 8:58 am
Thank you for being so generous! This is an adorable and unique pattern.
Thanks again,
~ Robyn
October 21st, 2007 at 10:34 am
Thanks for this lovely pattern. I just linked to it at http://afghansforafghanskal.blogspot.com/
November 17th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Adorable! Thanks for sharing!
December 27th, 2007 at 4:17 am
the first thing i’ve knitted other than scarfs and booties. an easy to follow pattern with amazing results. thanks. i love it xx
January 7th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
hi, I would like to knit the vest but do not understand some of the instructions. Help please.
BODY, row 13 what does PM mean?
row 50: BO?
front: SSK?
January 8th, 2008 at 11:49 am
PM= place marker
BO= bind off
SSK= slip slip knit (slip 2 stitches knitwise, then slip them back onto the left needle (you’ve just twisted them around) and knit them as one stitch.
February 10th, 2008 at 6:04 am
This is a brilliant pattern, i knit for charity and it’s ideal…just what i was looking for THANK YOU
March 8th, 2008 at 10:56 am
I Love this pattern. It is a keeper. I have no grandchildren yet, but someday. If I have granddaughters I’ll pot the button on the other side-hahahahaha!
March 23rd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
[…] Baby Vest von […]
March 27th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
thanks for sharing! I have been looking for a vest for my daughter and soon-to-be born nephew, and this is perfect!
April 4th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
LOVE IT!
I’ve been searching hi & lo for a baby vest to make with the 3 discount DK wool skeins I have. What age baby is this for?
Thank you!
April 4th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
This is infant-sized.
April 28th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I’m also curious what age baby this fits. I don’t have a baby (yet) but i do have some handspun that would work for something like this…
April 30th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Will depend on the baby, but I’d say 0-12mos. You could use a thicker yarn (and correspondingly larger gauge) for a larger size.
May 10th, 2008 at 12:20 am
I also love this pattern. It’s so cute! I’m knitting one for my baby boy - due in August. He will look so handsome in this vest!
I am a novice knitter thoug, and was wondering if you could tell me what it means to “rejoin yarn?” Am I supposed to fasten off and then tie back on?
Thanks!
July 20th, 2008 at 1:27 am
Do you have this pattern in adult sizes? I’d wear it
August 5th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Hello,
Surfed to your site through a search for free baby vest patterns, and this is absolutely delightful! What a neat idea, and so refreshingly different! My mother is making it for my neighbour’s son and loves the pattern.
I have a question to ask - I am translating the pattern for my mother into Marathi (an Indian language, like Hindi), since she doesn’t read English knitting language. Would you be willing to allow me to write up an abbreviated translated pattern on my blog, with full credit to you and a link to your blog and the original pattern? I know another Raveler whose mum-in-law knows this language but not English and would love the pattern.
Do let me know if you’re okay with it. In any case, congratulations on a simple but beautiful pattern!
Thanks
September 17th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
[…] something I whiped up this past week. A new blue vest for Frances. If you’re interested, here is where I found the pattern. I am trying to get away from the colour pink. It seems as though I […]
September 24th, 2008 at 1:28 am
Fantastisk! I’m knitting one for my baby right now..almost done!!! :)
I love that it doesn’t have to go over baby’s head… awesome!!!
BIG THANKS!!! and Thumbs Up!!
September 30th, 2008 at 9:10 am
[…] baby garments, because you can slip them on easily over their baby gro/onesie. I thought that the vest below looked quite neutral, but since knitting it, I think it looks a touch girly. Perhaps I […]
October 16th, 2008 at 8:13 am
[…] - my mum did. I added the buttons, and pretty much did the maths on both of them. The Blue Frog is The Thrifty Knitter’s Nifty baby riff on the Cobblestone, but with redone numbers cast on onwards. It was an absolute breeze to knit, with hardly any […]
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I WILL learn to knit just so that I can make this. Wow.
December 13th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Found this great pattern on Raverly! What a great and practical baby sweater. I am looking forward to making this for my baby boy. You should write this pattern in children and adult sizes. Great idea and love your blog and work!!!
January 10th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
[…] The pattern is technically made for a boy in mind, and is called Pebble, Henry’s Manly Cobbles…. I will put some girly buttons, and maybe some embroidery, if I get brave. I think it’s really quite unisex, but I also find that most things can be “girlied up” more than they can be made more boyish. […]
January 11th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Love the pattern(and yarn you used). Very appealing to those who don’t like seaming piece together.
March 13th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Hi there
I have made this for my new nephew - what a success - gorgeous! But…I am a new enough knitter that I dont know how to increase to make the next size up - say, 3-6 or 6-9 months, which of course his mum really really wants now!
Thanks
Rachel
March 18th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I’ve got some lovely brown alpaca handspun, how many yards do you think this vest took? Carole
March 20th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Hi !
