This vest is made thick and warm like a coat. Dress up with a long sleeve top or thermal and a pair of leggings and cute little boots!

All crochet terms are US terms. If you would like to buy a printable pdf you can buy it here in my Etsy Store.



Materials:
Yarn: Category 4 yarn.
Hook: 6.0 mm
Buttons
Tapestry needle

Abbreviations:

ch: chain
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
hhdc: herringbone half double crochet
ss: slip stitch

With 2 strands held together ch 44
Row1: hhdc in third ch from hook and all remaining stitches. 42
Row2: with stitch markers mark the 8th, 13th, 29th, 34th stitch. Ch2 turn, hhdc in each stitch except the ones with stitch markers. We are going to do 3 hhdc in each stitch(referred to as 3 stitch cluster here on) with a stitch marker. 50

Row3: ch2 turn, work 1 hhdc in each stitch across except the middle stitch from the 3 stitch clusters of the previous row. We are going to work 3 hhdc in each of the middle stitches. 58

Here on every row will increase by 8 stitches.
For size 2T:  repeat Row3, seven times.
For size 3T: repeat Row3, eight times.
For size 4T; repeat row 3, nine times.

Making the armholes:

Row1: ch2 turn, work 1 hhdc in each stitch until you reach the middle stitch of first 3 stitch cluster. Work 1 hhdc in the middle stitch, ch 4, work 1 hhdc in the middle stitch of the next 3 cluster stitch. We are skipping all the remaining stitches between the 3 cluster stitches. Work 1 hhdc until you reach the middle stitch of the next 3 cluster stitch. Work 1 hhdc into the middle stitch, ch 4 work 1 hhdc into the middle stitch of the next cluster. Work 1 hhdc until you reach the end of the row.

Now your work should start looking like a vest.

Bodice:

Row1: ch2 turn, work 1 hhdc into each stitch across.

For size 2T: Repeat Row1 of bodice fifteen times.
For size 3T: Repeat Row1 of bodice sixteen times.
For size 4T: Repeat Row1 of bodice seventeen times.

Belt R1: ch1 turn, sc across.

Skirt:

Row1: ch 2 turn, 2 hhdc in ach stitch across.
Row2-5: ch 2 turn, work 1 hhdc in each stitch across.

Edging:

With CC we will crochet hdc stitches along the bottom, go up the front of one side, around the neck and come down the other side and join back to where we started.

Change to CC. Ch2 turn, work 1 hdc across, working a total of 3 stitches in the last stitch of the row. Rotate your work and even work hdc stitches along the front of one side of the vest. Work 3 hdc in the corner stitch and 1 hdc along each stitch of the neck, which is the foundation ch row. Work 3 hdc in the other corner of the neck, and rotate to work hdc stitches along the other front side of the vest. Work 2 stitches in the first stitch of CC, join with a ss and fasten off.

Armhole edging: 
Join CC in the middle of the armhole, facing right side of the vest, work 1 hdc stitch around, join with a ss and fasten off. Repeat for other armhole.

Attach buttons, use the hdc edging as button holes 😊

Add a simple flower if you like or leave it plain 😊

Note: I did start with sleeves initially but decided to keep it a vest. If you want to add sleeves attach your arm in the middle of the under arm and work a hhdc in stitch around decreasing 2 stitches in the first 2 rows. Always join and turn your rows to have the same texture as the bodice. Also, when you join the arm in the underarm be mindful of the direction. You will notice it immediately after a few stitches if the direction is not right.