Crocheted Lovely Lace Vest

Gorgeous lace patterned squares are beautiful in any shade of this soft bamboo crochet thread. You’ll love the way the metallic wrap adds a hint of glimmer to your vest. Since it is size 3, this vest can be completed more quickly than with the usual size 10. Wear it with or without the removable collar.

Directions are for all sizes. Changes for sizes are made by a using different size crochet hook, and making and arranging different numbers of motifs.
To Fit Chest: 30-35 (37-42, 44-49, 54-59)”
Finished Bust: 31½ (38½, 45, 55)”
Finished Length: 18 (22, 22½, 27½)”
AUNT LYDIA’S® “Iced Bamboo™, Size 3”: 9 (12, 15, 18) balls 3585 Lilac Ice.
Crochet Hooks: 3.25mm [US D-3], 3.75mm [US F-5], 5mm [US H-8]. NoTe: For size Small and Large, 3.25mm and 3.75mm hooks are needed. For sizes Medium and X-Large, 3.75mm and 5mm hooks are needed.
Yarn needle, stitch markers (optional), 11 (11, 14, 14) buttons that match thread color (the buttons will not be visible).
GAUGe: 1 square = 4½ x 4½” (point to point) with 3.75mm [US F-5] hook for Small and Large sizes; 1 square  = 5½ x 5½” (point to point) with 5mm [US H-8] hook for Mediium and X-Large sizes. CHeCK YoUR GAUGe. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.
Special Stitches
shell = 5 dc in indicated space.
V-stitch = (Dc, ch 2, dc) in indicated stitch.
Special Technique
Adjustable Ring Holding the yarn a few inches from the end, wrap around your finger. Do not remove wrap from finger, insert hook into the wrap and draw up a loop of working yarn. Chain one to secure the loop, and remove ring from finger. Work stitches of first round in the ring. Pull gently, but firmly, on tail to tighten ring.
NoTeS
1. Vest is made from 23 (23, 42, 42) full motifs and 3 (3, 4, 4) half motifs. Collar is made from 17 (17, 22, 22) full motifs and 5 (5, 6, 6) half motifs.
2. Full motifs are worked in rounds with Right Side facing at all times. Do not turn at ends of rounds. Half motifs are worked back and forth in rows.
3. A “join-as-you-go” technique is used to join the full and half motifs. The first full motif is worked without  joining to any previous motifs. The following motifs are joined to neighboring motifs when working the last round, Round 6 (joining round), or row, Row 6 (joining row).
4. Refer to the assembly diagram, for desired size, for placement of motifs.
5. After all full and half motifs have been worked and joined, filler motifs are worked into the spaces between the full and half motifs.
6. Sizes Small and Medium are made from the same number of motifs and joined in the same arrangement. The size Small motifs are smaller and worked with a smaller hook, 3.75mm [US F-5]. The size Medium motifs are larger and worked with a larger hook, 5mm [US H-8].
7. Sizes Large and X-Large are made from the same number of motifs and joined in the same arrangement. The size Large motifs are smaller and worked with a smaller hook, 3.75mm [US F-5]. The size X-Large motifs are larger tied closed at the bust if desired.
9. Vest can be worn with or without collar. Collar is detachable, and buttons to vest.
VeST
Use 3.75mm [US F-5] hook for sizes Small and Large. Use 5mm [US H-8] hook for size Medium and X-Large.
First Full Motif
Round 1 (Right Side): Make an adjustable ring, work 12 sc in ring; join with slip st in first sc; do not turn.
Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), *dc in next sc, ch 1; repeat from * around; join with slip st in 3rd ch of beginning ch-4—12 dc and 12 ch-1 spaces.
Round 3: Ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2), dc in same ch as joining (first V-st made), V-st in each remaining dc around; join with slip st in 3rd ch of beginning ch-5—12 V-sts.
Round 4: Ch 1, 5 sc in ch-2 space of each V-st around; join with slip st in first sc—60 sc.
Round 5: Slip st in next sc (2nd sc of first 5-sc group), ch 1, *sc in next sc (3rd sc of 5-sc group), ch 5, skip next 4 sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first sc—12 sc and 12 ch-5 spaces.
Round 6: Slip st in first ch-5 space, ch 3 (counts as dc), 4 dc in same ch-5 space (first shell made), ch 3, shell in same ch-5 space (corner made), sc in next ch-5 space, ch 6, sc in next ch-5 space, *(shell, ch 3, shell) in next
ch-5 space (corner made), sc in next ch-5 space, ch 6, sc in next ch-5 space; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—4 corners and a ch-6 space on each side (between corners). Fasten off.
Next Full Motif (make and join 22 (22, 41, 41)) Work same as first full motif through Round 5.
Notes:
1. Before working Round 6, refer to assembly diagram for placement of current motif.
2. The current motif will be joined to one corner of each neighboring motif.
3. To join at a corner, a slip stitch is worked into the corner ch-3 space of the neighboring motif.
4. You may wish to place a stitch marker in the appropriate corner ch-3 space of each neighboring motif.
5. Hold motifs with Right Sides facing you and Wrong Sides of motifs together. Round 6 (joining round): Slip st in first ch-5 space, ch 3 (counts as dc), (4 dc, ch 3, shell) in same ch-5 space (corner made), sc in next ch-5 space, ch 6, *(shell, ch 1, slip st in corner ch-3 space of neighboring motif, ch 1 shell) in next ch-5 space (corner made), sc in next ch-5 space, ch 6, sc in next ch-5 space; if there is another neighboring motif, repeat from * once more; **(shell, ch 3, shell) in next ch-5 space (corner made), sc in next ch-5

