Homespun Vest in Lion Brand Homespun - 10304

Homespun Vest in Lion Brand Homespun – Free Knitting Pattern (Pattern Number 10304)

This free downloadable PDF from Lion Brand Yarn provides complete instructions for knitting a classic button-front knit vest (waistcoat) in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large, and 1X. With finished chest measurements ranging from 36 to 48 inches (buttoned) and lengths of 20 to 22 inches, this versatile pattern is designed to suit a range of adult figures. The vest is rated Easy skill level, making it an excellent project for knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to tackle simple shaping and a button band finish.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a knitted vest, also known as a waistcoat — a sleeveless, button-front garment worked in a combination of Stockinette stitch and garter stitch borders. The vest features structured front and back panels with neat shaping at the armholes and neckline, finished with a row of five 7/8-inch (22 mm) buttons. The garter stitch borders frame all shaping decreases, giving the edges a tidy, professional appearance without requiring additional finishing techniques like seaming a separate border.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun — a chunky, textured yarn known for its soft, woven appearance and cozy drape. The pattern specifically references colorway #341 Windsor, though any color of the knitter's choice is permitted. Yardage requirements range from 2 skeins (Small) up to 5 skeins (1X), making this an economical project in smaller sizes.
• Knitting Needles: Two needle sizes are used — Lion Brand Size 9 (5.5 mm) needles for the ribbed or garter stitch cast-on sections, and Lion Brand Size 10 (6 mm) needles (or size needed to obtain gauge) for the main body fabric.
• Notions: A Lion Brand large-eyed, blunt needle for seaming and weaving in ends, plus five 7/8-inch (22 mm) buttons for the front closure.

Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this pattern. The target gauge is 14 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch on the larger (Size 10 / 6 mm) needles. Knitters are strongly encouraged to swatch and adjust needle size as needed before beginning, as Lion Brand Homespun's textured, loopy construction can behave differently from smooth yarns and may require needle adjustments to hit gauge accurately.

Techniques Used

• Cast-on: A standard cast-on is worked onto the smaller needles, with the number of stitches varying by size — from 63 stitches (Small) to 84 stitches (1X) for the back panel.
• Needle switching: After working the initial garter stitch border rows on smaller needles, knitters switch to the larger needles to begin the main Stockinette body. This two-needle technique is a common approach to creating a firmer, neater lower edge without a separate ribbing.
• Garter stitch borders: All shaping decreases throughout the vest — at armholes, shoulders, and neckline — are worked inside garter stitch (knit every row) borders. This is a classic technique that keeps edges from curling and creates a built-in, decorative frame around shaped sections.
• Armhole and neckline shaping: Standard decrease shaping is used to sculpt the armhole openings and the V-neck or rounded neckline, giving the vest its fitted, structured silhouette.
• Seaming: The front and back panels are worked separately and then joined using the blunt tapestry needle, a fundamental finishing skill for garment knitting.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary fabric stitch — knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows — creates a smooth, classic knitted surface