Koigu Playtime Vest Knitting Pattern

Koigu Playtime Vest

What Is Being Made

The Koigu Playtime Vest is a child's sleeveless vest designed by Maie Landra, available in three sizes to fit ages 2, 4, and 6 years. The finished measurements range from 25 inches chest and 10 inches long for the 2-year size, to 31 inches chest and 13½ inches long for the 6-year size. This modular knitting project creates a playful, block-inspired garment using geometric shapes that resemble children's building blocks.

Knitting Techniques

The Playtime Vest employs modular knitting, a technique that constructs the garment by knitting individual geometric blocks that are then seamed together. This approach allows for creative color work and pattern building without the complexity of traditional colorwork methods. The vest is worked flat on short needles, with each module completed separately before assembly. The design features striped patterning created through the arrangement of different colored blocks, and the vest is constructed using a bottom-up approach with seamed construction to join the individual pieces.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for creating clean geometric blocks. Garter stitch forms the foundation of each module, creating a textured, reversible fabric. The pattern incorporates knit stitches for the main fabric, purl stitches for edge definition and shaping, and slip stitches for neat edge treatment. Decreases are worked using K2tog (knit two together) and psso (pass slipped stitch over) to shape the triangular and square modules. Stitch markers are used throughout to track decreases and pattern sections.

Materials and Tools

The Playtime Vest is crafted from Koigu Pencil Box Collection yarn, featuring 100% Merino wool in two yarn weights. The pattern calls for Koigu KPPPM Pencil Box PlayTime demi skeins (10 x 25g, 87 yards or 80 meters each) and Koigu KPM yarn (50g, 175 yards or 160 meters per skein). Construction requires 3mm (US 3) short needles to accommodate the modular knitting technique, along with a 3mm (US 3) crochet hook and a tapestry needle for seaming and finishing. The pattern specifies gauge requirements: 19 stitches in garter stitch should measure 1⅜ inches square for size 2, 21 stitches for 1½ inches square for size 4, and 25 stitches for 1¾ inches square for size 6, all worked on 3mm needles.

Pattern Construction Details

The modular design uses three primary block shapes: basic squares, right angle triangles, and left angle triangles. Each block is constructed independently with cast-on stitches ranging from 9 to 25 stitches depending on size and block type. The basic square begins with a cast-on, includes centered decreases worked every right-side row, and continues until three stitches remain. Right and left angle triangles follow similar decrease patterns, creating the angled edges necessary for geometric assembly. All modules are worked with slip-stitch edge stitches for clean finishing, and remaining stitches are held to be knit later during the seaming process, allowing blocks to be joined seamlessly into the finished vest structure.