The Wilder Vest- Free Crochet Pattern
Get ready for cooler days with The Wilder Vest. This modern take on a classic style is perfect for ambitious beginners to intermediate crocheters. The beautiful linen stitch works up quickly and will look great in your favorite color of Heartland Yarn. Find the free pattern below or grab a digital PDF in my shop.
Do you remember the Wesson Vest knitting pattern from last year? Well, let me introduce you to her crochet sister Wilder! Since releasing the Wesson Vest I’ve gotten so many requests for a crochet version and I’m thrilled to be able to bring it to you now. This may be my favorite set of sister designs because they look so similar to each other.
I of course had to use the amazingly soft Heartland Yarn from Lion Brand again, but this time in a slightly darker brown called Mammoth Cave. Heartland comes in so many beautiful colors so you’ll be able to make one to suit your style perfectly.
The Wilder Vest works up so fast too! I love the linen (aka moss or granite) stitch so much. It creates a gorgeous fabric with amazing drape. The vest is made in three pieces and then seamed at the shoulders and sides. There is armhole shaping, but I promise it’s super easy to do. The front pieces overlap in the front and the optional belt keeps it in place. The collar is added directly onto the neckline using applied single crochet ribbing. You could easily complete this vest and be rocking it by the end of the weekend!
The Wilder Vest Crochet Pattern
Materials:
963-1844 yards of Lion Brand Heartland in Mammoth Cave or similar weight 4 yarn
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Gauge:
16 sts and 16 rows in pattern stitch = 4” square after blocking.
Repeat Rows 1-2 of back panel for pattern stitch.
Abbreviations:
ch- chain
st(s)- stitch(es)
RS- right side
WS- wrong side
sl st- slip stitch
sc- single crochet
BLO- back loop only
FLO- front loop only
scsldec- single crochet slip stitch decrease *see special stitches*
Special Stitches:
Single crochet slip stitch decrease (scsldec): worked over two stitches, insert hook into first st, yo and draw up a loop, insert hook into second st, yo and draw up a loop, draw that loop through both loops on hook. One stitch decreased.
Size:
XS: fits bust 28-30” (approx. 963 yards) 4 skeins
S: fits bust 32-34” (approx. 1060 yards) 5 skeins
M: fits bust 36-38” (approx. 1157 yards) 5 skeins
L: fits bust 40-42” (approx. 1280 yards) 6 skeins
XL: fits bust 44-46” (approx. 1378 yards) 6 skeins
2X: fits bust 48-50” (approx. 1504 yards) 6 skeins
3X: fits bust 52-54” (approx. 1607 yards) 7 skeins
4X: fits bust 56-58” (approx. 1742 yards) 7 skeins
5X: fits bust 60-62” (approx. 1844 yards) 8 skeins
Notes:
1.Pattern is worked in three panels and seamed at the shoulders and sides. The collar is then worked directly from the neckline. A simple edging is then added to the armholes and around the front and bottom of the vest.
2.The belt and belt loops are optional.
3.The vest will overlap in the front by approx. 3.5-5.5”
Video Tutorials:
Pattern:
Back: make one
Ch 70(78, 86, 94, 102, 110, 118, 126, 134)
Main Back:
Row 1(WS): sc in 2nd ch from hook, *ch 1, sk 1, sc, repeat from * across, ch 1, turn. (69(77, 85, 93, 101, 109, 117, 125, 133)
Row 2 (RS): sc in 1st st, *sc in ch 1-sp, ch 1, sk 1, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (69(77, 85, 93, 101, 109, 117, 125, 133)
Row 3 (WS): sc in 1st st, ch 1, sk 1, *sc in ch- sp, ch 1, sk 1, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (69(77, 85, 93, 101, 109, 117, 125, 133)
Repeat Rows 2 & 3, ending on a Row 2 repeat for a total of 72(70, 68, 68, 66, 66, 64, 64, 62) rows
Arm Hole Shaping:
You will now be decreasing on both sides in order to create the arm holes.
