Cable Vest - Tank Top Knitting Pattern for Kids in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino by Debbie Bliss

Cable Vest – Tank Top Knitting Pattern for Kids in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino by Debbie Bliss

This Cable Vest knitting pattern by Debbie Bliss produces a charming sleeveless tank top — or slipover — designed specifically for children. Worked flat in pieces and seamed together, the design features classic cable detailing that gives the finished garment a timeless, textured look. The pattern is sized to fit age 2–3, with additional sizes included, making it a versatile project for knitters who want to create a wardrobe staple for young children.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a children's cable vest, also described as a tank top or slipover — a sleeveless, close-fitting garment worn over a shirt or on its own. The vest features shaped armholes and shoulders, giving it a neat, tailored silhouette appropriate for everyday wear or smarter occasions. The two-colour approach, using Ecru 101 as the main colour and Light Pink 600 as the contrast colour, adds a soft, delicate aesthetic well suited to younger children.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat: The pieces — back and front — are knitted flat, row by row, on straight needles rather than in the round. This is a traditional construction method that results in separate panels.
• Seamed construction: Once the individual pieces are complete, they are joined together using seaming techniques. This gives the vest structure and a clean, professional finish.
• Cable knitting: The defining feature of this pattern is its cable detailing. Cables are created by crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle, producing a twisted, rope-like texture that stands out beautifully against a plain background.
• Armhole shaping: Stitches are cast off at the beginning of rows and decreased at each end of right-side rows to create neatly shaped armholes. The pattern specifies casting off 6 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows, followed by single decreases at each end of the next row and 8 following right-side rows.
• Shoulder shaping: Shoulders are shaped by casting off stitches in stages across two sets of rows, creating a sloped shoulder line for a better fit.

Stitches Used

• Cable stitches: The central decorative element, worked with the aid of a cable needle to cross stitches and form the characteristic twisted pattern.
• Stocking stitch / reverse stocking stitch: Used as background fabric to set off the cable panels.
• Rib or edging stitches: Typically used at the cast-on edges and armhole trims in garments of this style to provide elasticity and a tidy border.
• Increases and decreases: Used during armhole and shoulder shaping to sculpt the garment's silhouette.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino — a sport weight yarn — is specified throughout. You will need 4 (4, 5) x 50g balls in Ecru 101 as the main colour, and 1 x 50g ball in Light Pink 600 as the contrast colour. Baby Cashmerino is a beloved blend of merino wool, microfibre, and cashmere, prized for its softness, warmth, and suitability for children's skin.
• Needles: A pair each of 3mm (US 2–3) and 3.25mm (US 3) knitting needles, or the size needed to obtain the correct tension.
• Cable needle: Required for working the cable stitches throughout the pattern.

Difficulty and Suitability

This pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty. It is well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic knitting techniques and are ready to develop their cable knitting skills. The flat, seamed construction means knitters work with familiar straight needles, while the cable sections provide an engaging and rewarding challenge. The use of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino — a smooth, consistent sport weight yarn — makes the stitches easy to read and the cables straightforward