Treat the man in your life to a vintage-inspired sweater vest with a clever argyle design by Ruth Maddock. Whether you're making it as a gift for fathers day, or just want to jazz up your fella's wardrobe, this free crochet waistcoat pattern is bound to be a hit. Stay traditional with muted hues, or change things up with brights for snazzier chaps. No golfing skills necessary.
You will need
DMC Natura Medium (100% cotton, 50g/75m),
- Yarn A brown (89)
- Yarn B orange (109)
- Yarn C blue (177)
- 1 ball of Yarn D cream (31)
For quantities of Yarns A-C and measurements, see table below
- A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook
- A 4mm (US G/6) hook
- Buttons, 4 (23mm)
- Stitch markers
Tension
15½ sts and 8 rows to measure 10x10cm square over treble crochet using a 4mm hook or size needed to obtain tension
The st tension will be equal to 31 sts over 20cm
Abbreviations
You can find a full list of all abbreviations we use in our abbreviations and conversions guide. This pattern is written in UK terminology but you can easily convert it to US terms using the guide.
Notes
Worked in one piece from the bottom up to the armholes, including a colour pattern shown in the Chart on p94. Divide for the Front and Back at the armholes, and work each of the Front and Back pieces separately before joining the seams at the shoulders. An edging and buttonhole band is added to the front edges and armhole edges. Finally, embroidery stitching is worked in a contrast colour to complete the colour pattern.
When working the colour pattern, use a separate spool of yarn for each colour area. When changing colour, always bring the end of yarn from the finished colour to the front before joining in new colour. Change colour by drawing new colour through last 2 loops of last st of prev colour worked. Enclose the strand of yarn that forms at back of work, when working first st of the new colour.
Free mens crochet waistcoat pattern
Body
With a 4mm hook and Yarn A, ch155 (173: 189: 207).
Row 1 (WS) Tr in 4th ch from hook and in each ch to end, turn. [153 (171: 187: 205) sts]
Row 2 Ch3 (counts as first tr throughout), tr in each st to end, turn.
Rows 3-6 Rep Row 2, changing colour to (Yarn A for Small and Large sizes, Yarn B for Medium and Extra Large sizes) in last st worked.
Chart
On the Chart below, each square represents one tr st. RS rows are read from right to left, and WS rows from left to right.
For sizes Small and Large, use the entire chart. For these sizes work up to the end of the pattern repeat (st 42 on the Chart for a RS row, and st 9 for a WS row), then rep the 34 sts of the pattern repeat until the end of the row, when you cont working to the edge of the chart.
For sizes Medium and Extra Large, use the portion of the Chart between the blue lines. On a RS row you will work the pattern repeat section until the last st of the row, when you will work st 43 on the Chart. On a WS row, work st 43 first, and then rep the pattern repeat section until the end of the row. The first row is written out for you to help you to follow the Chart:
Small and Large sizes only
Row 7 (WS) Ch3, 7tr in Yarn A, 1tr Yarn B, *16tr Yarn A, 1tr Yarn C, 16tr Yarn A, 1tr Yarn B; rep from * to last 8 sts, tr in Yarn A to end, turn. [41½ (5½) pattern repeats]
Medium and Extra Large sizes only
Row 7 (WS) Using Yarn B ch3, *16tr Yarn A, 1tr Yarn C, 16tr Yarn A, 1tr Yarn B; rep from * to end, turn. [5 (6) pattern repeats]
Rows 8-23 Cont following the Chart. Rows 24-29 Rep Row 2 using Yarn A.
Divide for armholes
Right front
Row 1 (RS) Ch3, tr2tog, tr in each of next 29 (34: 37: 41) tr, tr2tog, turn leaving rem sts unworked. [32 (37: 40: 44) sts]
Row 2 Ch3, tr2tog, tr in each tr to last 2 tr, tr2tog, turn. [30 (35: 38: 42) sts]
Row 3 Ch3, tr2tog, tr in each tr to end, turn. [29 (34: 37: 41) sts]
Row 4 Ch3, tr2tog, tr in each tr to last 2 tr, tr2tog, turn. [27 (32: 35: 39) sts] Rep the last 2 rows 1 (1: 2: 3) more times. [24 (29: 29: 30) sts]
Now cont to decrease by 1 st at neck edge only on every row until there are 17 (21: 22: 24) tr. Then decrease at neck edge of next and every foll alt row 3 times. [14 (18: 19: 21) sts]
Now cont without shaping for five more rows.
Fasten off.
Back
With RS facing and a 4mm hook, skip the next 8 (8: 10: 10) tr, and rejoin Yarn A with ss to next tr.
