Ice Blue Bobble Pocket Vest Free Knit Pattern

Ice Blue Bobble Pocket Vest Free Knit Pattern

Introduction

This Ice Blue Bobble Pocket Vest is a simple, boxy slipover designed with teens in mind, though anyone who loves a Y2K-inspired look will enjoy it. It is knitted flat in smooth stockinette with recycled cotton in icy blue, and the two silver bobble pockets add just the right amount of texture and shine. The garter-stitch edgings around the neck and armholes give it a clean, finished feel without any ribbing or fuss. It is an ideal advanced-beginner project: mostly knit and purl rows, a little shaping, and a fun bobble detail to keep things interesting.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight recycled cotton, approx. 100 g / 180 yds per skein.
  • Color A (Ice Blue): approx. 300 yds
  • Color B (Silver): approx. 50 yds
• Needles: 5.0 mm (US 8) straight knitting needles
• Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn, tape measure, scissors
• Finished size: To fit teen (chest 30–32 inches). Finished chest circumference: 32 inches. Length: 20 inches.

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on
• BO: bind off
• St st: stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows)
• Garter st: garter stitch (knit every row)
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• K: knit
• P: purl
• St(s): stitch(es)
• Beg: beginning
• Dec: decrease
• MB: make bobble (worked as described in the Pocket section)
• Yo: yarn over

Gauge

18 sts and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Knit a small swatch in St st, block it lightly, and measure a 4-inch section to confirm your stitch and row counts match before starting.

Tips Before You Start

• Work a gauge swatch first; recycled cotton can relax slightly after blocking, so measure after a light wash or steam.
• Keep the edges of your flat pieces tidy by slipping the first stitch of every row purlwise (optional) so seaming is easier.
• Make both pockets before assembly so you can compare their size and bobble placement side by side.
• Use a locking stitch marker to note where the armhole and neck shaping begin, so the front and back match exactly.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Back (Color A)

Row 1 (CO): Cast on 72 sts.

Rows 1–80: Work in St st (approx. 13.3 inches).

Row 81 (RS): BO 4 sts, knit to end (68 sts).

Row 82 (WS): BO 4 sts, purl to end (64 sts).

Row 83 (RS): K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1 (62 sts).

Row 84 (WS): Purl.

Rows 85–88: Repeat Rows 83–84 twice more (58 sts).

Next rows: Work even in St st until armhole measures 6 inches, ending with a WS row.

Shoulder and neck shaping: When armhole measures 5.5 inches, BO center 24 sts for the neck on the next RS row, then dec 1 st at each neck edge on the next 2 RS rows. At the same time, BO 5 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows, then BO 6 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. BO remaining 6 sts each side.

Front (Color A)

Work the same as the Back until the armhole measures 3 inches, ending with a WS row.

Neck shaping: BO center 12 sts, then dec 1 st at each neck edge every RS row 5 times.

Next rows: Work even until the armhole measures 6 inches.

Shoulder shaping: BO 5 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows, then BO 6 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.

Pocket (make 2, Color B)

Row 1 (CO): Cast on 14 sts.

Row 1 (RS): Knit.

Row 2 (WS): Purl.

Row 3 (RS): K2, [MB, K3] 3 times, K1 (14 sts).

Row 4 (WS): Purl.

Row 5 (RS): Knit.

Row 6 (WS): Purl.

Row 7 (RS): K1, [MB, K3] 3 times, K2 (14 sts).

Row 8 (WS): Purl.

Row 9 (RS): Knit.

Row 10 (WS): Purl.

Row 11 (RS): K2, [MB, K3] 3 times, K1 (14 sts).

Row 12 (WS): Purl.

Row 13 (RS): Knit.

Row 14 (WS): Purl.

Final row: BO all 14 sts.

Make Bobble (MB)

Into the same stitch: K1, yo, K1, yo, K1 (5 sts). Turn, P5. Turn, K5. Turn, P5. Turn, K5. Pass the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th sts over the first st. One bobble made.

Assembly and Finishing

Sew the shoulder seams. Sew the side seams. For the neck edging, with the RS facing, pick up and knit 60 sts evenly around the neck. Work 2 rows in garter stitch (knit every row), then BO. For the armhole edging, pick up and knit 50 sts around each armhole, work 2 rows in garter stitch, then BO. Attach the pockets to the front, positioning them 2 inches from the side seams and 3 inches from the bottom edge, using the photo as a guide. Weave in all ends and block lightly to settle the stitches and even out the bobbles.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the silver pockets for a contrasting pastel or a self-striping yarn to change the Y2K vibe.
• Add a third bobble row or a single bobble at the center back neck for extra texture.
• For a longer fit, add 6–10 extra stockinette rows to the body before the armhole shaping, keeping the pocket placement measured from the bottom edge.