MARINA COLOR-BLOCK VEST

A beginner-friendly modern kimono-style vest in blue and white

An oversized, sleeveless open-front vest worked in half double crochet. Three simple rectangles, no shaping, no granny squares. A white hem and a graphic diagonal colorwork band give a clean, modern look; the rest of the body is solid blue. Dropped shoulders and a boxy kimono fit.

Skill level: Beginner (hdc throughout; short section of 2-color tapestry crochet)

SIZES

S/M (L/XL, 2XL/3XL)

To fit bust 34–40 (42–48, 50–56)" / 86.5–101.5 (106.5–122, 127–142) cm with generous positive ease.

Instructions are written for S/M with L/XL and 2XL/3XL in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

The vest is designed to be worn open. Bust is back + both fronts.

MATERIALS

Yarn: Worsted weight (CYC 4). Cotton or a cotton/bamboo blend drapes best; acrylic or wool blends give more structure.

MC (Blue) — 650 (850, 1100) yd / 595 (775, 1005) m
CC (White) — 400 (500, 650) yd / 365 (455, 595) m

Example: 4 (5, 6) skeins MC and 2 (3, 4) skeins CC of a 200 yd / 183 m worsted.

Hook: US I/9 (5.5 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge. Optional: US H/8 (5 mm) for a slightly firmer edging.

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, 4 stitch markers, measuring tape.

GAUGE

14 hdc and 11 rows = 4" (10 cm) in hdc, blocked.

3.5 sts = 1" (2.5 cm); 2.75 rows = 1" (2.5 cm).

Check gauge and change hook size if needed. Fit is oversized, so a small gauge difference is forgiving, but length and armhole depth will shift if row gauge is off.

ABBREVIATIONS (US)

• CC — contrast color (white)
• ch — chain
• hdc — half double crochet
• MC — main color (blue)
• rep — repeat
• RS — right side
• sc — single crochet
• sl st — slip stitch
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• WS — wrong side
• yo — yarn over

PATTERN NOTES

• Vest is worked flat in rows in three rectangles: 1 Back and 2 Fronts. There is no armhole shaping, no waist shaping, and no sleeves.
• Turning ch-1 does not count as a stitch. Work the first hdc in the first stitch of every row so the count stays even.
• Stitch count stays the same on every row of each piece.
• Length is easy to customize: add or subtract rows in the solid MC section only, so the color band still matches at the side seams.
• Diagonals meet at the side seams in a chevron. This is intentional.

Colorwork (tapestry crochet)

• Two colors are used together only on the 16-row Chart A band.
• Change color on the last yo of the last stitch in the old color: yo with the new color and draw through all loops to finish the hdc.
• Carry the unused color along the top of the previous row and work each hdc over it so the yarn is encased inside the stitch. This is tapestry crochet; it hides the carried yarn. Maximum color run is 4 sts, so floats stay short.
• Do not cut yarn between Chart A rows. Drop the unused color at the end of the row and pick it up on the way back.
• Keep carried yarn relaxed so the fabric does not pucker. If the band draws in, go up a hook size for those 16 rows only.

How to read the chart

• Each square = 1 hdc.
• Rows are numbered from the bottom up. Odd rows are RS; even rows are WS.
• RS rows (odd): read right to left.
• WS rows (even): read left to right.
• Repeat the 8-st box across the whole row: 10 (12, 14) times on the Back; 5 (6, 7) times on each Front.
• Written row instructions are also given if you prefer not to follow the grid.

CHARTS

Color key

□ = MC (Blue)
■ = CC (White)

CHART A: Graphic Diagonal

8 sts × 8 rows (repeat 8-st box across; work the 8-row chart twice for 16 rows total)

 8:  ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■
 7:  ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■
 6:  ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■
 5:  □ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■
 4:  □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □
 3:  □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □
 2:  □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □
 1:  ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ □

Repeat: 8 sts × 8 rows. Two vertical repeats = 16 rows.

BACK

With CC, ch 81 (97, 113).

