Cotton Bamboo Drape Front Vest

I am SO excited to have this gorgeous vest finished! I have always wanted to make something out of bamboo yarn, and I wanted to create a summer garment before summer is gone. Here it is, and it's not even the end of July! (Although close)

I used Lion Brand Coboo yarn in white. I love how this yarn drapes. It has enough weight to hang beautifully, but is it lightweight and cool enough to make a great summer garment. The best thing about this vest is that it will also look great when fall comes, to add a dressy layer over a long sleeved top. I think this will be my back to school outfit to wear at Open House!

This vest is a style that works well on any body type! The full, ad free, pattern is available in sizes XS through 3XL in my Etsy shop. The pattern I am sharing here will make the one that is pictured. It is slightly smaller than the large in the complete pattern.

Most of this pattern is easy enough for a beginner, but it does include a special stitch. I included a photo tutorial to explain the special stitch, so if you're a relative beginner and want to try it, I'm sure you'll be successful. I am always here to answer any questions you have also!

It is also designed to have minimal seaming. The only seams you will have to work are the two side seams. The body of the vest is crocheted starting at the back waist, and worked up over the shoulders to make the two front panels. Then the bottom "skirt" is crocheted after the side seams are sewn. Finally the neckband/collar is added. The side seams are single crocheted together, so even if you are uncomfortable with traditional seaming, you can handle this.

Photo Tutorial:

How to crochet the Foundation Double Crochet with a Chain 1 Space
To crochet a foundation double crochet when you are working with a mesh stitch is a little challenging. It is hard to find the bottom of the previous double crochet because the yarn over carries across the chain one space. Here is a photo tutorial to help you get it right!

When you reach the end of the row, you will work a dc in the top of the turn chain. For the first fdc, you will insert your hook into the same stitch.

Step 1: Yarn over and pull yarn through one loop.

Step 2: Yarn over and pull through 1 loop again. This creates the ch 1 space.

Step 3: Yarn over and pull through 1 loop a third time. This creates the "chain" that you are working your double crochet into. You can see that if you were working regular double crochet, this would be the first loop you drew through the stitch. Complete the fdc by drawing the yarn through two loops twice, as if you were making a regular double crochet.

 

You can see below the ch 1 space created, and the foundation double crochet created.

Step 4: Insert hook into the same chain as the bottom of your dc. It helps to count again each ch 1 and fdc to find the correct loop. Draw through 1 loop.

Draw through 1 loop twice more.

 And complete your second foundation double crochet.

Again you can see your first ch 1 sp,

your first fcd,  

your second ch 1 sp, 

and your second foundation dc.

Repeat the last step until you have 20 ch 1 sp, not counting the space between the last regular dc and the first fdc.

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Cotton Bamboo Drape Front Vest

Crochet Pattern

This pattern is for a size M/L only. For a printable PDF that includes all seven sizes (XS to 3XL) visit my Etsy listing here.

Materials
Lion Brand Coboo yarn (3.5 oz./100 g; 232 yd/212 m): 5 balls in white (#100)
Size F/5 (3.75 mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn needle (for weaving in ends)

Gauge
Approximately:
11 dc and 11 ch 1 spaces = 4”
10 rows of dc - 4”

To avoid the gap you can see in the middle of my back, work your first row of the pattern into two loops of the chain.

Notes

Vest is crocheted starting at the back waist and working up over the shoulders to the front. Work is shaped for the armholes and front edge. Then side seams are sewn and work continues with bottom band. Finally the front collar/lapel is added.

Pattern shows right side and wrong side rows, but technically the fabric is reversible. Side seams can be sewn either way, just make sure they match. Work starts on a RS row, and either left or right front is worked first, depending on the number of decreases/increases for the underarm shaping.

Special Stitch

To extend the row for the bottom band, foundation double crochet with a chain 1 space is worked. The stitch looks a little messy when initially worked, but a row will be crocheted along the bottom of this row, which will blend it into the rest of the garment.

ch1fdc (foundation double crochet with ch 1 sp): Ch 1, yo, insert hook into top of turn ch. *[Yo, pull through 1 loop] 3 times. [Yo, pull through 2 loops] twice. (1 ch & 1 foundation dc completed). Repeat from *, inserting hook into bottom of last fdc.

Instructions are written using standard US abbreviations. 

