Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho

From Mongolia to Peru, vests are a wardrobe staple that seem to go under appreciated here in 21st century America. But to my thinking, so many people so far and so wide could not be wrong about such a thing. Vests are classic!

Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho

This one uses a lovely, nubbly stitch pattern and pairs it up with the wonderfully soft and beautiful Anzula Squishy. Sized for ages 2 to 5, little kids will love the loose, easy fit and the freedom of no sleeves. And do with this vest what people everywhere do with theirs, make it a nearly year-round layering essential!

Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho

The Materials

Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho

  • 2 (2,3) skeins of Anzula’s Squishy, 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon. Each skein is 385 yards/ 114 grams. This color is Teal.
  • A Size E (3.5 mm) crochet hook
  • 5 1/2-inch buttons. I used Purl Soho’s Medium Buttons (size 19) in the color Teal.
  • 3 removable stitch markers (or safety pins or scrap yarn)

GAUGE

24 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern

SIZES

2-3 (3-4, 4-5)

  • Chest Circumference: 25 (27, 29) inches
  • Length from Shoulder to Bottom Edge: 12 (13, 14) inches
  • Armhole: 5 (5½, 6) inches

Sample: The vest pictured here is a size 2-3.

NOTES

How to “Make 1sc into next space”

This stitch pattern alternates between making a single crochet into the next stitch (like normal) and making a single crochet into the next “space”. The space is below the next stitch, slightly to the right. The first row of working the stitch pattern (Row 2) looks a little different than subsequent rows, so here are pictures of both!

For Row 2, the “spaces” are marked here with red dots:

Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho

And here’s what the spaces look like once you’re beyond the second row:

Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho
Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho

PATTERN

Begin

Chain 151 (163, 175).

Row 1: Starting with second chain from hook, make 1 single crochet (sc) into each chain. 150 (162, 174) stitches

Row 2: *1sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next space (see Pattern Note above), repeat from * to end of row.

Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 7 (7 1/2, 8) inches from the beginning. When you’re working the last row, mark the 43rd (46th, 49th) stitch and the 117th (127th, 137th) stitch with removable stitch markers (or safety pins).

Right Front

ARMHOLE SHAPING

Note: Since both sides of the work look the same, now is a good time to use a removable stitch marker or safety pin to mark the side that is facing you as the “right side”.

Row 1 (right side): (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 16 (17, 18) times, 1 sc into next stitch, turn the work. 33 (35, 37) stitches

Row 2 (wrong side): Skip a stitch, *1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space, repeat from * to end of row. 32 (34, 36) stitches

Row 3: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 15 (16, 17) times, 1 sc into next stitch, turn. 31 (33, 35) stitches

Row 4: Repeat Row 2. 30 (32, 34) stitches

Row 5: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 14 (15, 16) times, 1 sc into next stitch, turn. 29 (31, 33) stitches

Row 6: Repeat Row 2. 28 (30, 32) stitches

Row 7: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 13 (14, 15) times, 1 sc into next stitch, turn. 27 (29, 31) stitches

Row 8: Repeat Row 2. 26 (28, 30) stitches

Row 9: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 13 (14, 15) times, turn. 26 (28, 30) stitches

Repeat Row 9 until armhole measures 2 (2 1/4, 2 1/2) inches, ending with a right side row.

NECKLINE SHAPING

Row 1 (ws): (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 12 (13, 14) times, 1 sc into next stitch. 25 (27, 29) stitches

Row 2 (rs): Skip a stitch, *1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space, repeat from * to end of Right Front, turn. (1 stitch decreased)

Row 3: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 11 (12, 13) times, 1 sc into next stitch. 23 (25, 27) stitches

Row 4: Repeat Row 2. 22 (24, 26) stitches

Row 5: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 10 (11, 12) times, 1 sc into next stitch. 21 (23, 25) stitches

Row 6: Repeat Row 2. 20 (22, 24) stitches

Row 7: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 9 (10, 11) times, 1 sc into next stitch. 19 (21, 23) stitches

Row 8: Repeat Row 2. 18 (20, 22) stitches

Row 9: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 8 (9, 10) times, 1 sc into next stitch. 17 (19, 21) stitches

Row 10: Repeat Row 2. 16 (18, 20) stitches

Row 11: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 7 (8, 9) times, 1 sc into next stitch. 15 (17, 19) stitches

Row 12: Repeat Row 2. 14 (16, 18) stitches

Row 13: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 6 (7, 8) times, 1 sc into next stitch. 13 (15, 17) stitches

Row 14: Repeat Row 2. 12 (14, 16) stitches

Row 15: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 6 (7, 8) times, turn. 12 (14, 16) stitches

Repeat Row 15 until armhole measures 5 (5 1/2, 6) inches, ending with either side. Cut the yarn and pull it through the remaining stitch.

Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho

Left Front

ARMHOLE SHAPING

With the right side facing you, join yarn at the 117th (127th, 137th) stitch (marked with a stitch marker).