I´ve posted a comment here last week asking you for permission to post a translation into Portuguese for this pattern on my blog, but I haven´t received your answer yet and my comment is not posted here. I don´t know if there was any problem with it.
My vest is ready and I intend to put some photos on my blog.
Could you tell me please if you allow me to include the translation giving you all the credits, of course, and linking to your blog?
Thanks again.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Thank you for the pattern! I enjoyed to knit the vest. You can see the finished vest on my blog.
March 25th, 2009 at 11:43 am
hello,
I am French which explains that I may be mistaken myself, but I believe there is a mistake for Row 50: don’t you BO the last *3* st instead of the last *5* ?
Also, what does SI 1 mean ?
Thank you !
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I made this pattern for my new nephew and everyone who has seen it LOVES it. I’m thinking about trying to make a bigger size for my 3 year old. I welcome any suggestions for increasing the size…..
April 6th, 2009 at 3:32 am
Hey! This is a fantastic pattern. Thanks so much! I just finished making this for my little boy and it is so cute! It really shows off a nice little round baby tummy. I posted a couple of pics on my blog just in case you are interested.
Thanks again.
April 9th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Hi
Have just finished knitting the vest. What a lovely knit. I knit it in leftover acrylic in black and grey and it looks cool
On ravelry as KiwiEllie if you want to have a deco.
thanks for the pattern I love it and am going to try upscale it a little for my little grand daughter - can just see it in pink with a crochet flower!!!!
If I manage all that I’ll give you a shout.
Ellie
April 18th, 2009 at 4:00 am
this looks lovely, would like to give it a go, but need it to fit a 2 year old, would it be easy to make it bigger?
June 22nd, 2009 at 6:50 pm
i hope that you don’t mind. but i recently made this beautiful sweater as a gift and wrote about it on my blog. i linked back to your site and credited you with the pattern. i loved knitting it and am currently working on a gauge swatch to do the math necessary to enlarge the pattern to fit my 5 year old. thank you so much for sharing it on your site!
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:08 am
I ditto the above request - my mum wants to make this for my sone, we need it to fit a 18-24mth old boy…do you have the pattern to make it bigger? We love it but mum just knitted this and its only big enough for a 3mth old :( Thanks!
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:36 am
I have the same problem as above, need the pattern to fit a 2 year old. Can this be done? My daughter just loves this design and would love one made for her son!
Any help would be welcome
July 10th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Hello Nikol,
I translated this cutie in french and would love to send it to you so you would be able to offer it in french as well !!
Can you justsend me an email to the above adress and I will send the french translation.
Tahnks for this cutie !! I just finished it and am gonna post it on my blog, so I know many french mladies wouls like to knit it :))
Veronique
July 24th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
OOHHH so cute..no tiny ones in my family abut want yo do up a bunch for the bazaar>>>looks like they will go up fast.Have all kinds & colours so should have a few…Whittling down my stash. Thanks so much for the pattern.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:33 pm
This vest is darling & so practical. Can’t wait to knit it for my new grand-nephew!
September 6th, 2009 at 6:39 am
[…] used the Pebble Baby Vest pattern found here and on Ravelry, in Hempwol. As soon as Caveman saw it, he declared he needed a matching vest too, […]
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Any idea where I can buy this for my little girl?
December 11th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
You know, is there a way to just get the pattern without all the comments? I just want to print it, so I can have it without the extra stuff.
December 12th, 2009 at 2:05 am
Sorry, Laura. I don’t think this template has that option. I’ll let you know if I make a pdf.
December 14th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
My mom made two sweaters from this pattern for my daughter, one in the original size which she wore last winter, and one larger that she is wearing now at 18 mos. We love them! I posted a picture of the second one on my blog and credited you for the pattern, and linked to your site. You can see it here:
http://stayathomemd.blogspot.com/2009/12/baby-fashion-friday.html
The first one she did was two colors, rust and red which was a cute variation.
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:49 pm
How do I make this for 9-12 months?
February 26th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
How do I make for three year old?
March 19th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Thanks for this fantastic pattern! I made it in a raw silk on a size 7 needle and it worked up beautifully. It looks adorable and manly all at once, perfect thing for a baby boy!
March 26th, 2010 at 8:14 am
I just finish mine. I love your pattern and thank you for your work and your graciousness.
April 9th, 2010 at 9:00 am
Thank you so much for this gorgeous pattern - I made two over Easter holiday for coworkers expecting newborns and they are spectacular! What a wonderful pattern! I’m thrilled to have found your site and am still absolutely ecstatic about this pattern - gorgeous!
July 30th, 2010 at 10:43 am
[…] you’re curious, I knit up a Pebble, and it’s Ravelled here, but I haven’t finished or posted pictures yet, due to Button […]