Ch - chain

Sc - single crochet

Dc - double crochet

Dc2tog - double crochet two together

ch1fdc - chain 1, foundation double crochet

Body Instructions

Lower Back, starting at back waist.

Ch 107.

Row 1: Dc in 5th ch from hook. *Ch 1, sk 1 ch, dc in next ch. Repeat from * to last ch; dc in last ch. Turn. (52 dc & 51 ch 1 spaces, plus turn chain)

Row 2: Ch 3, dc in 1st ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * to end of row. Ch 1, dc in top of turn chain. Turn.

Rows 3-12: Repeat Row 2 ten more times for a total of 12 rows from back waist to underarm. (To shorten or lengthen the waist by about 1”, crochet two fewer rows or two more rows, keeping an even number)

Decrease for armholes

Row 13 (RS): Ch 1, sc in first ch 1 sp. Ch 1, dc in next ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * across to last ch 1 sp. Dc2tog, inserting hook in last ch 1 sp and then in top of turning chain. Turn. (2 dc and 2 ch 1 sp decreased for 50 dc & 49 ch 1 spaces, plus turn chain)

Rows 14-17: Repeat Row 13 four more times. Turn. (42 dc & 41 ch 1 spaces, plus turn chain)

Finish upper back

Rows 18-35: Repeat Row 2, working straight for 18 rows. Turn.

Separate for left and right front

Left Front

Row 1 of left front (WS): Ch 3, dc in first ch 1 sp. [ch 1, dc in next ch 1 sp] 11 times. Ch 1, dc in top of turn chain. Turn. [11 ch 1 sp, 12 dc, and turn chain]

Row 2: Ch 3, dc in first ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * across. Ch 1, dc in top of turn chain. Turn. 

Rows 3-8: [Repeat Row 2] 6 more times.

Begin increase for front neckline (increase at neck edge of every other row, beginning at Row 9 - this will always be the end of a ws, odd numbered, row)

Row 9 (WS): Ch 3, dc in first ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * to end of row. Ch 1 [dc, ch 1, dc] in top of turn chain. Turn. (12 ch 1 sp - turn chain does not count as a ch 1 sp)

Row 10: Ch 3, dc in first ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * across, working last dc in top of turn ch. Turn.

Row 11: Ch 3, dc in 1st ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * to end of row. Ch 1, [dc, ch 1, dc] in top of turn chain. Turn. (13 ch 1 sp)

Rows 12 - 17: Repeat last two rows 3 times. (16 ch 1 sp)

Row 18: Repeat Row 10. 

Shape front armholes (increase at armhole edge on every row for 5 rows, continue increasing at neck edge in pattern)

Row 19 (WS): Ch 3, dc in first dc (bottom of turn ch). Ch 1, dc in first ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * to end of row. Ch 1, [dc, ch 1, dc] in top of turn chain. Turn. (18 ch 1 sp)

Row 20: Ch 3, dc in 1st ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * to end of row. Ch 1, [dc, ch 1, dc] in top of turn chain. Turn. 

Rows 21 - 22: Repeat Rows 19-20.

Row 23: Repeat Row 19. (24 ch 1 sp)

Work straight for side seam while continuing to increase at neck edge.

Rows 24 - 35: [Repeat Rows 10-11] 6 times. (30 ch 1 sp) Do not fasten off. 

Use a stitch holder to hold this stitch until right front section is completed. Complete right front and sew side seams, then pick up this last stitch to continue with bottom band.

Right Front

Attach yarn in top of 12th dc from left edge of back, wrong side facing. Do NOT count the turn ch as a dc.

Row 1 (WS): Ch 3, dc in first ch 1 sp. [ch 1, dc in next ch 1 sp] 10 times. Ch 1, dc in top of turn chain. Turn. [11 ch 1 sp, 12 dc, and turn chain]

Rows 2-8: [Repeat Row 1] 7 more times.

Begin increase for front neckline (increase at neck edge of every other row, beginning at Row 9 - this will always be the beginning of a ws, odd numbered, row)

Row 9 (WS): Ch 3, dc in first dc (bottom of turn ch). Ch 1, dc in first ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * to end of row. Ch 1, dc in top of turn chain. Turn. (12 ch 1 sp - turn chain does not count as a ch 1 sp)

Row 10: Ch 3, dc in first ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * across, working last dc in top of turn ch. Turn.

