This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. See the disclosure policy for more information.

If you're looking for a free knit vest pattern, the Cozy Teddy Vest is an easy level knit featuring simple stitches and includes picture aids. Made with a soft, textured yarn that mimics the look of sherpa, it has the coziest feel and a polished collar that adds the perfect finishing touch. It is a great layering piece for transitional seasons when you want warmth without the bulk.

The Cozy Teddy Vest is the perfect free knit vest pattern for the season. Made with simple stitches and rated Level 2 – Easy, there are several picture aids to guide you in making this easy knit vest.

The Cozy Teddy Vest is made in one piece and seamed along the sides to allow you to easily customize the length desired.

The collar and armhole finishing is picked up and worked evenly around for a clean finish.

DESCRIPTION

The Cozy Teddy Vest is an easy knit vest designed to be worn for many seasons to come!

Feels Like Sherpa yarn is used, which is the perfect yarn for a cozy vest. The yarn mimics a boucle fabric, and works up beautifully.

Simple stitches and picture aids make this pattern enjoyable to work up, while the collar adds the perfect finishing touch. Lightweight yet warm, it is the perfect layering piece for transitional seasons when you want a bit of additional warmth without the bulk.

Whether worn over a long sleeve tee or a sweater, the Cozy Teddy Vest is a versatile addition to any wardrobe.

YARN

The yarn used for the Cozy Teddy Vest is Lion Brand Yarn Feels Like Sherpa yarn.

Feels Like Sherpa is a bulky weight 5 yarn that mimics the look and feel of sherpa fabric, making it the perfect choice for the Cozy Teddy Vest.

The yarn is a blend of 92% acrylic and 8% polyester, with 68 yards/63 meters per 3.5 oz/100 grams.

Best of all, it is machine washable and lays flat to dry, making this an easy-care vest you can wear season after season.

There are 14 colors in Feels Like Sherpa, and I’m hoping they will add more soon.

I used the color “Heather Grey” for this vest, but I think “Evergreen” and “Sagebrush” are such pretty colors that would look great for this pattern if you are looking for some color.

I made a sister crochet pattern for this vest called the Cozy Collared Vest, and I used the color “Antique” for it. I think it turned out so cute also!

If you want to stay up to date on yarn sales and when to get a good price, join my newsletter where I’ll clue you in on when there is a good sale. I love a good sale, so I want gate keep. But I also won’t spam you.

DIFFICULTY

The Cozy Teddy Vest is considered a Level 2 – Easy pattern.

Usually yarns that are textured like Feels Like Sherpa yarn need to rank “harder” because it is more challenging to work with the yarn.

I do not think that’s the case with Feels Like Sherpa yarn.

The seed stitch is used throughout the majority of the pattern with is knit 1, purl 1, and then the next row you knit the purls and purl the knits (that way it doesn’t become ribbing).

Feels Like Sherpa yarn is also a weight 5 yarn, so it works up fairly quickly for a knit vest.

FAQ

Is this pattern good for beginners?

While this free knit vest pattern is rated easy, I would recommend having a little prior knitting experience before diving in, so it may not be the best fit for someone who has never picked up needles before.

That said, if you’re fairly new to knitting and feeling adventurous, don’t let that discourage you! The premium PDF includes 5 picture aids throughout the pattern to help guide you step by step, making the Cozy Teddy Vest much more approachable for those still building their skills.

Can I use a different yarn?

Yes, but the gauge of the sweater may be affected, so do a gauge swatch so you can meet gauge.

My yarn substitution recommendations would be:

- Plymouth Yarn, Big Mo
- Plymouth Yarn, Arequipa Aventura
- Pascuali, Nube

My favorite website to use to find good yarn substations is https://yarnsub.com/

What if my gauge is off?

Too many stitches in a 4″x4″ swatch?

→ The fabric is too tight, so you need to go up a needle size.

Too few stitches in a 4″ x 4″ swatch?

→ The fabric is too loose, so you need to go down a needle size.

Can I sell items from this knit pattern?

Yes.

