Colourful Child’s Vest Knitting Pattern: Farafelle Fields. Free design

Farafelle Fields is a colourful child’s vest knitting pattern which makes a sleeveless cardigan (also known as a waistcoat, or vest). Perfect as a cosy Christmas gift for a little person in your life. Available in 8 sizes, this pattern fits all child and youth sizes. This vibrant design uses cables and colourwork to create a playful, eye-catching kid’s vest. The cable twists resemble farafelle pasta, and the Italian word farafelle itself means “butterflies,” evoking the joy of a child dancing through a field, chasing flutter-bys.

Christmas in July

This colourful child’s vest knitting pattern is part of the Christmas in July Make Along by the Underground Crafter. 28 bloggers have teamed up to bring you a month full of free patterns to kick start the handmade holiday season including crochet and knitting projects. There’s something for everyone.

Looking for a cosy garment for a little one, but prefer to crochet than knit? Have you tried the Snowy Owl Pocket Pullover?

Frequently Asked Questions

Materials needed

Yarn needed for colourful Child’s Vest Knitting Pattern:

Yarn: Drops Paris. 100% Cotton. Worsted weight, Yarn group C. 50g ball, 75 meters/82 yards.

Knitting Needles

Buttons and Notions:

Sizes

The Farafelle Fields kids’ vest knitting pattern (sleeveless cardigan/waistcoat) comes in 8 sizes, covering all child and youth measurements from 53 to 82 cm (21–32 inches). Always check the actual measurements rather than age alone. No child is ‘average’! For example, my son loved wearing vests at 4 or 6 but would’ve refused at 14 or 16. I’ve still included the full youth range because many 8–10-year-olds need the larger sizes. Measure first, and you’ll avoid surprises.

Sizes: 2 yrs (4 yrs, 6 yrs, 8yrs) [10 yrs, 12 yrs, 14 yrs] (16 yrs)

To fit chest circumference: 53 (58.5, 63.5, 67) [71, 76, 80] (82) cm / 21 (23, 25, 26 1/2) [28, 30, 31 1/2] (32 1/2) inches


A. Chest. Actual size with ease: 65 (72, 75, 78) [81, 88, 92] 95 cm / 25 1/2 (28, 29 1/2, 30 1/2) [32, 34 1/2, 36] (37) inches.

B. Armhole depth. 15 (17, 17, 18) [19.5, 20.5, 22] (24) cm / 6 (6 3/4, 6 3/4, 7) [7 3/4, 8, 8 3/4] (9 1/2) inches.

C. Cross back, shoulder to shoulder : 24 (24, 26, 26) [29, 29, 30] (31.5) cm / 9 1/2 (9 1/2, 10, 10) [11 1/2, 11 1/2, 12] (12 1/2)

D. Length to armhole (adjustable): 16 (16, 19, 19) [22.5, 22.5, 25.5] (28.5)

Tension/Gauge

The pattern uses garter stitch, and cables. At a minimum check your tension in garter stitch (knit every row, worked flat). But I strongly recommend checking in the Farafelle stitch pattern given below.

Garter stitch: 18 stitches by 26 rows = 10cm/4 inch square

Farafelle stitch pattern: 21 stitches (1.5 full repeats, 3 columns) =10cm

Construction

Start your Farafelle Fields Vest at the yoke. Knit the upper yoke (yellow in the sample) sideways from shoulder to shoulder in garter stitch, adding a simple cable border along both edges.

Next, pick up stitches along the bottom edge to create the lower yoke (orange section). Work the back and fronts separately in garter stitch, shaping the armholes with increases.

For the body (green section), knit straight rows back and forth, following either the stitch chart or the line-by-line instructions.
Finish with a garter stitch rib hem in colour C, then add the collar, button bands, and sleeve borders in the same colour and stitch

Skill Level

This pattern is designed for intermediate knitters, as it combines complex shaping with a stitch pattern. However, adventurous beginners are welcome to give it a try! If you’ve already worked with 2 of the 3 techniques below, you’ll find it easier to focus on learning the new skill. Pattern support is available to help you along the way.

