Easy Crochet Vest – Free Pattern

This Easy Crochet Vest is a versatile layering piece that you can wear throughout the seasons. Featuring a relaxed fit, textured crochet stitches, a ribbed front edging and two handy pockets, this sleeveless cardigan is a lovely addition to your handmade wardrobe.

One of the best things about crocheting a vest is that there’s no need to make sleeves, which means you can finish your project much more quickly than a traditional cardigan. If you’ve been wanting to try crocheting your first wearable garment, this free crochet vest pattern is a great place to start.

The design is made using three main panels that are crocheted separately and then seamed together. Ribbing is added around the front opening and armholes, while the pockets and buttons give the finished vest a practical, polished appearance.

I chose a soft alpaca blend yarn for my vest, creating aa cozy layer that’s ideal for cooler weather. The vest looks lovely worn over a sweater during autumn and winter, but you can just as easily style it with a simple T-shirt and jeans when the weather is milder.

How the Easy Crochet Vest is Constructed

The Easy Crochet Vest is constructed from five separate pieces: one back panel, two identical front panels and two pockets. The main panels are worked from the bottom up before being seamed together.

Crocheting the panels

Each panel begins with a ribbed hem. Once the ribbing is complete, you’ll work along its long edge, crocheting back and forth in the stitch pattern until you reach the armhole.

A few rows of decreases create the armhole shaping, after which you’ll continue working until the panel reaches the required armhole depth for your chosen size.

Assembling the vest

Once the back and front panels are complete, position the two front panels over the back panel. Seam across the shoulders and up both sides, leaving the armholes open.

Adding the ribbing and pockets

Next, crochet the ribbed edging around the front opening and collar, followed by the ribbing around each armhole.

Finally, crochet two separate pockets and sew them onto the lower front sections of the vest. The finished design features a button front opening, textured body and practical pockets, making it a versatile layering piece for everyday wear.

Materials

Yarn – Lionbrand Touch of Alpaca – weight 4/aran/10 ply – 90% acrylic 10% alpaca – 189 m (207 yds) per 100 g ball

Approximately 4(5, 5, 6, 6, 6) balls

5 mm crochet hook

Notions – 4 stitch markers, scissors, tapestry needle, 6 buttons.

Sizing & Measurements

S(M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL)

Finished bust – 42(46, 50, 54, 58, 62)”

Length – 26(26.5, 27, 27.5, 28, 28.5

Armhole depth – 10(11, 11.5, 11.5. 12, 12)”

Crochet Easy Vest Pattern

Back Panel

Ribbed hem

Ch 13

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in every ch across, turn [12 sc]

Row 2: ch 1, scblo in each sc across, turn.

Rep row 2 until the end of row 63(69, 75, 81, 87, 93).

Now turn your work and begin working along the edge of the rows you just completed.

Main body

Row 1: ch 1 and sc into the ends of the rows you just completed [63(69, 75, 81, 87, 93) sc].

Row 2: ch 1, sc in same st, *dc in next st, sc in next, rep from * across. Turn.

Row 3: ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), *sc in next st, dc in next st, rep from across, turn.

Rep rows 2-3 until the end of row 35(35, 35, 37, 37, 39).

Row 36(36, 36, 38, 38, 40): DO NOT ch 1, slst into next 5 sts, ch 1, sc in same st, dc in next, *sc in next, dc in next, rep from * across leaving last 4 sts unworked. Turn.

Row 37(37, 37, 39, 39, 41): Ch 1, sc2tog, dc in next, *sc in next, dc in next, rep from * across until 2 sts rem, sc2tog. Turn

Row 38(38, 38, 40, 40, 42): rep last row.

Row 39(39, 39, 41, 41, 43): ch 3, *sc in next st, dc in next, rep from * across. Turn.

