Last Updated on August 27, 2023
If you are not such an experienced yarn crafter, or you just do not want to spend time in complex constructions and calculations, a yarn handmade vest will be the perfect transition from a “one size fits all” (i.e shawl/wrap) to a more complex sweater or cardigan.
You can find a lot of information about shawls constructions. However, not so much about vests.
The first thing is to agree on what is a vest. You can find a lot of definitions, but what all of them have in common is that a vest is a sleeveless garment worn on the upper part of the body.
The second relevant feature is whether the garment is buttoned or not. Now, the words “waistcoat” and “slipover” enter into the equation.
Vest, waistcoat and slipover are, in fact, alternate names for the same clothing. They have primarily been designed to cover the shoulders and the upper body, leaving room for your arms since all are sleeveless.
A waistcoat will mainly refer to the buttoned way of a sleeveless garment.
On the other hand, a slipover, also known as a tank top sweater or sleeveless sweater, is slipped on over the head typically with no buttons or zippers.
Thus, in general a waistcoat and a slipover are just types of vests.
I always try to find inspiration browsing in Ravelry. In this particular case, I found great ideas following the path: patterns/advanced search/Category=clothing/Vest.
If you filter by type of craft, you will find more than 3,000 crochet and more than 15,000 knitting patterns. Among them, you can filter for yarn weight, yardage and even degree of difficulty. You can also have a look at my design page, where you will find both knitting and crochet patterns for waistcoats and slipovers vests.
Take your time to find your Best yarn handmade Vest !
