Tummy Warmer Baby Vest

Sizes

Newborn, 3-6 months
Shown in size newborn

Finished Measurements

Chest: 14 [16] inches
Length: 8 [9] inches

Materials

Blue Sky Alpacas™ Sport Weight [100% Baby Alpaca; 110 yards/100 meters per 1.76 ounce/50 gram hank];

#520 Avocado; 2 [2] hanks

Recommended needle sizes

US #5/3.75 mm 16 inch circular needle
US #4/2.5 mm 16 inch circular needle
US #4/3.5 mm dpns (set of 5)

Notions

Stitch Holders
Scrap Yarn
Tapestry needle
Stitch markers
3 small buttons

Gauge

With larger needles, 24 sts and 36 rows = 4 inches in Honeycomb Pattern
With larger needles, 12 sts and 16 rows = 2 inches in St st

Pattern Notes

The Tummy Warmer Vest is knit in the round, seamlessly from the top down.

This vest uses a honeycomb pattern that is made with twisted stitches. By twisting the stitches, the thickness of the fabric is doubled and the air trapped by the stitches makes it very insulating. I used a 100% baby alpaca, which is lightweight, yet warm. It will keep the baby’s body warm and cozy.

Stitch Patterns
Tw2r: Working in front of the 1st st, knit the 2nd st on the needle, then knit the 1st st, slipping both sts off of the needle at the same time.
Tw2l: Working behind the 1st st, knit into the back of the 2nd st on the needle, then knit into the back of the 1st st, slipping both sts off the needle at the same time.

Honeycomb Pattern
Rnd 1: * Tw2r, tw2l; repeat from * around.
Rnd 2: Knit around.
Rnd 3: * Tw2l, tw2r; repeat from * around.
Rnd 4: Knit around.
Repeat Rnds 1-4 for patt.

Skills Required

Knitting in the round, knitting on double pointed needles

Yoke

Using larger circular needle, cast on 48 [60] sts.
Row 1 (RS): K6 [7], pm, k1, pm, k13 [16], pm, k1, pm, k6 [10], pm, k1, pm, k13 [16], pm, k1, pm, k6 [7].
Row 2: *Knit to 1 st before marker, kfb, sm, k1, sm, kfb; rep from * until 1 st before last marker, kfb, sm, k1, kfb, knit around: 56 [68] sts.
Row 3: Knit across.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2: 64 [76] sts.
Row 5: Knit across.
Row 6: K2, purl across to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 7 (Buttonhole row): K1, k2tog, yo, * knit to 1 st before marker, kfb, sm, k1, sm, kfb; repeat from * across to 1 st before last marker, kfb, sm, k1, kfb, knit across: 72 [84] sts.
Row 8: K2, purl across to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 9 (Increase row): * Knit to 1 st before marker, kfb, sm, k1, sm, kfb; repeat from * across to 1 st before last marker, kfb, sm, k1, kfb, knit across: 80 [92] sts.
Row 10: K2, purl across to last 2 sts, k2.
Rows 11 and 12: Repeat Rows 9 and 10: 88 [100] sts
Row 13 (Buttonhole row): Repeat Row 7: 96 [108] sts.
Row 14: K2, purl across to last 2 sts, k2.
Rows 15-18: Repeat Rows 9 and 10, twice: 112 [124] sts.
Rows 19 and 20: Repeat Rows 7 and 8: 120 [132] sts.

Body

Cut yarn leaving 6 inches to weave in later.
With RS facing, place first 16 [17] sts on a st holder or scrap yarn. Rejoin yarn and k31 [34], place next 26 [30] sts on st holder or scrap yarn, cast on 17 [20] sts, k31 [34], place last 16 [17] sts on st holder or scrap yarn, cast on 17 [20] sts, place marker and join to work in the round: 96 [108] sts.
Knit 1 round.
Work Rnds 1-4 of Honeycomb Pattern 9 [10] times.

Bottom Band
Change to smaller circular needle.
Rnd 1 (RS): Purl around.
Rnd 2: Knit around.
Rnd 3: Purl around.
Rnd 4: Knit around.
Bind off all sts purlwise.

Right Armhole (Buttonhole side)
With RS facing, using smaller circular needle, k16 [17] sts from st holder, pick up 17 [20] sts and then k16 [17] from remaining st holder: 49 [54] sts.
Rows 1 and 2: Knit across.
Bind off all sts knitwise.

Left Armhole
Using smaller size dpns, beginning at the bottom center of armhole, pick up 9 [10] sts, k26 [30] sts from st holder, pick up 9 [10] sts: 44 [50] sts.
Place marker and join in the round.
Rnd 1: Purl around.
Rnd 2: Knit around.
Bind off all sts purlwise.