Row 1: sl st 4(4, 6, 6, 8, 8, 10, 10, 12) *sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1, repeat from * until 5(5, 7, 7, 9, 9, 11, 11, 13) sts remain, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, turn. (61(69, 73, 81, 85, 93, 97, 105, 109)
XS/S/M/L/XL/2X-ONLY
Row 2: sk 1st st, *sc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, scsldec over last 2 sts, ch 1, turn. (59(67, 71, 79, 83, 91)
Repeat Row 2 1(4, 6, 7, 7, 9) times. (57(59, 59, 65, 69, 73)
Move on to Upper Back.
3X/4X/5X- ONLY
Row 2: sl st 2(4, 4) sc in 1st st, sc in ch-1 sp, *ch 1, sk 1, sc in ch-1 sp, repeat from * until 3(5, 5) sts remain, sc in next st, ch 1, turn. (93(97, 101)
Row 3: sc2tog, sc in ch-1 sp, *ch 1, sk 1, sc in ch-1 sp, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (91(95, 99)
Repeat Row 3 9(10, 12) times. (73(75, 75)
Move on to Upper Back.
Upper Back:
XS/S/M/L/XL/2X-ONLY
Row 1: sc in 1st st, sc in ch 1-sp, *ch 1, sk 1, sc in ch-1 sp, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (57(59, 59, 65, 69, 73)
Row 2: sc in 1st st, ch 1, sk 1, *sc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (57(59, 59, 65, 69, 73)
Repeat Rows 1-2 for a total of 23(23, 23, 23, 25, 25) rows, ending on a Row 1 repeat.
3X/4X/5X- ONLY
Row 1: sc in 1st st, ch 1, sk 1, *sc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1, repeat from * until st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (73(75, 75)
Row 2: sc in 1st st, sc in ch 1-sp, *ch 1, sk 1, sc in ch-1 sp, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (73(75, 75)
Repeat Rows 1-2 for a total of 27(27, 27) rows, ending on a Row 1 repeat.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for seaming.
Total Back Panel Rows 98(99, 98, 100, 100, 102, 103, 104, 104)
Front Panels: make two
Ch 46(50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78)
Main Back:
Row 1(WS): sc in 2nd ch from hook, *ch 1, sk 1, sc, repeat from * across, ch 1, turn. (45(49, 53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77)
Row 2 (RS): sc in 1st st, sc in ch 1-sp, *ch 1, sk 1, sc in ch-1 sp, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (45(49, 53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77)
Row 3 (WS): sc in 1st st, ch 1, sk 1, *sc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (45(49, 53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77)
Repeat Rows 2 & 3, ending on a Row 2 repeat for a total of 72(70, 68, 68, 66, 66, 64, 64, 62) rows
Arm Hole Shaping:
You will now be decreasing on one side in order to create the arm hole.
Row 1: sl st 4(4, 6, 6, 8, 8, 10, 10, 12) *sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (41(45, 47, 51, 53, 57, 59, 63, 65)
XS/S/M/L/XL/2X-ONLY
Row 2: sc in 1st st, *sc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, scsldec over last 2 sts, ch 1, turn. (40(44, 46, 50, 52, 56)
Row 3: sk 1, sc in ch- sp, *ch 1, sk 1, sc in ch-1 sp, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, ch 1, sk 1, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (39(43, 45, 49, 51, 55)
XS-ONLY
Move on to Upper Front.
S/M/L/XL/2X- ONLY
Repeat Rows 2-3 1(2, 3, 3, 4) times. (41(41, 43, 45, 47)
S-ONLY
Repeat Row 2 once. (40)
Move on to Upper Front.
3X/4X/5X- ONLY
Row 2: sc in 1st st, *sc in ch- sp, ch 1, sk 1, repeat from * until 3(5, 5) sts remain, sc in next st, ch 1, turn. (57(59, 61)
Row 3: sc2tog, sc in ch-1 sp, *ch 1, sk 1, sc in ch-1 sp, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, ch , sk 1, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (56(58, 60)
Row 4: sc in 1st st, *sc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, scsldec over last 2 sts, ch 1, turn. (55(57, 59)
Repeat Rows 3-4 4(4, 5) times. (47(49, 49)
3X-ONLY
Move on to Upper Front.
4X/5X-ONLY
Repeat Row 3 once more. (48(48)
Move on to Upper Front.
