Free pattern - Slip over vest and optional beanie

I created this pattern primarily to be used for charity knitting, although I have made slipovers for gifts as well. Slipovers were designed to simply 'slipover' as a soft, stretchy vest which can be worn directly next to the skin if needed. They need to be stretchy so they will fit a child for a long time and very soft.

Slipover – Easy to medium knitting. Requires knit, purl, simple increasing and decreasing.

To make slip over - start at the bottom front of the garment.

Use 7.5mm needles. Use very soft yarn, from 4ply to 8ply. Consider using two strands of baby wool. 

Front section
Cast on 34 stitches.
Garter stitch (knit every row) for 5 rows (approx 1 inch or 2cm)
Stocking stitch (kint and purl alternate rows) for 9 inches or 23 cm (approx 40 rows)
Garter stitch for 4 rows. Front of vest should now measure approx 27cm or 10.5 inches.
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of each row for the next 6 rows of garter stitch.

Straps
Knit 6 stitches (leave these on the needle to come back to later - this will be the LEFT STRAP) On the same row, cast off 15 stitches to leave you with 6 stitches. Knit these last 6 stitches - (this will be the RIGHT strap.)
Work 24 rows of garter stitch on the 6 stitches which are on the working end of the needle to form the RIGHT strap. Cut yarn.
Return to the 6 stitches which will form the LEFT strap. (Move RIGHT strap stitches to another needle if required). Work 24 rows of garter stitch on these 6 stitches.

Back section
Knit 6 stitches of strap, cast on 15 to form the back of the neckline, knit 6 stitches of other strap. Work in garter stitch for 10 rows (approx 2 inches or 5 cm)
Increase 1 stitch at the beginning of every row for the next 6 rows of garter stitch.
Work 4 rows of garter stitch. From back of neckline to here should measure approx 4 inches or 10cm.
Knit stocking stitch for 9.5 inches or 25cm (approx 40 rows). Ensure that distance between shaping of armholes and bottom garter stitch band are the same.
Work garter stitch for 6 rows, cast off.

Sewing up
Fold vest in half, right sides together. Ensure that front and back of armholes and bottom of vest line up. Sew up side seams, weave in ends from straps.

* To make a larger or a smaller slipover, increase or decrease the number of stitches and rows.

* If in doubt, a longer vest is preferable to one which is too short.

Beanie/ hat (Optional)
To make beanie - start at bottom of beanie

Use 7.5mm needles and same yarn as for slipover.

Cast on 42 stitches.
Row 1 - knit 2, purl 2 - repeat to end
Row 2 - purl 2, knit 2
Row 3 - knit 2, purl 2
Row 4 - purl 2, knit 2
(2 by 2 ribbing should measure approx 3 cm or 1 inch)
Row 5 to row 26 - stocking stitch (beanie will be approx 6 inches or 15cm long)
For rows 27 - 32, continue to work stocking stitch. Decrease each row by 5 stitches evenly spread.
Cut yarn leaving a 30cm tail. Thread yarn onto yarn needle. Slip stitches left on the needle onto the yarn needle. Pull tight (this should close the hole at the crown of the beanie) and tie off.
Turn beanie inside out. Align the bottom of the beanie and sew up side seam. Tie off and weave in ends.

Enjoy your slipover and beanie, give it away as a gift or donate it to a charity such as KAS to help AIDS orphans and vulnerable children. Knitting not your thing? You can donate funds instead.