Row 1 (rs): Chain 1 (counts as a single crochet), *1sc into next space, 1sc into next stitch, repeat from * to last stitch, 1sc into next space. 33 (35, 37) stitches

Row 2 (ws): (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 16 (17, 18) times. 32 (34, 36) stitches

Row 3: Skip a stitch, *1sc into next space, 1sc into next stitch, repeat from * to last stitch, 1sc into next space. (1 stitch decreased)

Row 4: (1sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next space) 15 (16, 17) times. 30 (32, 34) stitches

Row 5: Repeat Row 3. 29 (31, 33) stitches

Row 6: (1sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next space) 14 (15, 16) times. 28 (30, 32) stitches

Row 7: Repeat Row 3. 27 (29, 31) stitches

Row 8: (1sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next space) 13 (14, 15) times. 26 (28, 30) stitches

Repeat Row 8 until armhole measures 2 (2 1/4, 2 1/2) inches, ending with a wrong side row.

NECKLINE SHAPING

Work as for the Right Front Neckline Shaping section, starting with Row 1. Substitute the “right side” for the “wrong side” and the “wrong side” for the “right side”. Work all the way to the end of the Right Front section.

Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho

Back

ARMHOLE SHAPING

With the right side facing you, join yarn at the 43rd (46th, 49th) stitch (marked with a stitch marker).

Row 1 (rs): Chain 1 (counts as a single crochet), (1sc into next space, 1sc into next stitch) 32 (34, 36) times, 1 sc into next space, turn. 66 (70, 74) stitches

Row 2 (ws): Skip a stitch, (1sc into next space, 1sc into next stitch) 32 (34, 36) times, turn. 64 (68, 72) stitches

Row 3: Skip a stitch, (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 31 (33, 35) times, turn. 62 (66, 70) stitches

Row 4: Skip a stitch, (1sc into next space, 1sc into next stitch) 30 (32, 34) times, turn. 60 (64, 68) stitches

Row 5: Skip a stitch, (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 29 (31, 33) times, turn. 58 (62, 66) stitches

Row 6: Skip a stitch, (1sc into next space, 1sc into next stitch) 28 (30, 32) times, turn. 56 (60, 64) stitches

Row 7: Skip a stitch, (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 27 (29, 31) times, turn. 54 (58, 62) stitches

Row 8: *1sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next space, repeat from * to end of Back, turn. 54 (58, 62) stitches

Repeat Row 8 until back measures 4 (4 1/2, 5) inches, ending with a wrong side row. When you’re working the last row, mark the 18th stitch (all sizes) with removable stitch markers (or safety pins).

RIGHT BACK SHOULDER

Row 1 (rs): (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 9 times, turn. 18 stitches (all sizes)

Row 2 (ws): Skip a stitch, *1sc into next space, 1sc into next stitch, repeat from * to last stitch, 1sc into next space. (1 stitch decreased)

Row 3: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 8 times, turn. 16 stitches

Row 4: Repeat Row 2. 15 stitches

Row 5: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 7 times, turn. 14 stitches

Row 6: Repeat Row 2. 13 stitches

Row 7: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 6 times, turn. 12 stitches

Repeat Row 7 three more times. 12 stitches

Cut the yarn and pull it through the remaining stitch.

LEFT BACK SHOULDER

With the right side facing you, join yarn at the 18th stitch (marked with a stitch marker).

Row 1 (rs): Chain 1 (counts as a single crochet), *1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space, repeat from * to end of row. 18 stitches

Row 2 (ws): (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 8 times, 1sc into next stitch, turn. 17 stitches

Row 3: Skip a stitch, *1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space, repeat from * to end of row. (1 stitch decreased)

Row 4: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 7 times, 1sc into next stitch, turn. 15 stitches

Row 5: Repeat Row 3. 14 stitches

Row 6: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 6 times, 1sc into next stitch, turn. 13 stitches

Row 7: Repeat Row 3. 12 stitches

Row 8: (1sc into next stitch, 1sc into next space) 6 times, turn. 12 stitches

Repeat Row 8 two more times.

Cut the yarn and pull it through the remaining stitch.

Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho

Finishing

SHOULDERS

Use the tails at the shoulders to sew (or crochet) the right shoulders together and the left shoulders together. I like the finished look of sewing back and forth under the top row of stitches, like this:

Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho

ARMHOLE TRIM

With the right side facing you, join yarn anywhere along the armhole edge with a slip stitch, chain 1. Make 1sc into each stitch around the armhole edge, at the end joining with a slip stitch into the original chain 1. Do the same for the other armhole.

Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho

Remaining Trim

With the right side facing you, join yarn to the Back Neck with a slip stitch, chain 1. Make a single crochet border (as you did for the armholes) around the neck, buttonbands and bottom edge. At the corners, chain 1 to turn the corner.

Along the right buttonband (for girls) or left buttonband (for boys), make 5 equally spaced buttonholes by chaining 3. Continue the border with a single crochet into the next stitch.

Classic Crocheted Vest for Little Kids | Purl Soho

Sew on five buttons across from the five buttonholes. Weave in the ends and gently block your vest. And you’re done!