MATERIALS

- 280 (320, 355, 390, 430, 465, 505, 545, 580) yds/5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 9) balls of Lion Brand Yarn Feels Like Sherpa Yarn, “Heather Grey” (161-149AY), weight 5, 92% acrylic, 8% polyester, 68 yds/63 m, 3.5 oz/100 g
- US 11/8.0 mm circular needles, 40”
- Stitch Holders or Waste Yarn
- Stitch Markers
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle

GAUGE

7 sts x 15 rows = 4”/10 cm

SIZE

9 sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, and 5X)

TERMINOLOGY

BO – bind off
CO – cast on
k – knit
p – purl
pu – pick up
rep – repeat
rnd(s) – round(s)
RS – right side
st(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side

DIAGRAMS

NOTES

Pattern is written for 9 sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X). Highlight your size throughout the pattern for ease of reading.
Model is 5’7”/167.5 cm & is wearing size Medium with a 38”/95 cm bust & 2”/5 cm of positive ease.
When reading pattern, if a size is marked by “-”, that means do not do the instruction for your size.
Right Front and Left Front refers to when the vest is worn.

Vest is worked in one piece, starting with the bottom of the Back, splitting at the Left Front and Right Front, and ending with the bottom of the Left/Right Fronts (see Diagrams). The collar and arm finishing is picked up and worked at the end.
Underarm shaping is used for the vest as well as neck shaping.
The only seaming needed is at the two sides of the body.

SPECIAL STITCHES

Backwards Loop Method CO –

Holding yarn in left hand, pass the working yarn around your thumb from back to front, slip the needle under the loop around your thumb, and pull thumb out. Stitch created.

SKILL LEVEL

Level 2 – Easy

AD-FREE PREMIUM PDF

Check out my shops if you want to get the concise, ad-free, printable pattern. I have three different shops you can purchase it from or you can purchase the Lion Brand Yarn kit that includes all the yarn needed + the free pattern.

Best part about Lion Brand Yarn kits is that you do not have to choose the colors I used for the design.

You can customize the yarn colors to what you like best!

Cozy Teddy Vest

FREE KNIT VEST PATTERN

BACK PANEL

Using the long tail cast on method, CO 29 (33, 35, 39, 43, 45, 49, 53, 55) sts

Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1 [29 (33, 35, 39, 43, 45, 49, 53, 55) sts]

Rep Row 1 for 15 (14, 13.5, 12.5, 11.25, 10.75, 10.25, 9.75, 9.25)”/37.5 (35, 34, 31.5, 28, 27. 25.5, 24.5, 23) cm ending with a WS row.

UNDERARM SHAPING

For Size XS:

Row 1 (RS): BO 2, *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1 (27 sts)

Row 2: rep Row 1 (25 sts)

Row 3: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Rep Row 3 until the work measures 22.25”/55.5 cm from CO edge ending with a WS row.

Do not fasten off.

For Sizes S and M:

Row 1 (RS): BO 2, *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1 [- (31, 33, -, -, -, -, -, -) sts]

Row 2-4: rep Row 1 [- (25, 27, -, -, -, -, -, -) sts]

Row 5: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Rep Row 5 until the work measures 22.25”/55.5 cm from CO edge ending with a WS row.

Do not fasten off.

For Size L:

Row 1 (RS): BO 2, *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1 (37 sts)

Rows 2-6: rep Row 1 (27 sts)

Row 7: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Rep Row 7 until the work measures 22.25”/55.5 cm from CO edge ending with a WS row.

Do not fasten off.

For Sizes XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, and 5X:

Row 1 (RS): BO – (-, -, -, 2, 2, 4, 6, 6), *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1 [- (-, -, -, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49) sts]

Row 2: rep Row 1 [- (-, -, -, 39, 41, 41, 41, 43) sts]

Rows 3-8: BO 2, *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1 [- (-, -, -, 27, 29, 29, 29, 31) sts]

Row 9: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Rep Row 9 until the work measures 22.25”/55.5 cm from CO edge ending with a WS row.

Do not break yarn.

More free easy knit patterns:

RIGHT FRONT

All sizes:

Place removable marker on st 5 (5, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7)

With yarn still connected,

Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1, rep from * to marked st, place rem sts on hold [5 (5, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7) sts]

Rows 2-6: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Row 7: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1, backwards loop CO 2 sts [7 (7, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9) sts]

Row 8: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Row 9-13: rep Rows 7-8 [13 (13, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15) sts]

Rep Row 8 until work measures 6.75 (7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75, 10.25, 10.75)”/17 (18, 19.5, 20.5, 22, 23, 24.5, 25.5, 27) cm from the top of the Right Front ending with a WS ro

UNDERARM SHAPING

For Size XS:

Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Row 2: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1, backwards loop CO 2 (15 sts)

Row 3: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Rep Row 3 until the work measures 22.25”/55.5 cm from the top of Right Front.

