Stitch a stylish cable knit vest with our free pattern
If you're looking for a new knitting project, our free knitting pattern to make a stylish cable vest is perfect.
The pattern is worked with Irish moss and cable detailing, giving a striking and professional finish. The vest looks great over a striped top, paired with jeans.
This knitting pattern is ideal for intermediate knitters, as it uses the more advanced techniques of moss stitch and cable stitch, and is worked on circular needles. You can watch our step-by-step video tutorial to cable stitch here.
We've knitted our vest using Prima DK yarn in Mulberry available exclusively at The Works – its rich colour is so stylish and perfect for winter knitwear.
Happy stitching!
Measurements
To fit chest: 81-86 (91-97: 102-107: 112 -117: 122-127)cm
Actual chest: 119 (128:139:148:159)cm
Full length (approximately): 57 (59:61:63:65)cm
Materials
Prima DK acrylic yarn in shade Mulberry x 3 (4:4:4:5) 100g balls
3.25mm and 4mm pair of knitting needles
5 buttons
Tension
22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm square over irish moss stitch using 4mm needles.
Abbreviations
cm centimetre; cont continue; dec decrease; g gram; k knit; mm millimetre; patt pattern; p purl; pm place marker; rep repeat; RS right side; ssk slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease;sm slip marker; st(s) stitch(es); tog together; WS wrong side; [ ] repeat instructions within brackets.
Special abbreviations
C4B cable 4 back - slip 2 sts onto cable needle, hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle
C4F cable 4 front - slip 2 sts onto cable needle, hold in front, k2, k2 from cable needle
Cable vest free knitting pattern
Irish moss stitch
Row 1 (RS): K1, [p1, k1] to end.
Row 2 (WS): P1 [k1, p1] to end.
Row 3: P1 [k1, p1] to end.
Row 4: K1, [p1, k1] to end.
These 4 rows set Irish moss stitch.
Cable panel (24 sts)
Row 1 (RS): P2, k4, p2, k8, p2, k4, p2.
Row 2 (WS): K2, p4, k2, p8, k2, p4, k2.
Rows 3 and 4: Rep rows 1 and 2.
Row 5: P2, C4B, p2, C4B, C4F, p2, C4F, p2.
Row 6: K2, p4, k2, p8, k2, p4, k2.
These 6 rows set cable panel.
Back
Using 3.25 mm needles, cast on 157 (169:183:195:209) sts
Row 1 (RS): K1, [p1, k1] to end.
Row 2 (WS): P1 [k1, p1] to end.
These 2 rows set rib.
Cont in rib until work measures 6cm from cast on edge, ending with a RS row.
Change to 4mm knitting needles.
Dec row (WS): P2 (2:3:3:4), p2tog, [p4, p2tog] 25 (27:29:31:33) times, p3 (3:4:4:5). 131 (141:153:163:175) sts
Work in Irish Moss stitch beginning with row 1 (throughout), until work measures 32cm from cast on edge, ending after a WS row.
Shape armholes
Cast off 7 sts at the beg of next 2 rows. 117 (127:139:149:161) sts
Work 68 [74:80:86:94] rows more. (Measures 23 (25:27:29:31)cm from armhole cast off, ending with a WS row).
Shape shoulders
Cast off 11 (12:14:15:17) sts at the beg of next 2 rows. 95 (103:111:119:127) sts
Cast off 11 (12:14:15:17) sts at the beg of next 2 rows. 73 (79:83:89:93) sts
Cast off 11 (13:14:16:17) sts at the beg of next 2 rows. 51 (53:55:57:59) sts
Slip rem 51 (53:55:57:59) sts onto a holder for Back neck.
Left front
Using 3.25 mm needles, cast on 78 (84:92:98:106) sts.
Row 1 (RS): (K1, p1) to end.
This row set rib.
Cont in rib until work measures 6cm from cast on edge, ending with a RS row.
Change to 4mm needles. Dec row (WS): P24, pm, p1 (5:5:1:0), p2tog, [p3 (2:2:3:3), p2tog] 10 (12:14:14:16) times, p1 (5:5:1:0). 67 (71:77:83:89) sts.
Row 1 (RS): Work row 1 of irish moss stitch to marker, sm, work row 1 of cable panel.
Row 2 (WS): Work row 2 of cable panel, sm, work row 2 of Irish moss stitch.
These 2 rows set stitch patterns.
Cont in patt until work measures 32cm from cast on edge, ending with a WS row.
