Bestie Vestie
Bestie Vestie
Is there a type of garment that you haven’t made yet? Perhaps you've never knitted (or worn!) a vest before. Or maybe you’ve already made a few and you’re looking for a pattern that feels fresh—something quick, transitional, and size-inclusive for the season ahead.
I was in the first camp when I tuned into an Instagram Live one afternoon, where two besties talked all about a vest-along they were about to participate in. As they excitedly chatted about silhouettes, textures, and how they’d style a vest, I couldn't think about anything else. Before the live even ended, I’d grabbed the nearest notepad and scribbled a few rough sketches based on another pattern I had in test knitting at the time.
The first sketch was heavily cabled, front and back. “Keep it simple!”, I thought to myself. But it was the third sketch—the last one on that notepad—that stood out as “the one.”
I started a spreadsheet and ordered yarn faster than it took you to read this sentence. One package was coming from another state, the other from a couple hours north of me. Tracking said nearly a week. Torture!
To my relief, the yarn arrived four days sooner than estimated, and just in time for me to work on it while podcasting and watching You’ve Got Mail with my own bestie during her visit from Canada. There’s something special about knitting with someone you love in the room, even if you’re both just doing your own thing.
As I made progress on the pattern and then worked on a second sample, my husband—completely unaware of what (or who!) had inspired me to drop everything else—started calling it the Bestie Vestie. I loved how that name rolled off the tongue. It was cute, memorable, and different from anything I’ve named before.
The icing on the cake: 90 test knitters helped bring this pattern to life, and so many of them said the same thing: this is the best-fitting thing they’ve ever made. If you decide to make one too, whether as your first vest or a new one to add to a growing collection, I hope that it’s your Bestie Vestie yet.
What makes it special
Cables and lace that keep you engaged. A textured cable and lace panel runs up the center front, framed by stockinette. It’s interesting enough to hold your attention, simple enough to knit while watching a movie. You’ll have this baby off the needles and on your body before your WIP pile even notices!
Plush stitches, cozy payoff: DK + lace mohair held together or worsted weight yarn on its own create a soft, snuggly knit you’ll want to live in.
Two length options. Cropped for a modern, playful look. Mid-length for something more polished. Both work layered over a button-up or T-shirt, worn with a dress, or solo.
Tested and loved. An incredible team of 90 test knitters helped ensure that the fit is solid. You can see it in the test knitter gallery below—it looks tailored on every single person who made it.
Size-inclusive thinking built into every detail. No worries if you need to make any adjustments—I’ve mapped them all out for you.
Knit seamlessly from the bottom up. The V-neckline takes shape as you work the decreases, and the whole thing finishes with twisted rib edgings and tubular bind-offs.
💡 Love the Bestie Vestie but looking for a smaller project? The Bittie Bestie Vestie knits faster. Need sleeves? The Meant to Vee sweater has them. Both patterns use the same gorgeous cable and lace panel and other key techniques.
Testermonials
“I’m looking forward to casting on a second version soon. Will be telling everyone I know they need to make this because it was such a fun and cute project!”
“Your patterns always have a ton of great information. I am always a tiny bit overwhelmed when I look at them the very first time, but then I take a deep breath, remember that your patterns are well written, and I just need to take it a step at a time and trust you :)”
“I thought this was one of the most thoughtful, thorough patterns I have ever knitted! It is lengthy, but as long as you highlight the sections for the options and size you are choosing it is perfect!”
“This gorgeous vest pattern has just been released & I couldn’t recommend this pattern more. It has an impressive array of design details & fitting information (bust darts!!!) so no matter your skill level or size, you’ll be able to make a great looking and great fitting pattern. I honestly don’t think I’ve knit a pattern before with such comprehensive yet easy to follow instructions. It’s the first Vanessa Smith pattern I’ve made and it definitely won’t be my last (I’ve already cast on a Kaliope shawl). Knitting this made me feel like I had All the knit skills!! Plus it looks so good, why wouldn’t you want one?”
