144 Sweet Pea Crocheted Vest - Gilet Crochet Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Amherst

144 Sweet Pea Crocheted Vest – Crochet Pattern for Women by Mary Kubasek

About This Pattern

The 144 Sweet Pea Crocheted Vest is a women's crochet pattern designed by Mary Kubasek and published by Valley Yarns. This elegant, wearable gilet is worked flat in separate pieces — a back and two fronts — and then seamed together to create a polished, structured finish. A separating zipper runs the full length of the front opening, giving the vest a clean, contemporary look that pairs beautifully with both casual and smart outfits. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it an ideal project for crocheters who are comfortable with basic shaping and stitch pattern repeats and are ready to take on a more refined garment construction.

Finished Sizes and Fit

The Sweet Pea Vest is offered in four finished bust sizes:

• 36 inches
• 40 inches
• 44 inches
• 48 inches

Each size is carefully accounted for throughout the pattern instructions, with stitch counts, shaping rows, and finished lengths all clearly differentiated. The body length from the bottom edge to the shoulder measures between 20½ and 23½ inches depending on size, giving the vest a flattering, hip-grazing silhouette.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Amherst — a 100% Merino Wool yarn with approximately 109 yards per ball. You will need 7 (8, 9, 11) balls depending on your size. Merino wool is prized for its softness against the skin, excellent stitch definition, and natural elasticity, all of which make it especially well-suited to a textured stitch pattern like the one used here.
• Hook: Size H8 (5.00mm), or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge.
• Notions: A separating zipper (approximately 22 inches was used for the sample), plus needle and thread for inserting the zipper by hand.

Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for a well-fitting garment. The target gauge for the Sweet Pea Vest is 13 stitches and 12 rows to 4 inches in the pattern stitch. Crocheters should work a gauge swatch before beginning and adjust their hook size as needed.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The body of the vest is worked in a distinctive alternating double crochet and single crochet pattern stitch that creates a subtle, rhythmic texture throughout. This stitch pattern is easy to memorize after the first couple of rows and produces a fabric with excellent drape and visual interest.

• Double Crochet (DC) — used as the primary structural stitch in the pattern repeat
• Single Crochet (SC) — alternated with double crochet to create the textured fabric
• Chain (CH) — used for foundation chains and turning
• Slip Stitch (Sl) — used at the beginning of armhole shaping rows to set in the underarm
• Decrease (Dec) — worked by crocheting two stitches together in pattern, used to shape the armholes on both the back and front pieces

The pattern stitch repeat is straightforward: Row 1 establishes the alternating DC and SC sequence into the foundation chain, and Row 2 sets up the ongoing repeat by working DC into SC and SC into DC. This offset creates the characteristic woven-look texture of the Sweet Pea fabric.

Construction and Garment Pieces

The Sweet Pea Crocheted Vest is worked flat in three separate pieces before being assembled:

• Back: Begun with a foundation chain of 58 (64, 70, 78) stitches, the back is worked in pattern stitch until the armhole shaping begins. Stitches are slipped at the underarm, and decreases are