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Open Back Summer Vest- Free Crochet Pattern

Summer is here and it is time for lightweight, easy, breezy outfits. So in the ‘spirit of summer’ (is there even such a thing?), I designed this open back summer vest. 

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I’m quite glad at the outcome of this vest, as it happens to be the first crochet garment I’ve designed. And after, this there’s surely more to come. So be sure to join our mailing list to see new designs.

This vest is quite easy to make because it is worked in rows and only decrease at the edges, it also uses mainly half double crochet stitches. The yarn used for this vest is 100 percent mercerised cotton and has a lovely drape, it is receommended to block the vest to achieve this.

The criss-cross chains at the back looks kinda complicated, but I promise it’s not that bad. I will explain it as simply as possible in the pattern.

You will love having this vest, as it is casual enough to throw on for dates with friends, or to the movies, but not too casual to wear on the days you dress down to work.


It’s ok if you sell items you made using LM patterns. And I’d really love it if you mentioned it was from LM.
And please, do not sell or mass produce LM patterns- (the only exception is if you are donating the handmade items to charity)

Thanks. You can read more on LM policy here.


Sizing: Small (bust 32-34″) Seen in the photos.  Medium (bust 36-38″). Large (bust 40-42″)

Dimension: After blocking, should be around:

Small- 14.5-15″ across/22″ tall. Medium- 17-17.5″ across/22.5-23″tall. Large- 19.5-20″ across/22.5-23″ tall

Gauge: 13 row and 15 stitches= 4×4

You’ll need:

For substitutes, check YarnSub (isn’t it great someone created this site?)

  • 4.5 & 5mm hook
  • Needle to weave in ends

Abbreviation/Stitches

  • SC- single crochet
  • FHDC- foundation half double crochet
  • HDC- half double crochet
  • HDC2tog- half double crochet 2 together or decrease
  • ST- stitch
  • CH- chain

Notes:

– Pattern is written in U.S terms

– Ch 1 is not a stitch

– Larger sizes are in ( ). Medium and Large sizes for rows 1-10 are the same.

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Open Back Summer Vest- Free Crochet Pattern

Row 1: FHDC 160 (162). Ch 1, turn

Row 2: HDC2tog, HDC in 156 (158), HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 3: HDC2tog, HDC 154 (156), HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 4: HDC2tog, HDC152 (154), HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

LEFT SIDE (all sizes)

Row 5: HDC2tog, HDC 51 (53). Ch 1, turn

Row 6: HDC2tog, HDC 48 (50), HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 7: HDC2tog, HDC 46 (48), HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 8: HDC2tog, HDC 44 (46), HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 9: HDC2tog, HDC 42 (44), HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Small Size Only

Row 10: HDC2tog, HDC 40, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 11: HDC 40, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 12: HDC 39, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 13: HDC 38, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 14: HDC2tog, HDC 35, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 15: HDC 35, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 16: HDC2tog, HDC 32, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 17: HDC 32, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 18: HDC2tog, HDC 29, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 19: HDC 29, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 20: HDC2tog, HDC 26, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 21: HDC 26, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 22: HDC2tog, HDC 23, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 23: HDC 23, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 24: HDC2tog, HDC 20, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Medium Size Only

Row 10: HDC2tog, HDC 44. Ch 1, turn

Row 11: HDC 43, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 12: HDC across. Ch 1, turn

Row 13: HDC2tog, HDC 42. Ch 1, turn

Row 14: HDC 41, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 15: HDC across. Ch 1, turn.