What’s included
In the downloadable PDF you’ll find . . .
13 sizes, plus instructions for 13 more in-between sizes.
a full schematic showing all key measurements.
detailed directions for bust darts, length adjustments, and fit tweaks so you can make it yours.
written and charted instructions for the cable and lace panel.
links to step-by-step video tutorials for all the key techniques, such as the alternating cable cast on and how to pick up and knit stitches (preview the playlist on YouTube!).
I talk all about this pattern and what it includes in this YouTube video:
Ready to make it your Bestie Vestie?
Test Knitter Photo Gallery
Thank you to the many test knitters who helped bring this pattern to life! 💕 Below is a gallery of their beautiful vests, shown in alphabetical order by their Ravelry usernames unless otherwise noted. Click or tap the photos to enlarge them and scroll through.
The Knitty-Gritty
Description
Spice up your wardrobe with this cute yet cozy and refined vest! The Bestie Vestie is knit seamlessly from the bottom up using either one strand each of DK and lace weight yarn held together or a worsted weight yarn on its own.
Choose between a cropped or mid-length body to suit your personal style, and then get ready to watch this vest fly off the needles! You'll begin at the hem, and the knitting remains easy yet engaging as you incorporate subtle shaping and optional bust darts. Next, the back and each front are worked separately, and the rows become shorter and shorter while a classic V neckline emerges organically from the striking cable and lace panel. Each shoulder is then joined with a sturdy three-needle bind off, and the armholes and neckline are trimmed with lovely twisted rib edgings that culminate in tubular bind offs.
Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) [6, 7, 8, 9] {10, 11, 12, 13}
Finished Bust Circumferences
• In Inches: 28.5 (31.75, 35, 38.25, 41.5) [44.25, 47.5, 50.5, 53.75] {55.75, 59, 62.25, 65.5}“
• In Centimeters: 71.5 (79.5, 87.5, 95.5, 103.5) [110.5, 118.5, 126.5, 134.5] {139.5, 147.5, 155.5, 163.5} cm
Instructions are also provided for making in-between sizes ranging 30–67” (75–167.5 cm). Vest is intended to fit with negative ease at the full bust when worn over another garment and up to 1” (2.5 cm) negative ease if worn by itself. Sample shown in size 3 with 1” (2.5 cm) of negative ease before layering, cropped body, and no bust darts.
Yarn
Plied, DK weight yarn and lace weight mohair or suri/silk blend or plied, worsted weight yarn in the following amount(s) for a cropped/mid-length body:
• Yards: 380/485 (430/547, 480/610, 532/674, 585/739) [632/797, 688/865, 741/929, 788/989] {828/1037, 888/1109, 948/1182, 1010/1257} yards
• Meters: 348/444 (393/500, 439/557, 487/616, 535/676) [578/729, 629/791, 677/850, 721/904] {757/948, 812/1014, 867/1081, 924/1149} meters
Sample shown in Malabrigo Dos Tierras [DK weight; 50% merino wool, 50% baby alpaca] in colorway ‘Pearl’ held together with The Lamb & Kid Mho Mho [lace weight; 76% super-fine kid mohair, 24% silk] in colorway ‘Kitten.’
Needles
• US 6 (4 mm) circular needle, 24” (60 cm), or needle size necessary to obtain correct gauge
• US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle, 24” (60 cm), or needle size .5 mm smaller than gauge needle
• Circular needles in both sizes, 32” (80 cm) or length appropriate for body circumferences of the size chosen
• (1) Double-pointed needle or spare circular needle in same size as gauge needle
Gauge
20 sts and 30 rows/rounds = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch using larger needles, blocked
Notions
• (1) Stitch marker, unique, for beginning of round
• (2) Stitch markers, color A, for cable and lace panels
• (1) Stitch marker, color B, for side
• (1) Locking stitch marker
• Cable needle
• (2) Double-ended stitch holders and smooth waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
I can’t wait to see yours.
Buy it on Ravelry.