Row 1 (RS): Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. 80 (96, 112) hdc ✓ [80 ÷ 8 = 10 repeats; 96 ÷ 8 = 12 repeats; 112 ÷ 8 = 14 repeats ✓]

Rows 2–8: Ch 1, hdc in each st across, turn. 80 (96, 112) hdc. (8 CC rows ✓)

Join MC at the end of Row 8 (finish the last hdc with MC). Do not cut CC.

Chart A band

Work Chart A across all sts. Carry the unused color and work over it. Written rows below match the chart.

Chart Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, *4 hdc in CC, 4 hdc in MC; rep from * across, turn. 80 (96, 112) hdc ✓

Chart Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, *1 hdc in MC, 4 hdc in CC, 3 hdc in MC; rep from * across, turn. (1 + 4 + 3 = 8) ✓

Chart Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, *2 hdc in MC, 4 hdc in CC, 2 hdc in MC; rep from * across, turn. (2 + 4 + 2 = 8) ✓

Chart Row 4 (WS): Ch 1, *3 hdc in MC, 4 hdc in CC, 1 hdc in MC; rep from * across, turn. (3 + 4 + 1 = 8) ✓

Chart Row 5 (RS): Ch 1, *4 hdc in CC, 4 hdc in MC; rep from * across, turn.

Chart Row 6 (WS): Ch 1, *1 hdc in CC, 4 hdc in MC, 3 hdc in CC; rep from * across, turn. (1 + 4 + 3 = 8) ✓

Chart Row 7 (RS): Ch 1, *2 hdc in CC, 4 hdc in MC, 2 hdc in CC; rep from * across, turn. (2 + 4 + 2 = 8) ✓

Chart Row 8 (WS): Ch 1, *3 hdc in CC, 4 hdc in MC, 1 hdc in CC; rep from * across, turn. (3 + 4 + 1 = 8) ✓

Chart Rows 9–16: Rep Chart Rows 1–8 once more. (8 + 8 = 16 chart rows ✓)

Cut CC, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail. Continue with MC only.

Upper body

Next row (RS): Ch 1, hdc in each st across with MC, turn. 80 (96, 112) hdc.

Continue in hdc with MC until the Back measures 21¾ (24, 26¼)" / 56 (61, 66.5) cm from the foundation chain, ending after a WS row — 36 (42, 48) MC rows after the chart; 8 + 16 + 36 (42, 48) = 60 (66, 72) rows total ✓

Fasten off, leaving a 24" (61 cm) tail for one shoulder seam (or fasten off normally and seam with a separate length later).

FRONT (make 2)

Both fronts are identical rectangles. Left and right are created at seaming.

With CC, ch 41 (49, 57).

Row 1 (RS): Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. 40 (48, 56) hdc ✓ [40 ÷ 8 = 5 repeats; 48 ÷ 8 = 6 repeats; 56 ÷ 8 = 7 repeats ✓]

Rows 2–8: Ch 1, hdc in each st across, turn. 40 (48, 56) hdc. (8 CC rows ✓)

Join MC at the end of Row 8. Do not cut CC.

Work Chart Rows 1–16 exactly as for the Back (same written rows, repeating the 8-st sequence across). 40 (48, 56) hdc every row ✓

Cut CC. Continue with MC only.

Work even in hdc with MC until the Front matches the Back row-for-row: 60 (66, 72) rows total; 8 + 16 + 36 (42, 48) = 60 (66, 72) ✓

Piece should measure 21¾ (24, 26¼)" / 56 (61, 66.5) cm from the foundation chain. Fasten off.

Make a second Front the same way.

FINISHING

Weave in ends except those you plan to use for seaming. Block the three pieces to the finished widths and length (see Blocking) before seaming so the colorwork band lies flat.

Shoulder seams

Lay Back RS up. Place Fronts RS up on top, outer edges even with the Back’s outer edges.

On each side, seam the outer 24 (28, 32) sts of the Front to the matching 24 (28, 32) sts of the Back using whip stitch or mattress stitch.

