crochetguideKnow these stitches: chain, half double crochet, double crochet decrease, single crochet, single crochet decrease, slip stitch
Materials and yarn planning
Yarns we’ve reviewed that suit it: Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling yarn, Lion Brand Heartland yarn, Lion Brand Wool-Ease worsted yarn. For the hook, choose by size and handle.
Yarn estimate for size Medium: the 7,712 half double crochets at about 6 cm of medium yarn each and the 221 single crochets at about 4 cm come to about 470 m. Buy about 520 m, for example three balls of 180 m.
For an exact figure in your own yarn, weigh a washed swatch in the pattern stitch: the weighed-swatch yarn calculator scales it to each flat panel or strip. Allow a little more for seams, edging and tails.
Finished size and gauge
Sized from the Craft Yarn Council’s women’s chart. Each panel is half of the chest plus 10 cm of ease, and the armhole is left open for the chart’s deepest armhole for the size plus 2 cm. The counts below are size Medium (91.5–96.5 cm chest): 68 stitches, about 52 cm at 13 half double crochets and 10 rows per 10 cm, and 59 rows, about 59 cm, to the hip; the armholes are 21 rows deep. For your size and swatch, read the stitches, the armhole rows and the rows in all from the size table below; keep the back neck at 24 stitches, so each shoulder is half of what is left, and split the front 24 rows below the top: each side of the V loses 12 stitches, whatever the size. The table’s length reaches the hip: the Council’s back waist plus 15 cm. Add or take off rows below the armhole for a longer or shorter vest. These are calculations from the counts, not a measured sample.
Sizes from your swatch
Example: 13 half double crochets and 10 rows in 10 cm, the gauge the steps are written for. Type your own swatch over it to see your counts.
| Size | Front and back, each | Armhole | Length to the hip | Stitches | Armhole rows | Rows in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-Small (71–76 cm chest) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) | 18.5 cm (7.25 in) | 57 cm (22.5 in) | 54 (chain 56) | 19 | 57 |
| Small (81–86 cm chest) | 46.8 cm (18.5 in) | 19.5 cm (7.75 in) | 58 cm (22.75 in) | 60 (chain 62) | 20 | 58 |
| Medium (91.5–96.5 cm chest) | 52 cm (20.5 in) | 21 cm (8.25 in) | 58.5 cm (23 in) | 68 (chain 70) | 21 | 59 |
| Large (101.5–106.5 cm chest) | 57 cm (22.5 in) | 22.5 cm (8.75 in) | 59.5 cm (23.5 in) | 74 (chain 76) | 23 | 60 |
| X-Large (111.5–117 cm chest) | 62.1 cm (24.5 in) | 23.5 cm (9.25 in) | 60 cm (23.5 in) | 80 (chain 82) | 24 | 60 |
| 2X (122–127 cm chest) | 67.3 cm (26.5 in) | 25 cm (9.75 in) | 60.5 cm (23.75 in) | 88 (chain 90) | 25 | 61 |
| 3X (132–137 cm chest) | 72.3 cm (28.5 in) | 26 cm (10.25 in) | 60.5 cm (23.75 in) | 94 (chain 96) | 26 | 61 |
| 4X (142–147 cm chest) | 77.3 cm (30.5 in) | 27.5 cm (10.75 in) | 62 cm (24.5 in) | 100 (chain 102) | 28 | 62 |
| 5X (152–158 cm chest) | 82.5 cm (32.5 in) | 28.5 cm (11.25 in) | 62 cm (24.5 in) | 108 (chain 110) | 29 | 62 |
Counts are rounded to whole stitches and rows and to the pattern’s repeat. Check the first rows against your swatch.
The gauge calculator compares your swatch with the pattern. A stitch name you do not know is in the abbreviation chart; a UK pattern’s names are in the US/UK term reference.
The pattern
Count rows for this patternBack
- Chain 70. Row 1: half double crochet in the third chain from the hook and in each chain across: 68 stitches. The skipped chains do not count as a stitch.
- Rows 2–59: chain 2 and turn (it does not count), half double crochet in each stitch across: 68 stitches. Fasten off.
Front
- Work Rows 1–35 as the back: 68 stitches.
- First side, Row 36: chain 2 and turn, half double crochet in the next 32 stitches, half double crochet 2 together over the next 2: 33 stitches. Leave the other 34 stitches unworked for now.
- Row 37: chain 2 and turn, half double crochet in each stitch across: 33 stitches.
- Rows 38–59: repeat the last 2 rows 11 more times, working half double crochet 2 together over the last 2 stitches of every even row: 22 stitches at Row 59. Fasten off.
- Second side: with the same side facing as for Row 36, join the yarn in the first unworked stitch next to the middle. Row 36: chain 2 (it does not count), half double crochet 2 together over the first 2 stitches, half double crochet in each stitch across: 33 stitches.
- Row 37: chain 2 and turn, half double crochet in each stitch across. Rows 38–59: repeat these 2 rows, decreasing at the start of every even row: 22 stitches at Row 59. Fasten off.
Assemble and edges
- Shoulders: lay the front on the back, right sides together, edges matching. Sew the 22 stitches of each shoulder to the back, from the outer edge in, leaving the middle 24 stitches of the back open for the neck.
- Sides: sew each side seam from the hem up for 38 rows, leaving the last 21 rows, about 21 cm, open for the armhole. Turn right side out.
- Armholes: join the yarn at the underarm. Chain 1, work 3 single crochets in every 2 row ends around the armhole, join: 63 stitches. Fasten off and repeat on the other armhole.
- Neck: join the yarn at one shoulder seam. Chain 1, single crochet in each of the 24 back-neck stitches, then 3 in every 2 row ends down the first side of the V; at the point, work the last stitch of that side and the first of the other together as single crochet 2 together, then 3 in every 2 row ends up the second side, join: 95 stitches. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Check the work
Each front side starts with 34 stitches and loses 12 in 24 rows to the shoulder’s 22; 22 + 24 + 22 = 68, the back’s width. The side seams take 38 rows and the armholes 21: 59 rows.
- If the V gapes, the decreases sit too far in: work each half double crochet 2 together over the very last 2 stitches of the row.
- If the armholes are tight, unpick 2 rows of each side seam; if they gape, sew 2 more.
- If an edge ripples, work 4 single crochets in every 3 row ends instead.
Updated . Stitch counts checked row by row; we haven’t crocheted a sample of this one yet. How the patterns are checked. Keep your yarn label, hook and swatch on the printable project worksheet.