Infant Undershirt/Vest Knitting Pattern

Finally! Here's the pattern for my little baby undershirt. I'll try to remember to update the picture after I have a baby to actually model it. ;) My favorite part is there are no seams to sew at the end. The only finishing is joining the shoulders with Kitchener stitch and weaving in ends. Fast and easy.

If you make it, please post a link to a picture of your finished garment in the comments and please let me know about any mistakes in the pattern. The simplest patterns seem to be the most difficult to write out somehow. For shaping, remember that decreases on the armhole side are supposed to slant inward; decreases on the neck edge should slant outward.

Finished Measurements

• Size 0-3 mos. (18" circumference, 6" long to armholes, armholes depth is 3")

Materials

• Size 6 16" circular needles
• I don't know exactly what yarn this was. (It was given to me without a label.) I think it's quite similar to Rowan Tapestry, color "Whirlpool". I had a single 50 g skein and had only a few yards left over. All you knitters know that it doesn't matter as long as the gauge is right. :)

Gauge

• 26 st x 36 rows = 4" x 4"
  

Instructions
CO 116 st.

Join in the round. (The cleanest join is created by slipping the first CO stitch next to the last CO stitch on the right needle. Slip the last stitch over the first stitch and put it onto the left needle - they've now traded places. The first row will now start with the last stitch CO.)

Work 4 rows in seed stitch then continue in stockinette stitch until the body measures 5 1/2" from the cast on edge.

Armhole shaping (These instructions are also creating a seed stitch border around the armhole):

• Row 1: k1, p1, k53, *p1,k1* 2 times, p1, k53, p1, k1, p1
• Row 2: p1, k1, p1, k51, *p1,k1* 3 times, p1, k51, *p1, k1* 2 times
• Row 3: *k1,p1* 2 times, k49, *p1,k1* 4 times, p1, k49, *p1,k1* 2 times, p1
• Row 4: p1, *k1,p1* 2 times, k47, *p1,k1* 5 times, p1, k47, *p1,k1* 3 times
• Row 5: cast off 2 st, *k1,p1* 2 times, ssk, k43, k2tog, *k1,p1* 2 times, k1, cast off 2, *k1,p1* 2 times, ssk, k43, k2tog, *k1,p1* 2 times, k1

Front and back neck shaping:
You now can work back and forth on one side. Place stitches for the other side on a holder (or just leave them sitting unworked on your circular needles for now).

From this point on, start each row with "Slip first stitch, work 4 stitches in seed stitch" before continuing with that row's instructions. Finish each row with "Work the last 5 stitches in seed stitch".

• Row 1 (wrong side): Work stockinette to last 5 stitches.
• Row 2 (right side): Ssk, work stockinette to last 7 stitches. K2tog.
• Row 3 (wrong side): same as Row 1
• Row 4: K7, k2tog, *p1,k1* 5 times, p1, k2tog, *p1,k1* 5 times, p1, ssk, k7.
• Row 5: P8, 22 stitches seed stitch, p8.
• Row 6: K6, k2tog, *p1,k1* 5 times, p1, k2tog, *p1,k1* 5 times, p1, ssk, k6.
• Row 7: P7, 22 stitches seed stitch, p7.
• Row 8: K5, k2tog, *p1,k1* 2 times, p1, cast off 14 stitches, *p1,k1* 2 times, p1, ssk, k5.

Shoulder and neck shaping:

There are now two sets of shoulder stitches. Work the following instructions through with one side and then finish the other side, reversing shaping. (The instructions are assuming that the first row starts just where you finished "Row 8" above - we are now on a purl row starting at the shoulder side.)

Remember to start each row with "Slip first stitch, work 4 stitches in seed stitch" before continuing with that row's instructions. Finish each row with "Work the last 5 stitches in seed stitch".

• Row 1: P6
• Row 2: Ssk, k4
• Row 3: P5
• Row 4: Ssk, k3
• Row 5: P4
• Row 6: Ssk, k2
• Row 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19: P3
• Row 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18: K3
• Leave a long tail (for Kitchener stitch later), cut yarn, and place stitches on a holder.

Complete the "front and back" and "shoulder and neck" shaping for the other half of the stitches. At this point you will have 4 sets of 13 stitches that meet in pairs at the tops of the armholes. Join these stitches with Kitchener stitch and weave in all loose ends.

Ta-da!