Upper Front:
XS/M/L/XL/2X-ONLY
Row 1: sc in 1st st, sc in ch 1-sp, *ch 1, sk 1, sc in ch-1 sp, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (39(41, 43, 45, 47)
Row 2: sc in 1st st, ch 1, sk 1, *sc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (39(41, 43, 45, 47)
Repeat Rows 1-2 for a total of 23(23, 23, 25, 25) rows, ending on a Row 1 repeat.
S/4X/5X-ONLY
Row 1: sc in 1st st, sc in ch-1 sp, *ch 1, sk 1, sc in ch-1 sp, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (40(48, 48)
Repeat Row 1 for a total of 23 rows.
3X- ONLY
Row 1: sc in 1st st, ch 1, sk 1, *sc in ch-1 sp, ch-1, sk 1, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (47)
Row 2: sc in 1st st, sc in ch 1-sp, *ch 1, sk 1, sc in ch- sp, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sc in last st, ch 1, turn. (47)
Repeat Rows 1-2 for a total of 27 rows, ending on a Row 1 repeat.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for seaming.
Total Front Panel Rows 98(99, 98, 100, 100, 102, 103, 104, 104)
Seaming:
Lay the panels RS down with shoulders touching. Then using your preferred seaming method, seam the shoulders from the outside in 3(3, 3.25, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.5, 4.5, 4.5) inches each side. You will have approx. 8-10” of unworked stitches along the back panel for the neckline. The front panels will overlap.
Then fold the vest in half so the shoulder seams are at the top. Seam the sides together from the bottom to the armholes using your preferred seaming method.
Move on to collar.
Collar:
With I(5.5mm) hook, and with the WS facing you, attach yarn to edge of neckline on the left side. (see photo)
Ch 19
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, sl st into next 2 sts along neckline, turn. (18sc, 2 sl sts)
Row 2: sk 2 sl sts, sc in BLO of each st across, ch 1, turn. (18)
Row 3: sc BLO in each st across, sl st into next 2 sts along neckline, turn. (18sc, 2 sl sts)
Repeat Rows 2&3 all the way around the neckline. Fasten off.
Edging:
To finish the Wesson you will be adding two rounds/rows of edging around the arm holes and along the front and bottom of the panels.
With H(5.0mm) hook, and RS of vest facing you, attach yarn to top left side of vest at the edge of the collar, ch 1,
Row 1: sc in each st and end of row going down the front left panel, along the bottom of the vest and back up the right panel until you’ve reached the end of the collar, adding 2 extra stitches at the bottom corners of each side of the vest, ch , turn.
Row 2: sl st into each st.
Fasten off.
Armholes:
Starting in the underarm seam, with the RS facing you, attach yarn with an H(5.0mm) hook, ch 1.
Round 1: sc in each st and end of row going all the way around the armhole, sl st to 1st st to join, ch 1, turn.
Round 2: sl st into each st around, sl st to 1st st to join.
Fasten off. Repeat on second armhole.
Belt: (make one)
With H(5.0mm) hook, Ch 326(326, 326, 336, 336, 346, 346, 346, 346).
Row 1: sl 1st st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, ch , turn. (325(325, 325, 335, 335, 345, 345, 345, 345)
Row 2: sl st into FLO of each st across, ch 1, turn. (325(325, 325, 335, 335, 345, 345, 345, 345)
Repeat Row 2 until belt measures approx. 1.5 inches wide.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Belt Loops: (make two)
With H(5.0mm) hook, Ch 11.
Row 1: sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each st across. (10)
Fasten off.
Using a tapestry needle, attach belt loops to the sides of the vest along the seam at your natural waist. Approx. 4-5” from the edge of the armhole.
Weave in any remaining ends and block if needed.
Thread belt through loops and enjoy!
I hope you love your new Wilder Vest! As always you can find a PDF version of this pattern in my shop, Etsy or Ravelry. Or you can grab a complete kit from Lion Brand Yarn!
If you make a Wilder Vest I’d love to see it. Make sure to tag me @meghanmakesdo on social media and use #thewildervest so I can share.
Happy Crocheting,
Meghan
