Criss Cross Vest in Caron Simply Soft - Downloadable PDF

Criss Cross Vest in Caron Simply Soft – Free Knitting Pattern by Lorna Miser

The Criss Cross Vest is a stylish, sleeveless waistcoat designed by Lorna Miser and worked in Caron Simply Soft yarn. This free, downloadable PDF pattern produces a flattering, textured vest with a distinctive V-neckline and criss-cross front panels that are knitted on the bias, giving the finished garment its signature diagonal visual interest. Available in six sizes ranging from Small through 3X, with finished bust measurements spanning 36 to 64 inches (91.5–162.5 cm) and lengths from 21 to 28.5 inches (53.5–72.5 cm), this pattern is genuinely inclusive and wearable for a wide range of body types.

Rated as a beginner-level knitting project, the Criss Cross Vest is an excellent choice for newer knitters who are comfortable with basic knit and purl stitches and are ready to explore simple shaping techniques. The construction method is straightforward and clearly explained, making it approachable without sacrificing a polished, finished look.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a sleeveless vest (waistcoat) with a V-neckline and a relaxed, wearable silhouette. The back is worked conventionally from the lower edge upward, while each front panel is picked up from the shoulder and knitted downward on the bias. This bias construction is what creates the criss-cross effect at the front of the garment — the front hem swings upward at one edge, and the left edge forms the V-neck center front. The result is a garment with visual movement and a flattering diagonal line across the chest.

Construction Technique

• Back panel: Cast on and worked from the lower edge upward in Seed Stitch, with waist shaping achieved through decreases at each edge every 6th row, worked 9 times. Armhole openings are marked with stitch markers rather than bound off, keeping the construction clean and simple.
• Shoulder shaping: Worked through a series of bind-offs at the beginning of rows, creating a stepped shoulder slope.
• Right and left front panels: Each front is picked up directly from the back shoulder bind-off and knitted downward on the bias. Increases are worked at the beginning of every right-side row until the front edge matches the length of the back side edge. Because the fronts are knitted on the bias, the length — not a stitch count — determines when to bind off, which is an important and clearly noted construction detail.
• The bias knitting technique means the fabric grows diagonally, producing the criss-cross visual effect that gives the vest its name.

Stitches Used

• Seed Stitch – The entire vest is worked in Seed Stitch, which is the only pattern stitch used throughout. Worked over an odd number of stitches, every row is worked as: K1, (p1, k1) across. Seed Stitch creates a firm, non-curling, reversible fabric with a pebbly texture — ideal for a vest that lies flat without borders or edging. It is also a wonderfully beginner-friendly stitch that requires only knit and purl stitches in alternation.
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches form the foundation of the Seed Stitch pattern.
• Increases are used in the front panels to shape the bias construction.
• Decreases are used along the back side edges to create waist shaping.
• Bind-off (BO) shoulder shaping is worked in a standard stepped sequence.

Gauge

The stated gauge is 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in Seed Stitch using US size 8 (5 mm) knitting needles. Achieving correct gauge is especially important in this pattern because the front panels are sized by length rather than stitch count, making row gauge particularly significant.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Solids — a 100% acrylic yarn, weight classified as aran, sold