1. Continuous cast on: Adding stitches at the end or middle of a row (used for the neckline and underarm).
2. Cables: Only one cable stitch is used—a cable 4 front—making this a great introduction to cables.
3. Picking up stitches: No sewing required! Stitches are picked up for the collar, button bands, and arm borders.

Stitches Used

The pattern uses garter stitch, a simple cable in the yoke, and the specific ‘farafelle’ cable pattern for the main body. The rib sections are worked in 2 by 2 garter rib.

Abbreviations

Special Stitches and Stitch Patterns used in tge colourful child’s vest knitting pattern.

Continuous cast on

When working the shoulders, and again when adding stitches for under the arms, you will reach a section where you come to the end of one section of knitting, and need to cast on a small number of stitches before knitting the next set of live stitches from the needle.
Not all cast on methods are appropriate, a long tail cast on won’t work here, for example. Fortunately, there are several cast on techniques you can still choose from. A backwards loop cast on, a thumb cast on or a crochet cast on will all work.

Garter Rib

The rib sections all use a 2 by 2 garter rib. Garter rib is different from standard rib in that every right side row is knit. Every wrong side row is worked ‘knit 2, purl 2’ to the end. This creates a look in the rib that coordinates well with the other garter stitch in the body of the Vest. It’s also slightly easier and quicker to knit than a standard 2 by 2 rib, as every second row is just knit

Knit through the back loop

Knitting a knit stitch through the back loop creates a twisted stitch, which gives a column of knit stitches structure, and prevents tension issues.
To knit through the back loop, insert the needle into the hind leg of the stitch on the needle, instead of the front leg. This will cause tge stitch to twist as you knit it.

Cable 4 Front (C4f)

It’s currently popular to encourage beginners to try cables without a cable needle, as it avoids using an extra tool. However, cable needles exist for a reason. They help prevent dropped stitches, and there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to pick up a dropped stitch through a cable twist. If you’re new to cabling, remember: trends come and go, but a dropped stitch in a cable twist is forever. (Or at least, it feels that way).

I strongly recommend using a cable needle. The ones I find best are the ones shown, with a little dip in the centre. I show how to create the cables with a cable needle, but many videos on you tube demonstrate how to work this stitch without a cable needle, for those who may wish to experiment.

How to work a C4F

You will have a column of 4 stocking stitch stitches, with a border of a purl stitch, a twisted knit stitch and a purl stitch either side. Work in pattern to the 4 knit stitches.
Slide the first 2 stitches onto your cable needle.
Hold the cable needle to the front of your work.
Knit 2 stitches from your knitting needle.
Now, knit the 2 stitches from your cable needle.

Now your ‘cable 4 front’ (abbreviated as ‘c4f’) is worked. And you will notice, it is worked over 4 stitches in total, and the cable needle is always held to the front of the work, which explains its name.

Farafelle Fields Stitch Pattern and Swatch for colourful child’s vest knitting pattern

3 columns (21 stitches) measures 10 cm/4 inches in the centre of the swatch.

Farafelle Fields, Colourful Child’s Vest Knitting Pattern Starts.

Part 1. Upper Yoke (knit sideways)

You will knit the upper yoke using colour A and larger needles. It is knit side to side, from shoulder point to shoulder point.

Part 1, section A. First shoulder

Continue in established pattern until 15 (15, 17, 17) [19, 19, 21] (21) rows in total are worked, as follows:

Part 1, section B. Back neck

Divide and work across back neck only.

Stitch count: 19 (22, 22, 23) [25, 26, 27] (31)

Continue as set until a total of 29 (29, 33, 33) [37, 37, 37] (41) rows are worked for the back neck, ending on a wrong side row, as follows:

On each right side row, patt to m (with cable each 4th row), k to end.

