A Vest-ed Interest

It's hard to believe that fall will soon be upon us with cool days and chilly nights (where did the summer go?). Our free pattern in this issue is a plush, velvety-soft Granny Square Shrink Vest that will make a great-looking addition to a back-to-school wardrobe or a classy topper for any casual-chic outfit. Just think of the many fashionable looks you can achieve with this versatile vest, depending on the different tops, sweaters, blouses, pants or skirts you wear it with or the colors and yarns you make it in. You'll want to stitch up several of them!

Granny Square Shrink Vest

Design by Marty Miller

Finished Sizes
Instructions given fit 28-30-inch bust (X-small); changes for 32-34-inch bust (small), 36-38-inch bust (medium),
40-42-inch bust (large) and 44-46-inch bust (X-large) are in [ ].

Finished Garment Measurements
Bust: 27 inches (X-small) [31 inches (small), 35 inches (medium), 49 inches (large), 43 inches (X-large)]
Length: 14 1/2 inches (X-small) [16 1/2 inches (small), 18 inches (medium), 19 1/2 inches (large), 20 1/2 inches (X-large)]

Materials

Lion Brand Lion Suede bulky (chunky) weight yarn (3 oz/122 yds/85g per skein):

2 [3, 3, 4, 5] skeins #110 denim

Size J/10/6mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Tapestry needle
Stitch markers

Gauge
Rnds 1 and 2 = 4 inches; 5 dc = 2 inches

Pattern Notes
Weave in loose ends as work progresses.
Join rounds with a slip stitch unless otherwise stated.

Vest
Body
Make 2.
Rnd 1: Ch 6, join in first ch of ch-6, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 15 dc in ring, join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3. (16 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st as beg ch-3, 2 dc in each dc around, join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3. (32 dc)
Rnd 3: Ch 5 (counts as first dc, ch-2), sk next dc, [dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next dc] around, join in 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (16 dc, 16 ch-2 sps)
Rnd 4: Ch 6 (counts as first dc, ch-3), sk next dc, [dc in next dc, ch 3, sk next dc] around, join in 3rd ch of beg ch-6. (16 dc, 16 ch-3 sps)
Rnd 5: Ch 3, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp, [dc in next dc, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp] around, join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3. (80 dc)

For Size X-Small Only
Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in joining, sc in next dc, *ch 3, sk next 2 dc, hdc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc, dc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc, (dc, ch 2, tr, ch 2, dc) in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc, dc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc, hdc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc, sc in each of next 3 dc, rep from * around, ending with sc in last dc, join in beg sc.
Rnd 7: Ch 3, sk first sc, dc in next sc, *2 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next hdc, [2 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next dc] twice, 2 dc in next ch-3 sp, tr in next tr, [2 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next dc] twice, 2 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next hdc, 2 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in each of next 3 sc, rep from * around, ending with dc in last sc, join in top of beg ch-3, fasten off.

For Sizes Small, Medium, Large & X-Large Only
Rnd 6: Ch 3, dc in each dc around, join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3.
Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in joining, sc in next dc, *ch 3, sk next 2 dc, hdc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc, dc in next dc, ch 4, sk next 2 dc, tr in next dc, ch 4, sk next 2 dc, dc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc, hdc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc, sc in each of next 3 dc, rep from * around, ending with sk next 2 dc, sc in last dc, join in beg sc.
Rnd 8: Ch 1, sc in joining, sc in next sc, *2 sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in next hdc, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, (tr, {ch 2, tr} twice) in next tr, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, sc in next hdc, 2 sc in next ch-3 sp**, sc in each of next 3 sc, rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sc in last sc, join in beg sc.
Rnd 9: Ch 3, dc in each of next 4 sc, *3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next dc, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next tr, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, tr in next tr, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, dc in next tr, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in each of next 9 sc, rep from * around, ending with dc in each of next 4 sc, join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3, fasten off sizes small and medium only. (136 dc)

For Size Large Only
Rnd 10: Ch 3, dc in each dc around, working (dc, tr, dc) in each corner tr, join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3, fasten off.

For Size X-Large Only
Rnds 10 & 11: Ch 3, dc in each dc around, working (dc, tr, dc) in each corner tr, join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3, fasten off.

First Front Side Panel
For All Sizes
Row 1: With RS facing, attach yarn on bottom right in corner tr, ch 1, sc in same st as joining, sc in each of next 20 [25, 28, 31, 34] sts, turn. (21 [26, 29, 32, 35] sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first sc, sc dec (see Stitch Guide) in next 2 sts, sc in each rem st across, turn. (20 [25, 28, 31, 34] sc)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across to last 3 sts, sc dec in next 2 sts, sc in last st, turn. (19 [24, 27, 30, 34] sc)

For Size X-Small Only
Row 4: Rep row 2, fasten off. (18 sc)

For Size Small Only
Rows 4 & 5: Rep rows 2 and 3. ([22] sc)
Row 6: Rep row 2, fasten off. ([21] sc)

For Size Medium Only
Rows 4-7: [Rep rows 2 and 3 alternately] twice. At the end of last rep, fasten off. ([23] sc)

For Size Large Only
Rows 4-7: [Rep rows 2 and 3 alternately] twice. ([26] sc)
Rows 8-10: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. At the end of last rep, fasten off.

For Size X-Large Only
Rows 4-9: [Rep rows 2 and 3 alternately] 3 times. ([28] sc)
Rows 10-14: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. At the end of last rep, fasten off.

2nd Front Side Panel
Rows 1-4 [1-6, 1-7, 1-10, 1-14]: Rep rows 1-4 [1-6, 1-7, 1-10, 1-14] of First Front Side Panel.

First & 2nd Back Side Panels
Rep First and 2nd Front Side Panels.

Strap
Make 2 each front & back.
Row 1: With RS facing, join yarn at upper right tr, ch 1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 4 [5, 5, 6, 6] sts, turn. (5 [6, 6, 7, 7] sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn.
Rows 3-9 [3-9, 3-10, 3-12, 3-14]: Rep Row 2. At the end of last rep, fasten off.
With RS facing, join yarn in 5th [6th, 6th, 7th, 7th] st from left corner tr, rep rows 1-9 [1-9, 1-10, 1-12, 1-14].
With RS tog, matching sts and sewing through top lps only, sew shoulders tog. With RS tog, sew side seams.

Bottom Edging
Rnd 1 (WS): Attach yarn at side seam, ch 1, sc evenly spaced around, join in beg sc, turn.
Rnds 2-4: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join in beg sc.
At the end of last rep, fasten off.

Armhole Trim
Rnd 1 (RS): Attach yarn at underarm, ch 1, sc evenly spaced around, working sc dec where the strap joins each Front and Back to keep piece flat, join in beg sc, fasten off.
Rep on opposite armhole opening.

Neckline Trim
Rnd 1 (RS): Attach yarn at shoulder seam, ch 1, sc evenly spaced around, working sc dec at 4 corners where the strap joins each Front and Back to keep piece flat, join in beg sc, fasten off.