Half Motif (make and join 3 (3, 4, 4))
Round 1 (Right Side): Make an adjustable ring, work 6 sc in ring; join with slip st in first sc; do not turn.
Row 2 (Right Side): Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), *dc in next sc, ch 1; repeat from * around to last sc, dc in last sc, TURN—6 dc and 5 ch-1 spaces.
Row 3 (Wrong Side): Ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2), dc in first dc (first V-st made), V-st in each remaining dc  cross, V-st in 3rd ch of turning ch-4, turn—6 V-sts.
Row 4: Ch 1, 5 sc in ch-2 space of each V-st across, turn—30 sc.
Row 5: Ch 6 (counts as dc, ch 3), skip first 2 sc, sc in next sc, *ch 5, skip next 4 sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * across to last 2 sc, ch 3, skip next sc, dc in last sc, turn—7  ch-spaces.
Row 6 (joining row): Ch 3, if there is a neighboring motif, slip st in ch-3 space of neighboring motif, 5 dc in  first ch-3 space, sc in next ch-5 space, ch 6, sc in next ch-5 space, (shell, ch 1, if there is a neighboring motif, slip st in ch-3 space of neighboring motif, ch 1, shell) in next ch-5 space (corner made), sc in next ch-5 space, ch 6, sc in next ch-5 space, 5 dc in last ch-3 space, if there is a neighboring motif, slip st in ch-3 space of neighboring motif, dc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Fasten off.
Filler Motifs (make and join 14 (14, 30, 30))
Note: Filler motifs are worked into the 4 ch-6 spaces around the large opening between motifs. Refer to assembly diagram for placement of filler motifs. Filler motifs can be made and joined in any order.
Round 1 (Right Side): Join thread in any ch-6 space, ch 3, (4 dc, ch 3, shell) in same ch-6 space, [(shell, ch 3, shell) in ch-6 space of next motif] 3 times; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3; do not turn—8 shells.
Round 2: Slip st in each st to first ch-3 space, ch 1, sc in each ch-3 space around; join with slip st in first sc.  Fasten off.
CoLLAR
Work collar in same manner as vest, following collar assembly diagram for desired size.

FINISHING
Armhole edging
Use 3.25mm [US D-3] hook for sizes Small and Large. Use 3.75 [US F-5] hook for size Medium and X-Large.
Round 1 (Right Side): With Right Side facing, join thread in corner ch-3 space of full motif at lower edge of armhole, to work up side edge of armhole, ch 1, sc in same ch-3 space as join, *ch 3, skip next 5 dc, (shell, ch 3, shell) in next ch-6 space, ch 2, (shell, ch 3, shell) in next ch-6 space (of next motif), ch 3, skip next 5 dc, sc in next ch-3 space; repeat from * around to half motif; working in ends of rows across half motif, ch 4, skip next row, sc in end of next row, ch 4, skip next 2 rows, sc in end of next row, ch 4, skip center of motif, sc in end of next row, ch 4, skip next 2 rows, sc in end of next row, ch 4, skip last row; join with slip st in first sc.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in same sc as join, 3 sc in next ch-3 space, *sc in next 5 dc, sc in next ch-3 space, ch 3, sc in
next ch-3 space (skipping the 5 dc, ch 2, 5 dc), sc in next 5 dc, 3 sc in next ch-3 space, sc in next sc, 3 sc in next
ch-3 space; repeat from * around to ch-4 spaces across underarm, 4 sc in each ch-4 space to end of round; join
with slip st in first sc.
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, work 3 sc in each ch-3 space; join with slip st in first sc. Fasten off. Repeat around 2nd armhole.

Collar edging
With Right Side facing, join thread in lower corner, to work up front edge.
Round 1: With Right Side facing, join thread in a ch-3 space near center back of piece. Work in same manner as
Round 1 of armhole edging, working all the way around all edges of collar, and working 3 sc in each outer corner ch-3 space (instead of a single sc).

Round 2: Working in back loops only, work in same manner as Round 2 of armhole edging, work 3 sc in center
sc of each 3-sc corner.
Place a stitch marker across from the point of each motif along both front edges, and 3 (3, 4, 4) stitch markers evenly spaced across back neck edge.
Round 3 (buttonhole row): Ch 1, working in back loops only, sc in each sc to first marker, *ch 2 (for  buttonhole), sc in each sc to next marker; repeat from * around, working 3 sc in each ch-3 space and 3 sc in center sc of each 3-sc corner; join with slip st in first sc.
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, working 2 sc in each ch-2 buttonhole. Fasten off.
Vest edging: Work same as collar edging, omitting buttonholes.
Tie (optional): Work a chain about 24” long. Slip st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Fasten off.
Weave in ends. With Wrong Side facing, sew buttons to vest in same locations as buttonholes on collar. Thread tie through spaces of front edges at bust height. Tie a bow to close vest. To wear vest with collar, place collar on top of vest, matching motifs, fold edge of collar under edge of vest and button in place.

AUNT LYDIA’S® “Iced Bamboo™, 96% Viscose from Bamboo 4% Metallic Size 3” Art 147M available 100 yd  (147m) balls.

ABBReVIATIoNS: ch = chain; dc = double crochet; sc = single crochet; st(s) = stitch(es); [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified; ( ) = work stitches in parentheses in indicated stitch; * or ** = repeat whatever follows the * or ** as indicated.