On each wrong side row, k to m, patt to end.

Total row count, first shoulder and back neck: 44 (44, 50, 50) [56, 56, 58] (62)

Place these back neck stitches on a stitch holder or spare needle while the front neck sections are knit.

Part 1, section C. Right front neck.

Return to unworked stitches for front.

Row count: 10 (10, 12, 12) [12, 12, 12] (14)

Part 1, section D. Left front neck

Part 1, section E. Second shoulder:

Part 2. Lower Yoke.

Part 2, section A. Back lower yoke.

The lower yoke back is worked in garter stitch, with 2 stitches increased per row on every row after row 1.

In colour B, using larger needles

Part 2, section B. Lower left yoke

Note, the front sections add 1 increase per row, after the first row. This increase is on the arm edge only, keeping the neck edge straight.

Part 2, section C. Lower Right Yoke

Part 3, Body

Using larger needles, and colour C (green). Note, some sizes adjust by one stitch in the centre back, others don’t. Follow row one instructions for your size.

Set up Row

Knit in pattern for length of body as follows:

Pattern repeat

Repeat rows 1-16 until 32 (32, 40, 40) [48, 48, 56] (64) rows are worked in total, or desired length for body, ending on a row 8 or row 16.

Part 3, section B. Hem

Change to smaller needles and colour B.

On row 1, sizes with an odd numbered count will make minor stitch count adjustment, to reach a multiple of 2.

Part 4. Borders.

The collar, arm bands and button bands are worked on smaller needles in colour B.

Collar

Pick up and knit 32 (32, 36, 40) [46, 46, 50] (52) stitches evenly around the neckline. (Step by step, pick up 3 (3, 3, 3) [5, 5, 5] (5) sts across flat neck front, 2 (2, 3, 3) [3, 3, 3] (3) for front neck slope, 3 (3, 3, 5) [5, 5, 7] (7) stitches across cast off sts, 16 (16, 18, 18) [20, 20, 20] (22) across back neck, 3 (3, 3, 5) [5, 5, 7] (7) across cast 9ff sts, 2 (2, 3, 3) [3, 3, 3] (3) across front neck slope, and 3 (3, 3, 3) [5, 5, 5] (5) stitches across flat front neck. Or otherwise pick up sts so that you have a good tension and an even number of stitches.

Button band:

Pick up and knit 50 (52, 52, 58) [58, 60, 70] (80) stitches along the right front for boys, or left front for girls.

Buttonhole band

Place stitch markers on button bands to identify button placement, with one 2 stitches in from edge on the collar, one on the hem, and 2 (2, 2, 2) [3, 3, 3] [4] evenly spaced between.

Arm edgings (both alike)

Starting at the centre underarm, pick up and knit 4 (4, 4, 4) [4, 5, 5] (5) across underarm, 6 (7, 7, 8) [8, 9, 10] (10) stitches up lower raglan, 40 (46, 46, 48) [52, 54, 56] (64) sts across upper yoke, 6 (7, 7, 8) [8, 9, 10] (10) stitches across lower raglan, 4 (4, 4, 4) [4, 5, 5] (5) stitches across second half of underarm. Join to work in round
(Note, working in the round prevents the need for a small seam at the underarm. You can also work flat and stitch the bottom of the border if you prefer. Simply follow instructions working rows not rounds)

Finishing your colourful child’s vest knitting pattern

Weave in ends, sew buttons in place to correspond to buttonholes and enjoy.

Copyright

This Farafelle Fields colourful Child’s Vest knitting pattern, including the wording and the pictures, are my work and copyright. Please do not distribute them in any way except by using the link to this blog post. You may not copy in any way, including by making your own videos, if they are directly based on my work.
This blog is not intended for commercial use. You may sell finished items based on this pattern only if you have made them in your own home, with your own hands. However, selling your own makes from this pattern, especially for charity, is strongly encouraged. I would love to hear about your event, and how it went.