Crochet by Faye Climbing Vine Vest Pattern

Crochet by Faye Climbing Vine Vest

What is Being Made

The Climbing Vine Vest is a versatile crocheted sleeveless garment designed by Robyn Chachula for year-round wear. This vest features a close-fitting silhouette and can be styled multiple ways: layered over a camisole for summer elegance or worn over a buttoned shirt for a polished winter look. The design is available in five sizes ranging from Small to 2X, with bust circumferences of 34", 37", 40", 43", and 46" respectively.

Techniques Used

This vest is constructed using several key crochet techniques that create both structure and visual interest:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The vest is worked from the bottom edge upward, allowing you to try on and adjust length as you progress.
• Worked in the Round: The body begins with a chain foundation that is joined into a circle with a slip stitch, creating a seamless tubular construction for the main vest body.
• Lace Patterning: The Climbing Vine stitch pattern incorporates open spaces and decorative elements through strategic chain spaces and cluster stitches, creating an airy, textured appearance suitable for layering.
• Seamed Construction: Finishing details are completed using a tapestry needle to seam sections together where necessary, providing neat, professional edges.

Stitches Used

The Climbing Vine Vest employs a focused selection of fundamental crochet stitches combined into a signature stitch pattern:

• Chain (ch): The foundation stitch used to create the initial loops and spacing throughout the pattern.
• Slip Stitch (sl st): Used to join rounds and create seamless transitions without adding height.
• Single Crochet (sc): A short stitch used strategically within the lace pattern to create definition and anchor points.
• Half Double Crochet (hdc): Listed in the stitch glossary for reference, providing medium height for structural elements.
• Double Crochet (dc): The primary stitch used throughout the pattern, creating the main fabric structure and forming the foundation of the Climbing Vine motif.
• 3 DC-CL (Double Crochet Cluster): A special stitch unique to this pattern where three double crochets are worked together in the same stitch, creating decorative raised clusters that define the vine-like design.
• Turning Chain (t-ch): Used at the end of rows to bring the yarn to the correct height for the next row.

Materials

Yarn: Rowan Purelife Revive in colorway #462 Basalt, a CYCA #3 medium weight yarn composed of 36% recycled silk, 36% recycled cotton, and 28% recycled viscose. This blend creates a luxurious drape and breathability ideal for a vest that transitions between seasons. Yardage requirements range from 6 balls for smaller sizes to 8 balls for the largest size, providing approximately 750 to 1,100 total yards depending on size selected. Each ball contains 125 meters (137 yards) per 50 grams.

Hook: A G/7 (4.5mm) crochet hook, or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge of 7 double crochets by 8 rows equaling 4.625" wide by 4.25" long in the stitch pattern.

Notions and Finishing Tools: Blocking pins and spray bottle for finishing and shaping, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and increases, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming sections together.

Pattern Gauge and Sizing

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit. The pattern specifies 7 double crochets by 8 rows should measure 11.5 centimeters (4.625 inches) wide by 11 centimeters (4.25 inches) long when worked in the Climbing Vine stitch pattern. The vest features a close fit and is shown in Medium size.