Row 16: HDC2tog, HDC 38, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 17: HDC 38, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 18: HDC2tog, HDC 37. Ch 1, turn

Row 19: HDC2tog, 34, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 20: HDC 34, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 21: HDC2tog, HDC 31, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 22: HDC 31, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 23: HDC2tog, HDC 27, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 24: HDC 27, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 25: HDC2tog, HDC 23, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 26: HDC 23, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 27: HDC2tog, HDC 20, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Large Size Only

Row 10: HDC across. Ch 1, turn

Row 11: HDC 44, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 12: HDC2tog, HDC 43. Ch 1, turn

Row 13: HDC across. Ch 1, turn

Row 14: HDC 42, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 15: HDC2tog, HDC 41. Ch 1, turn

Row 16: HDC across. Ch 1, turn

Row 17: HDC 40, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 18: HDC2tog, HDC 39. Ch 1, turn

Row 19: HDC2tog, HDC 36, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 20: HDC 36, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 21: HDC2tog, HDC 35. Ch 1, turn

Row 22: HDC2tog, HDC 32, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 23: HDC2tog, HDC 32. Ch 1, turn

Row 24: HDC2tog, HDC 29, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 25: HDC2tog, HDC 29. Ch 1, turn

Row 26: HDC2tog, HDC 26, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 27: HDC2tog, HDC 26. Ch 1, turn

Row 28: HDC2tog, 23, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 29: HDC2tog, HDC 23. Ch 1, turn

Row 30: HDC2tog, 20, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

All Sizes

Row 25 (28, 31): HDC 20, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 26 (29, 32): HDC2tog, HDC 19. Ch 1, turn

Row 27 (30, 33): HDC 18, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 28 (31, 34): HDC2tog, HDC 17. Ch 1, turn

Row 29 (32, 35): HDC 16, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 30 (33, 36): HDC2tog, HDC 15. Ch 1, turn

Row 31 (34, 37): HDC 14, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 32 (35, 38): HDC2tog, HDC 13. Ch 1, turn

Row 33 (36, 39): HDC 12, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 34 (37, 40): HDC2tog, HDC 11. Ch 1, turn

Row 35 (38, 41): HDC 10, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 36 (39, 42): HDC2tog, HDC 9. Ch1, turn

Rows 37 (40,43) -40 (42,46): HDC across (do not break yarn)

RIGHT SIDE (see photo below for illustration)

Row 5: Count from bottom up, join yarn in 53rd (55th) st, HDC 51 (53), HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 6: HDC2tog, HDC 48 (50), HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 7: HDC2tog, HDC 46 (48), HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 8: HDC2tog, HDC 44 (46), HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 9: HDC2tog, HDC 42 (44), HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Small Size Only

Row 10: HDC2tog, HDC 40, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 11: HDC2tog, HDC 40. Ch 1, turn

Row 12: HDC2tog, HDC 39. Ch 1, turn

Row 13: HDC2tog, HDC 38. Ch 1, turn

Row 14: HDC2tog, HDC 35, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 15: HDC2tog, HDC 35. Ch 1, turn

Row 16: HDC2tog, HDC 32, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 17: HDC2tog, HDC 32. Ch 1, turn

Row 18: HDC2tog, HDC 29, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 19: HDC2tog, HDC 29. Ch 1, turn

Row 20: HDC2tog, HDC 26, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 21: HDC2tog, HDC 26. Ch 1, turn

Row 22: HDC2tog, HDC 23, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 23: HDC2tog, HDC 23. Ch 1, turn

Row 24: HDC2tog, HDC 20, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Medium Size Only

Row 10: HDC 44, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 11: HDC2tog, HDC 43. Ch 1, turn

Row 12: HDC across. Ch 1, turn

Row 13: HDC 42, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 14: HDC2tog, HDC 41. Ch 1, turn

Row 15: HDC across. Ch 1, turn

Row 16: HDC2tog, HDC 38, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 17: HDC2tog, HDC 38. Ch 1, turn

Row 18: HDC 37, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 19: HDC2tog, HDC 34, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 20: HDC2tog, HDC 34. Ch 1, turn

Row 21: HDC2tog, HDC 31, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 22: HDC2tog, HDC 31. Ch 1, turn

Row 23: HDC2tog, HDC 27, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 24: HDC2tog, HDC 27. Ch 1, turn

Row 25: HDC2tog, HDC 23, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 26: HDC2tog, HDC 23. Ch 1, turn

Row 27: HDC2tog, HDC 20, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Large Size Only

Row 10: HDC across. Ch 1, turn

Row 11: HDC 44, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 12: HDC across. Ch 1, turn

