Ava & Archie Vintage Vest & Hat Knitting Pattern
📥📬 Available as Digital Download or Printed Copy (choose option below)
Ava & Archie Vintage Vest & Hat Knitting Pattern – 8ply
Knit a vintage-style button-front vest and matching top-knot hat for babies and young children with this pattern from The Kiwi Stitch & Knit Co. Stocking stitch and garter-stitch borders create a practical layering set, with optional pockets and a knitted flower for a personal finishing touch.
Features
- Six vest sizes from approximately 0–3 months to 3–4 years
- Button-front vest with a shaped neckline and garter-stitch borders
- Vest worked flat from the bottom up, with the back and fronts worked together to the armholes, then separately
- Shoulders joined using a three-needle cast-off
- Optional decorative pocket bands or functional pockets
- Matching hat worked flat and seamed, with a garter-stitch brim and knotted top
- Optional knitted flower embellishment
Skill Level
Recommended for confident beginners ready to develop their skills, or intermediate knitters. Techniques include knit and purl stitches, shaping decreases, buttonholes, holding stitches, a three-needle cast-off and seaming. Optional pockets involve working with separate pocket inserts.
Finished Measurements
| Size | 0–3 months | 3–6 months | 6–9 months | 9–12 months | 1–2 years | 3–4 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To fit chest (cm) | 40 | 42 | 46 | 50 | 55 | 60 |
| Finished vest chest (cm) | 44 | 46 | 51 | 54 | 58 | 64 |
| Back length (cm) | 23 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 33 | 36 |
Ages are approximate. Choose the vest size using the child's chest measurement and the finished garment measurements.
Hat Sizes
| Approximate age | 0–3 months | 3–6 months | 6–9 months | 1–2 years | 3–4 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hat measurement (cm) | 35 | 40 | 45 | 48 | 52 |
The pattern lists five hat sizes separately from the six vest sizes; it does not list a separate 9–12-month hat size.
Yarn Requirements
DK/8ply yarn, knitted with a single strand. The pattern specifies a yarn with 100 metres per 50 g but does not name a particular brand. The quantities below are for the vest and hat together.
| Size | 0–3 months | 3–6 months | 6–9 months | 9–12 months | 1–2 years | 3–4 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yarn required for vest & hat (m) | 200 | 300 | 300 | 400 | 400 | 500 |
When choosing an alternative 8ply yarn, use the metre requirements and check that you can achieve the stated tension.
You’ll Need
- 4 mm knitting needles, or the size needed to achieve tension
- An additional needle for the three-needle shoulder cast-off
- 4 stitch holders
- 4 buttons for the vest
- An optional button for the flower centre
- A tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends
Tension
Approximately 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm. Knit a tension swatch and adjust your needle size as needed before starting.
Perfect For
A handmade baby gift or a useful everyday layer for growing children. Knit the vest plain, add pockets, or finish the matching set with the optional flower.
Pattern Format
Choose Digital PDF – Emailed or Printed Pattern – Posted from the available options. This is a knitting pattern for the vest and hat, not finished garments. Yarn and accessories are purchased separately.