BO.

For Sizes S and M:

Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Row 2: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1, backwards loop CO 2 [- (15, 17, -, -, -, -, -, -) sts]

Rows 3-4: rep Rows 1-2 [- (17, 19, -, -, -, -, -, -) sts]

Rep Row 1 until the work measures 22.25”/55.5 cm from the top of Right Front.

BO.

For Sizes L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, and 5X:

Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Row 2: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1, backwards loop CO 2 [- (-, -, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17) sts]

Rows 3-7: rep Rows 1-2 [- (-, -, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21) sts]

Row 8: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1, backwards loop CO – (-, -, 0, 2, 2, 4, 6, 6) [- (-, -, 21, 23, 23, 25, 27, 27) sts]

Rep Row 1 until the work measures 22.25”/55.5 cm from the top of Right Front.

BO.

LEFT FRONT

All sizes:

With RS facing, place removable marker on st 5 (5, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7) from the left,

Slip sts back onto needle,

Row 1 (RS): BO until reaching marked st, *k1, p1, rep across from * to last st, k1 [5 (5, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7) sts]

Rows 2-5: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Row 6: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1, backwards loop CO 2 sts [5 (5, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7) sts]

Row 7: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1,

Row 8-12: rep Rows 6-7 [13 (13, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15) sts]

Rep Row 7 until work measures 6.75 (7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75, 10.25, 10.75)”/17 (18, 19.5, 20.5, 22, 23, 24.5, 25.5, 27) cm from the top of the Left Front ending with a RS row.

UNDERARM SHAPING

For Size XS:

Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Row 2: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1, backwards loop CO 2 (15 sts)

Row 3: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Rep Row 3 until the work measures 22.25”/55.5 cm from the top of Left Front.

BO.

For Sizes S and M:

Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Row 2: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1, backwards loop CO 2 [- (15, 17, -, -, -, -, -, -) sts]

Rows 3-4: rep Rows 1-2 [- (17, 19, -, -, -, -, -, -) sts]

Rep Row 1 until the work measures 22.25”/55.5 cm from the top of Left Front.

BO.

For Sizes L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, and 5X:

Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

Row 2: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1, backwards loop CO 2 [- (-, -, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17) sts]

Rows 3-7: rep Rows 1-2 [- (-, -, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21) sts]

Row 8: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1, backwards loop CO – (-, -, 0, 2, 2, 4, 6, 6) [- (-, -, 21, 23, 23, 25, 27, 27) sts]

Rep Row 1 until the work measures 22.25”/55.5 cm from the top of Left Front.

BO.

SEAMING

With WS facing, whip st both sides of Back Panel with Right Front/Left Front until reaching bottom of Underarm Shaping (see Diagrams).

COLLAR

With RS facing, beginning at the top edge of Right Front on the end of Row 13 and ending on the top edge of Left Front on the start of Row 12, pu 43 (43, 43, 43, 43, 45, 45, 45, 47) sts for collar [about 11 on the slanting edges, 4 on vertical edges, and 13 (13, 13, 13, 13, 15, 15, 15, 17) on the back],

Rows 1-7: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1

BO as st presents.

FINISHING

With RS facing and starting at the underarm, pu sts around armhole (about 2 out of 3 sts for vertical edges and 3 out of 4 sts for slanting edges),

BO in *k1, p1, pattern.

Weave in ends.

And that’s a wrap on the Cozy Teddy Vest!

I hope you enjoy this free knit vest pattern as much as I loved making it. Such a warm, cute vest that I can’t wait to wear this season.

Code Word: Teddy

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Cozy Nooks Designs

Rachel Alford from Cozy Nooks Designs was on the PBS TV show Knit and Crochet Now! season 13. She also designs for Lion Brand Yarn, has been in several crochet/knit magazines, and freelances by filming videos for Annie’s online episodes. Be sure to check out her YouTube Channel for tips, tricks, & tutorials!

YouTube - Tips, Tricks, + Tutorials Join Newsletter for Sales + Coupons Hang with Me on Instagram My Lion Brand Yarn Kits

Free Beginner Knit Vest Pattern: The Cozy Teddy Vest (Sherpa-Look Layering Piece)

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. See the disclosure policy for more information.

Cozy Teddy Vest

DESCRIPTION

YARN

DIFFICULTY

FAQ