Row 13: HDC2tog, HDC 41, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 14: HDC across. Ch 1, turn

Row 15: HDC2tog, HDC 41. Ch 1, turn

Row 16: HDC2tog, HDC 38, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 17: HDC2tog, HDC 38. Ch 1, turn

Row 18: HDC 37, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 19: HDC2tog, HDC 34, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 20: HDC 32, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 21: HDC2tog, HDC 31. Ch 1, turn

Row 22: HDC2tog, HDC 28, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 23: HDC2tog, HDC 28. Ch 1, turn

Row 24: HDC2tog, HDC 25, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 25: HDC2tog, HDC 25. Ch 1, turn

Row 26: HDC 24, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 27: HDC2tog, HDC 21, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 28: HDC 21, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 25: HDC2tog, HDC 24. Ch 1, turn

Row 26: HDC 23, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 27: HDC2tog, HDC 22. Ch 1, turn

Row 28: HDC 21, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

All Sizes

Row 25 (28, 31): HDC2tog, HDC 20.  Ch 1, turn

Row 26 (29, 32): HDC 19, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 27 (30, 33): HDC2tog, HDC 18. Ch 1, turn

Row 28 (31, 34): HDC 17, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 29 (32, 35): HDC2tog, HDC 16. Ch 1, turn

Row 30 (33, 36): HDC 15, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 31 (34, 37): HDC2tog, HDC 14. Ch 1, turn

Row 32 (35, 38): HDC 13, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 33 (36, 39): HDC2tog, HDC 12. Ch 1, turn

Row 34 (37, 40): HDC 11, HDC2tog. Ch 1, turn

Row 35 (38, 41): HDC2tog, HDC 10. Ch 1, turn

Row 36 (39, 42): HDC 9, HDC2tog. Ch1, turn

Rows 37 (40,43) -40 (42, 46): HDC across (do not break yarn)

Edging 

Note: the wrong side of the SC is the front of the vest.

With yarn still attached,  SC across the side, up and down the other side. Break yarn

SC across the bottom, break yarn, attach to the right side, SC across (DO NOT break yarn, you’ll be using it for the criss cross chains)

Turn vest to the back and fold

Making the Criss-Cross Chains (with 4.5mm hook)

Note: When crossing the chains, make sure to skip 1 st and sl st in next. For instance when you cross from 2, you will skip the next st beside number 1 and Sl St in the next.

Sequence:

  • 1: Ch 15. (Sl st to number 2)
  • 2: Ch 13. (Sl st to number 3)
  • 3: Ch 12 (Sl st to number 4)
  • 4: Ch 11 (Sl st to number 5)
  • 5: Ch 11 (Sl st to number 6)
  • 6: Ch 11 (Sl st to number 7)
  • 7: Ch 11 (Sl st to number 8)
  • 8: Ch 12 (Sl st to number 9)
  • 9: Ch 13 (Sl st to number 10)
  • 10: Ch 15 (Sl st to number 11)
  • 11: Ch 15 (Sl st to number 12)

Block

And your open back summer vest is ready. When you make this pattern, be so kind to share with me on Facebook by tagging LoopinglyMade. Also don’t forget to use the share buttons below. Thank you.

Rose

Welcome to Craft-Her, call me Rose! Few things in life give me pleasure, creating with my hands is one of them. Crochet with me, enjoy my patterns. Drop me a mail or two sometime, I'd like that very much.

View Comments

  • Congratulations, i can't believe this is your first design, i can't wait to try it, thank you for sharing!

    • Thank you. We never know how well we'll do until we try. I'm glad you'll be making it and would love to see it.

  • Hello Lisa, thanks so much for sharing your vest. I am almost done making it and will sure send you a picture.

  • I love this vest. It is beautiful. I’m gonna make it for my sister! I will tag you in everywhere I post. I love that you show how you block it!!!!😎😎

    • Hello Lisa,I'm so so glad you love the vest, and this is the very first I have designed. I'll really look forward to those tags. Thanks a lot for stopping by.

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