Rows 11 -18: Repeat last two rows 4 times. [16 ch 1 sp]

Shape front armholes (increase at armhole edge on every row for 5 rows, continue increasing at neck edge in pattern)

Row 19 (WS): Ch 3, dc in first dc (bottom of turn ch). Ch 1, dc in first ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * to end of row. Ch 1, [dc, ch 1, dc] in top of turn chain. Turn. [18 ch 1 sp]

Row 20: (RS): Ch 3, dc in first dc (bottom of turn ch). Ch 1, dc in first ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * to end of row. Ch 1, dc in top of turn chain. Turn. (19 ch 1 sp)

Rows 21-22: Repeat Rows 19-20.

Row 23: Repeat row 19. (24 ch 1 sp)

Work straight for side seam while continuing to increase at neck edge

Row 24: Repeat Row 10. 

Row 25: Repeat Row 9.

Rows 26- 35: [Repeat last two rows] 5 times. [30 ch 1 sp] Do not fasten off.

Sew right side seam

Hold work with side seams aligned and right sides facing each other. Beginning at bottom of Right Front where last stitch was worked, sc in each stitch and around each dc or turn chain to bottom of armhole shaping. Fasten off.

Sew left side seam

Attach yarn at bottom of left side seam and stitch together as for right side seam. Fasten off.

Bottom Band

Pick up stitch at bottom of neckline of left front. Instructions for Row 1 are written in three sections. First you chain from the corner of the left front piece and work back across the chain to complete the first part of the row, then ch 1, dc is worked across the existing body of the vest, then foundation crochet is used to extend the bottom band from the right front.

Row 1 (left front): Ch 44. Dc in 5th ch from hook. *Ch 1, sk 1 ch, dc in next ch. Repeat from * to end of ch. (20 ch 1 sp - not counting sp between ch and first dc)

Row 1 (body): *Ch 1, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * to end of body piece, working last dc in top of turn ch.

Row 1 (right front): Ch 1, yo, insert hook into top of turn ch. *[Yo, pull through 1 loop] 3 times. [Yo, pull through 2 loops] twice. (1 ch 1 foundation dc completed). Repeat from *, inserting hook into bottom of last fdc, until you have 20 ch 1 sp after first fdc.

Row 2 (WS): Ch 3, dc in 1st ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * to end of row. Ch 1, dc in top of turn chain. Turn.

Rows 3-27: Repeat Row 2. Fasten off.

To make vest longer or shorter, work more or fewer rows for the bottom band. 

Collar and front lapel

Attach yarn at bottom of front opening (top of bottom band just crocheted) with right side facing. This will be and the end of the foundation crochet row to start the bottom band. You will work the front section along the top of the bottom band, then up the neck edge, working around the post of the dc or turn chain at the end of each row as if it is a ch 1 sp.

Row 1 (RS): Ch 3, dc in 1st ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch 1 sp (or in the space next to a dc or turn ch). Repeat from * to end of row. Ch 1, dc in top of turn chain. Turn.

Row 2 (WS): Ch 3, dc in 1st ch 1 sp. *Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat from * to end of row. Ch 1, dc in top of turn chain. Turn.

Rows 3-13: Repeat Row 2. Do NOT fasten off.

Extra rows can be added to the collar, but make sure you crochet an odd number of rows so that your border will begin in the same place.

Finishing - Outer edge

To finish the vest, a sc-ch 1 border is worked around the entire outer edge and around each armhole. Continue from the last stitch worked, with right side facing, work along bottom edge of collar/lapel toward the bottom band.

Border: With right side facing, ch 1, sc around post of last dc worked. *Ch 1, sc in next space. Repeat from * around entire outer edge, working 3 sc in each corner space. Work 2 additional sc in last corner sp (starting corner); sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Armhole border: Attach yarn at side seam (you can connect the yarn to the tail left from stitching side seams). Draw up a loop. Ch 1, sc in beginning space (where yarn was attached). *Ch 1, sc in next sp. Repeat from * around. Ch 1, sl st to first sc. Fasten off. Repeat for other armhole.

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Copyright © 2019 Sharon Hansen/Yarnmare

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The pattern and photographs of this design are the property of Sharon Hansen/Yarnmare. This pattern and design are subject to copyright, and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not distribute or sell this pattern or any items created using the directions in this pattern without consent. Please email yarnmare@gmail.com with any questions.