Row 40(40, 40, 42, 42, 44): ch 1, sc in same st, *dc in next, sc in next, rep from * across. Turn

Rep last 2 rows until the end of row 62(64, 66, 68, 70, 72). Fasten off

Front panels (Make 2)

Ribbed hem

Ch 13

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in every ch across, turn [12 sc]

Row 2: ch 1, scblo in each sc across, turn.

Rep row 2 until the end of row 23(25, 29, 31, 35, 37).

Now turn your work and begin working along the edge of the rows you just completed.

Main body

Row 1: ch 1 and sc into the ends of the rows you just completed [23(25, 29, 31, 35, 37) sc].

Row 2: ch 1, sc in same st, *dc in next st, sc in next, rep from * across. Turn.

Row 3: ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), *sc in next st, dc in next st, rep from across, turn.

Rep rows 2-3 until the end of row 35(35, 35, 37, 37, 39).

Row 36(36, 36, 38, 38, 40): DO NOT ch 1, slst into next 5 sts, ch 1, sc in same st, dc in next, *sc in next, dc in next, rep from * across. Turn.

Row 37(37, 37, 39, 39, 41): Ch 3, sc in next st, dc in next, rep from * across until 2 sts rem, sc2tog. Turn

Row 38(38, 38, 40, 40, 42): Ch 1, skip first st, sc in next st, *dc in next, sc in next, rep from * across, turn.

Row 39(39, 39, 41, 41, 43): ch 3, *sc in next st, dc in next, rep from * across. Turn.

Row 40(40, 40, 42, 42, 44): ch 1, sc in same st, *dc in next, sc in next, rep from * across. Turn

Rep last 2 rows until the end of row 62(64, 66, 68, 70, 72). Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Assembly

Lay the the two front panels on top of the back panel and using your tapestry needle and long tails, seam across shoulders and up along the sides making sure not to close armholes.

Next turn your piece right side out. Attach yarn to the bottom right corner and ch1, then sc all the way around the inner edge of the vest until you reach the other side.

Count 11 sc up from bottom and mark that st, count another 11 and mark that stitch, rep until you have 4 markers in total.

Next row: ch 13, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each of the rem 11 chains, slst into next 2 sc, *turn, skip 2 slsts, scblo in next 12 sc, ch 1, turn, scblo in next 12 sc, slst into next 2 sc, rep from * until you reach first stitch marker.

**Next row: skip last 2 slsts you did, scblo in next 6 sc, ch 2, skip 1, scblo in next 5 sc, turn.

Next row: ch 1, sc across making sure to put 1 sc in ch 2 space. slst in next 2 sc.

Rep last 2 rows until you reach next st marker and continue from ** creating an additional 3 more buttonholes.

Once all buttonholes are created you will just continue in regular ribbing until you reach the other side. Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Sew buttons to corresponding buttonholes.

Armhole ribbing

Attach yarn to the underarm.

Row 1: ch 1, sc all the way around armhole, slst to first sc.

Row 2: ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in rem 5 chains, slst in next 2 slsts. Turn.

Row 3: skip 2 slsts you just made, scblo in next 6 sc, turn.

Row 4: ch 1, scblo in next 6 sc, slip st in next 2 sc.

Rep last 2 rows all the way around armhole.

Using tapestry needle stitch the two ends of the ribbing together to close. Rep this entire process for the other armhole.

Pockets (Make 2)

Ch 20

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, *dc in next, sc in next, rep from * across. Turn.

Row 2: ch 3, *sc in next st, dc in next, rep from * across, turn.

Rep last 2 rows until the end of row 14.

Row 15: ch 1 and back loop slst in each st across. Turn.

Row 16: ch 1, sc in same st, *dc in next, sc in next, rep from * across. Turn.

Row 17: ch 3, *sc in next st, dc in next st, rep from * across. Turn.

Rep last 2 rows twice more. Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Flip the top of your pocket over and stitch to vest. I also added a button on each pocket for decorative purposes.

Stitch pockets to vest and you are now finished your vest.