Shape armholes and V neck
Next row (RS): Cast off 7 sts, patt to end, pm. 60 (64:70:76:82) sts
Next row (WS): Patt to end.
Next row: Patt to 2 sts before marker, patt2tog, sm, patt to end. 59 (63:69:75:81) sts
Next row: Patt to end.
These 2 rows set dec.
Cont to rep these 2 rows 23 (20:19:20:19) times more. 36 (43:50:55:62) sts
Next row: Patt to 2 sts before marker, patt2tog, sm, patt to end. 35 (42:49:54:61) sts
Next 3 rows: Patt to end.
These 4 rows set dec.
Cont to rep these 4 rows 2 (5:7:8:10) times more. 33 (37:42:46:51) sts
Work 8 rows straight in patt.
Shape shoulders
Next row (RS): Cast off 11 (12:14:15:17) sts, patt to end. 22 (25:28:31:34) sts
Next row (WS): Patt to end.
Next row: Cast off 11 (12:14:15:17) sts, patt to end. 11 (13:14:16:17) sts
Next row: Patt to end.
Cast off rem 11 (13:14:16:17) sts
Right front
Using 3.25 mm needles, cast on 78 (84:92:98:106) sts.
Row 1 (RS): [P1, k1] to end.
This row set rib.
Cont in rib until work measures 6cm from cast on edge, ending with a RS row.
Change to 4mm needles. Dec row (WS): p1 (5:5:1:0), p2tog, [p3 (2:2:3:3), p2tog] 10 (12:14:14:16) times, p1 (5:5:1:0), pm, P24. 67 (71:77:83:89) sts.
Row 1 (RS): Work row 1 of cable panel, sm, work row 1 of irish moss stitch.
Row 2 (WS): Work row 2 of irish moss stitch to marker, sm, work row 2 of cable panel.
These 2 rows set stitch patterns.
Cont in patt until work measures 32cm from cast on edge, ending with a WS row.
Shape armholes and V neck
Next row (RS): Pm, patt to end.
Next row (WS): Cast off 7 sts, patt to end. 60 (64:70:76:82) sts
Next row: Patt to marker, sm, patt2tog, patt to end. 59 (63:69:75:81) sts
Next row: Patt to end.
These 2 rows set dec.
Cont to rep these 2 rows 23 (20:19:20:19) times more. 36 (43:50:55:62) sts
Next row: Patt to marker, sm, patt2tog, patt to end. 35 (42:49:54:61) sts
Next 3 rows: Patt to end.
These 4 rows set dec.
Cont to rep these 4 rows 2 (5:7:8:10) times more. 33 (37:42:46:51) sts
Work 9 rows straight in patt.
Shape shoulders
Next row (WS): Cast off 11 (12:14:15:17) sts, patt to end. 22 (25:28:31:34) sts
Next row (RS): Patt to end.
Next row: Cast off 11 (12:14:15:17) sts, patt to end. 11 (13:14:16:17) sts
Next row: Patt to end.
Cast off rem 11 (13:14:16:17) sts
Border
Join shoulder seams.
With RS facing and beginning at Left front bottom side edge, using 3.25mm circular needles, pick up and knit 65 sts evenly up to marker, pick up and knit 48 (52:61:65:70) sts to shoulder seam, knit across 51 (53:55:57:59) sts across back neck, pick up and knit 48 (52:61:65:70) sts evenly down to marker, pick up and knit 65 sts evenly down to cast on edge. 277 (287:307:317:329) sts
Row 1 (WS): K1, [p1, k1] to end.
Row 2 (RS): P1, [k1, p1] to end.
These 2 rows set rib.
Work 3 more rows.
Next row (WS): Rib 5, [k2tog, cast on 2 sts, ssk, k8] 5 times, rib to end.
Work a further 5 rows in rib.
Cast off in rib.
Armhole borders (Both alike)
With RS facing and beginning after 7 sts cast off at armhole, using 3.25mm needles, pick up and knit 48 (52:61:65:70) sts evenly up to shoulder seam, pick up and knit 49 (53:62:66:71) sts evenly down to 7sts cast off at armhole. 97 (105:123:131:141) sts
Work in rib as set on border for 10 rows, beginning with row 1.
Cast off in rib.
Making up
Join side seams. Join side edge of armhole borders to 7 sts cast off at armholes. Weave in ends and block to given measurements. Sew buttons to border matching buttonholes.
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