Stitches used:

• Chain (ch)

• Single crochet (sc)

• Slip stitch (sl st)

• Double crochet (dc)

Gauge: A 10 cm (4 in) square following the stitch pattern with a 5 mm hook = 13 sts x 8 rows.

Size: Small (S)

Instructions:
The piece is made up of three panels: one back panel and two front panels, with one slightly wider than the other to allow for front overlap. Exact measurements for each panel can be found in the support diagrams.

Foundation:
Make a chain with an even number of stitches + 1 extra chain to turn.
In the sample, 60 chains + 1 (total of 61) were made.
To determine how many chains you need, measure from the shoulder to the desired vest length, this can be at the waist, slightly above the navel, or a bit longer, depending on your preference.

Stitch pattern:
Row 1 (Off White): Work 1 sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. (60 sc) Turn.

Row 2 (Off White): Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). Work 1 dc in each sc across. (60 dc) Turn.

Row 3 (Deep Blue): Change color. Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc + 1 ch). Skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st, repeat across. Turn.

Row 4 (Off White): Change color. Ch 3, 1 dc in the first space. Work 2 dc in each ch-1 space across. At the end of the row, 1 dc in the last space and 1 dc on top of the turning ch. Turn.

Row 5 (Off White): Ch 1, 1 sc in each stitch across. You may add 1 increase (2 sc in the same st) at the beginning to make stitch counts align perfectly for openwork rows. Turn.

Row 6 (Mustard): Change color. Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc + 1 ch). Skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st, repeat across. Turn.

Pattern repeat:
From here, repeat the sequence: 2 rows in Off White: (1 row of 2 dc in each space + 1 row of sc). 1 row in color (Deep Blue or Mustard): 1 dc, ch 1, skip 1 st
Repeat this cycle until you reach the desired width of each panel.

Assembly:
After completing the three panels:
Back panel: 11 colored rows
Narrow front panel: 5 colored rows
Wider front panel: 7 colored rows

Position the back panel underneath and the front panels on top, overlapping the wider one over the narrower.

Shoulders:
With the wrong sides facing, join 12 cm (4¾ in) on each shoulder using sl st with the crochet hook.

Armholes:
Leave an opening of about 23 cm (9 in) for each armhole.
Sew the remaining side seams on the right side with a tapestry needle using a whip stitch.

Neckline:
After joining the shoulders, work 1 row of sc around the entire neckline, using this row to join the two front panels together where they overlap.
Then work 1 row of zigzag stitch (1 sl st, ch 1, 1 sl st, ch 1 repeated).

Finishing:
Neckline and armholes: work the zigzag stitch: 1 sl st, ch 1, 1 sl st, ch 1 (repeat). Bottom edge: work 1 row of sc.

Finishing colors:
Neckline and bottom edge: Off White
Armholes: Deep Blue

Designer: Joana Gouveia, @FiosCruzados