Shoulder 24 (28, 32) sts = 6¾ (8, 9¼)" ✓
Back neck left open: 80 − 24 − 24 = 32 sts (S/M); 96 − 28 − 28 = 40 sts (L/XL); 112 − 32 − 32 = 48 sts (2XL/3XL) ✓
Inner Front sts left open for neckline: 40 − 24 = 16 (S/M); 48 − 28 = 20 (L/XL); 56 − 32 = 24 (2XL/3XL) ✓

The unseamed center of the Back is the back neck. The unseamed inner edge of each Front is the front opening.

Side seams

Fold at the shoulders. Starting at the hem, seam each side for 13 (13¾, 14½)" / 33 (35, 37) cm, leaving the remainder open for the armhole.

Armhole opening: 21¾ − 13 = 8¾" (S/M); 24 − 13¾ = 10¼" (L/XL); 26¼ − 14½ = 11¾" (2XL/3XL) ✓

Match the white hem and Chart A band at each side seam before stitching. Use whip stitch or mattress stitch in the matching color for each section (CC on the hem and band, MC above).

Armhole edging

With RS facing, join CC at the underarm seam of one armhole.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 1 sc in each row-end around the armhole, join with sl st to first sc. 48 (56, 64) sc ✓ (24 + 24 = 48; 28 + 28 = 56; 32 + 32 = 64 row-ends ✓)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join. Fasten off.

Repeat for the second armhole. If the edge flares, use the smaller hook for Rnd 2. Do not tighten the armhole — the dropped-shoulder fit should stay open and boxy.

Outer edging (fronts, neck, and hem)

With RS facing, join CC at the left side seam on the hem (or at any hem corner).

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around the entire outer edge as follows:

• Hem and other horizontal edges: 1 sc in each st.
• Vertical front edges: 1 sc in each row-end.
• Back neck: 1 sc in each unseamed st.
• Corners (bottom of each front): 3 sc in the corner st.

Join with sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, working 3 sc in each corner sc. Join. Fasten off.

Tip: If a front edge tightens and shortens, add a few extra sc along that edge on Rnd 1 (about 1 extra sc every 3–4 row-ends). If it ruffles, skip a row-end now and then.

Optional ties

With MC, ch 60 (or to 12–14" / 30.5–35.5 cm). Sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Fasten off. Make 2.

Attach one tie to each front edge at about 4–6" / 10–15 cm below the shoulder, or at the natural waist. Wear open, loosely tied, or overlapping.

BLOCKING

Colorwork looks sharper after blocking.

1. Soak pieces (or the finished vest) in cool water with a little wool wash or mild soap for 15–20 minutes.
2. Squeeze out water — do not wring. Roll in a towel.
3. Pin to the finished measurements, especially the Chart A band, so diagonals are even and the hem is straight. Do not over-stretch; crochet hdc already has less drape than knitting, and cotton can grow.
4. Let dry completely before unpinning.

Steam-blocking is fine for acrylic: hover the iron, do not press the colorwork flat under the iron.

SCHEMATIC (not to scale)

            |← back neck 9¼ (11½, 13¾)" →|
     _______/                            \_______
    |  sh.  |                            |  sh.  |
    | 6¾    |         BACK               | 6¾    |
    |(8, 9¼)|         22¾ (27½, 32)"     |(8, 9¼)|
    |_______|____________________________|_______|  ← shoulder line
    |                                          |
    |              armhole 8¾ (10¼, 11¾)"      |
    |← 11½ →|                        |← 11½ →|  ← each front
    |(13¾, 16)"                      |(13¾, 16)"
    |_______|—— side seam 13 (13¾, 14½)" ——|_______|
    |     CC hem + Chart A band (both pieces)    |
    |____________________________________________|
         length 21¾ (24, 26¼)" from hem to shoulder
         bust 45¾ (54¾, 64)" (back + 2 fronts)

Wear open over a tank, tee, or dress. The white hem, diagonal band, and blue body read as modern color blocking from across the room — no squares, no fuss.