Row 1 (RS) Ch3, tr2tog, tr in each of next 64 (72: 78: 88) tr, tr2tog, turn leaving rem sts unworked. [67 (75: 81: 91) sts]
Row 2 Rep Row 1. [65 (73: 79: 89) sts]
Row 3 Ch3, tr in each st to end, turn.
Rep the last 2 rows 2 (2: 3: 4) more times. [61 (69: 73: 81) sts]
Now cont without shaping until 22 (23: 25: 25) rows have been worked from divide.
Shape neck
Next row Ch3, tr in each of next 12 (16: 17: 19) tr, tr2tog. Fasten off. Skip the next 31 (31: 33: 37) tr, and rejoin Yarn A with ss to next tr: Ch3, tr2tog, tr in each tr to end. Fasten off.
Left front
With RS facing and a 4mm hook, skip the next 8 (8: 10: 10) tr and rejoin Yarn A with ss to next tr.
Row 1 (RS) Ch3, tr2tog, tr in each st to last 2 sts, tr2tog, turn. [32 (37: 40: 44) sts]
Row 2 Rep Row 1. [30 (35: 38: 42) sts]
Row 3 Ch3, tr in each tr to last 2 tr, tr2tog, turn. [29 (34: 37: 41) sts]
Row 4 Ch3, tr2tog, tr in each tr to last 2 tr, tr2tog, turn. [27 (32: 35: 39) sts]
Rep the last 2 rows 1 (1: 2: 3) more times. [24 (29: 29: 30) sts]
Now cont to decrease by 1 st at neck edge only on every row until there are 17 (21: 22: 24) tr. Then decrease at neck edge of next and every foll alt row 3 times. [14 (18: 19: 21) sts]
Now cont without shaping for five more rows. Fasten off.
To make up
Press on WS according to ball band instructions. Oversew shoulders tog from WS.
Border
Front and neck edge
With a 3.5mm hook and Yarn A, rejoin the yarn to the bottom right corner with RS facing.
Row 1 Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), work 51dc evenly along right front edge to beg of neck shaping. Work 1 more dc and place marker in this st, work 49 (51: 53: 55) dc to shoulder seam. Work 3dc into shaped edge of right back neck, place marker in the centre of these 3 sts. Work 31 (31: 33: 37) dc along back neck, work 3dc in shaped part of left back neck, place marker in the centre of these 3 sts, work 49 (51: 53: 55) dc to end of left front neck shaping. Work 1 dc and place marker in this st, work 51 dc along left front to end, change to Yarn C in last st worked, turn. [4 markers]
Row 2 Ch1, dc in each st to marker, 2dc in marked st, moving marker up to first of these sts, dc in each st to st before next marker, dc2tog over this st and marked st, move marker up to this st. Dc in each st to next marked st, dc2tog over marked st and next st, moving marker to this st. Dc in each st to last marker, 2dc in marked st, moving marker to second of these sts, dc in each st to end, turn.
Row 3 Ch1, dc in each st to end, moving markers up as you work, turn.
Row 4 Ch1, 3dc, *ch3, skip 3 dc, dc in next 12 dc; rep from * twice more, ch3, skip 3 dc, 2dc in marked st, moving marker up to the first of these sts. Dc in each st to st before next marker, dc2tog over this st and marked st, move marker up to this st. Dc in each st to next marked st, dc2tog over marked st and next st, moving marker to this st. Dc in each st to last marker, 2dc in marked st, moving marker to second of these sts, dc in each st to end, turn.
Rows 5-6 Repeat Row 3 followed by Row 2.
Fasten off.
Armhole edge
With a 3.5mm hook and Yarn A, rejoin the yarn to the centre of the 8 (8: 10: 10) underarm sts with RS facing.
Round 1 Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), dc in each of the rem underarm sts to last underarm st, mark last st. Work 2dc in each row end of the armhole round to first underarm st. Dc in the first underarm st, marking this st, dc in each st to complete the round, ss to first dc, changing to Yarn C, turn.
Round 2 Ch1, dc in each st to st before first marker, dc3tog over next 3 sts, moving marker to this st, dc in each st to st before next marker, dc3tog over next 3 sts, moving marker to this st, dc in each st to end, ss to first dc, turn.
Round 3 Ch1, dc in each st around moving markers up as you work, ss to first dc, turn.
Rounds 4-5 Repeat Rounds 2 and 3. Round 6 Repeat Round 2. Fasten off.
Embroidery
Mark work with pins to show location of running st lines, as shown by dashed lines on Chart. Using Yarn D, make long running stitches along these lines.
Sew buttons to button band to match buttonholes.
