Touch of Style

Cluster Stitches Vest

FINISHED SIZES

Instructions given fit woman’s size small; changes for medium, large, X-large, 2X-large and 3X-large are in [ ].

FINISHED MEASUREMENT

Bust: 371/2 [413/4, 46¼, 501/2, 531/2, 573/4] inches, including front edging

MATERIALS

• Premier Bamboo Fair light (DK) weight bamboo/cotton yarn (31/2 oz/

273 yds/100g per skein):

5 [6, 7, 7, 8, 9] skeins #1077–14

amethyst

• Size E/4/3.5mm crochet hook or

size needed to obtain gauge • 3/4-inch buttons: 2

• 3 stitch markers

• Tapestry needle

GAUGE

22 sts = 4 inches; 91/4 rows = 4 inches in Bodice Pattern

Take time to check gauge.

PATTERN NOTES

The lower body is worked from the beginning chain to the hem. The bodice is worked from the beginning chain to the shoulders.

Chain-3 at the beginning of row counts as first double crochet unless otherwise stated. Chain-4 at the beginning of row counts as first treble crochet unless otherwise stated. Chain-2 at the beginning of row does NOT count as a stitch. 1 shell counts as 5 stitches in the final stitch counts.

To work into a shell, work the indicated stitches into the chain space unless otherwise instructed.

Join with a slip stitch where indicated unless otherwise stated.

Weave in ends as work progresses.

SPECIAL STITCHES

Cluster (cl): (Yo, insert hook in indicated st or sp, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull lp through 2 lps on hook) 3 times, yo, pull through all 4 lps on hook.

Shell: ( Cl— see Special Stitches, ch 3, cl) in indicated st or sp. Single crochet join (sc join):

Place slip knot on hook, insert hook in indicated st, yo and pull up a lp, yo and draw through both lps on hook.

STITCH PATTERNS

Bodice Pattern (Gauge Swatch) (multiple of 8 sts + 3—shell counts as 5 sts)

Row 1 (RS): Ch 29, 2 dc in 4th ch from hook (sk chs count as first dc), sk 3 chs * shell (see

Special Stitches) in next ch, sk 3 chs, 3 dc in next ch, sk 3 chs; rep from * to last 6 chs, shell in next ch, sk 3 chs, 2 dc in next ch, dc in last ch, turn. Row 2: Ch 3 (see Pattern Notes), dc in next 2 dc, *shell in ch-3 sp of next shell, dc in next 3 dc; rep from * across, ending with last dc in top of turning ch, turn.

Rep row 2 for Bodice Pattern.

Lace Pattern (multiple of

10 sts + 1, plus 1 turning ch)

Row 1 (WS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, sk next ch, *sc in each of next 2 chs**, ch 3, sk next 3 chs, rep from * across to last 2 chs, ending last rep at **, ch 1, sc in last ch, turn.

Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, sc in first st, sc in next sp, *ch 3, sk next 2 sc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sk next 2 sc**, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next ch-3 sp, rep from * across to last ch-1 sp, ending last rep at **, sc in next sp, sc in last st, turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first sc, *ch 3, sk next sc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, sk next sc**, sc in next ch-2 sp, rep from * across to last st, ending last rep at **, sc in last sc, turn. Row 4: Ch 4 (see Pattern Notes) *dc in each of next 2 dc, (dc, ch 5, dc) in next dc, dc in each of next 2 dc**, sk next sc, rep from * across, ending last rep at **, tr in last sc, turn.

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 1, sk next 3 dc, ([dc, ch 1] 4 times, dc) in next ch-5 sp, ch 1, sk next 3 dc**, sc between previous and next dc, rep from * across to last st, ending last rep at **, sc in top of turning ch, turn.

Row 6: Ch 4, [sk next dc, cl in next sp, ch 2] 3 times, sk next dc, cl in next sp, sk next dc**, sk next sc, rep from * across to last st, ending last rep at **, tr in top of turning ch, turn.

Row 7: Ch 3 (counts as hdc plus ch-1), sk next cl, *2 sc in next sp**, ch 3, sk next 2 cl, rep from * across to last cl, ending last rep at **, ch 1, sk last cl, hdc in top of turning ch, turn.

Rep rows 2–7 for Lace Pattern.

VEST LOWER BODY

Row 1 (WS): Ch 242 [272, 302, 332, 352, 382], work row 1

of Lace Pattern (see Pattern Stitches). (98 [110, 122, 134, 142, 154] sc, 47 [53, 59, 65, 69, 75] ch-3 sps, 2 ch-1 sps) Rows 2–42: [ Rep Lace Pattern rows 2–7] 6 times, then rep rows 2–6.