purlJam

# The Easy Breezy Vest
### A Loose-Fit Short-Sleeve Pullover Vest

A relaxed, beginner-friendly pullover vest with casual drop-shoulder short sleeves. Worked flat in two simple rectangles using single and half double crochet, then seamed and finished with quick ribbed edging. No buttons, no zippers—just pull it on and go.

---

## Skill Level
**Beginner** — only chain, single crochet, half double crochet, and slip stitch are used. All shaping is done by adding or skipping stitches at row edges (no decreases mid-row).

---

## Materials
- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Medium / #4), smooth fiber recommended.
  - **Yardage by size:** approx. 850 (950, 1100, 1250, 1400) yds
- **Hook:** US H-8 / 5.0 mm (main fabric) and US G-6 / 4.0 mm (ribbed edging)
- **Notions:** Yarn needle, stitch markers (4–6), scissors, measuring tape

---

## Sizes
Written for **S (M, L, XL, 2XL)**. Sample shown in size **M**.

| Measurement | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finished chest (loose) | 40 in | 44 in | 48 in | 52 in | 56 in |
| Panel width (each) | 20 in | 22 in | 24 in | 26 in | 28 in |
| Length to underarm | 14 in | 15 in | 15 in | 16 in | 16 in |
| Sleeve depth (added) | 6 in | 6 in | 6.5 in | 6.5 in | 7 in |
| Shoulder span (with sleeves) | 30 in | 32 in | 34 in | 36 in | 38 in |
| Neck opening (flat) | 10 in | 10 in | 10.5 in | 10.5 in | 11 in |

*Designed with 4–6 in of positive ease for a loose fit. Choose a size 4–6 in larger than your actual chest.*

---

## Gauge
**14 hdc × 11 rows = 4 in (10 cm)** in half double crochet with US H-8 / 5.0 mm hook.
- Stitches per inch: 3.5
- Rows per inch: 2.75

⚠️ **Gauge matters for fit.** Make a 5 × 5 in swatch and adjust hook size to match before starting.

---

## Abbreviations (US Terms)
- **ch** — chain
- **sc** — single crochet
- **hdc** — half double crochet
- **sl st** — slip stitch
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **BLO** — back loop only
- **RS / WS** — right side / wrong side
- **rep** — repeat

---

## Pattern Notes
- The vest is made from **two identical rectangular panels** (Front and Back), each with built-in drop-shoulder short sleeves. Panels are seamed at the shoulders, sleeve tops, and sides.
- **Turning chain:** The beginning **ch-1 does NOT count as a stitch.** Work your first hdc into the very first stitch.
- Work in **both loops** unless BLO is specified (BLO is used only for the ribbed edging).
- **Stitch counts** are given in parentheses at the end of each row.
- The neckline is formed by working only the shoulder sections separately, leaving a center gap that becomes the neck opening.
- Numbers are written as **S (M, L, XL, 2XL)**. Where only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.

### Sample size used in instructions below: **M**
Panel width = 77 sts; rows to underarm = 41; sleeve rows = 17; neck = 36 sts; each shoulder = 38 sts.

**Stitch counts by size:**

| | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body cast-on (sts) | 70 | 77 | 84 | 91 | 98 |
| Rows to underarm | 39 | 41 | 41 | 44 | 44 |
| Sts added each side (sleeve) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Total width w/ sleeves (sts) | 106 | 113 | 120 | 127 | 134 |
| Adjusted total (even) | 106 | 112 | 120 | 128 | 134 |
| Sleeve rows | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 |
| Neck sts (center) | 34 | 36 | 36 | 38 | 38 |
| Each shoulder (sts) | 36 | 38 | 42 | 45 | 48 |

*Math check (M): 112 total − 36 neck = 76 ÷ 2 = 38 sts each shoulder. ✓*

---

## INSTRUCTIONS

### PANEL (make 2 — Front and Back identical)

#### Foundation
**Row 1 (RS):** Ch 78. Working in the second ch from hook and each ch across, hdc in each ch. Turn. **(77 hdc)**
*Foundation ch counts: 78 ch − 1 (turning) = 77 hdc. ✓*

#### Body
**Rows 2–41:** Ch 1 (does not count as st), hdc in each st across. Turn. **(77 hdc)**

Piece should measure approx. **22 in wide × 15 in tall.**
*Check: 41 rows ÷ 2.75 = 14.9 in ≈ 15 in. ✓*

---

### ADD SHORT SLEEVES (Drop-Shoulder Extensions)
You will now widen the panel by adding stitches at both ends. This forms the simple short sleeves.

**Setting up the added stitches:** Before the next row, loosely chain 18 to extend the sleeve on the working side. The opposite side will be extended using a foundation chain joined at the start of the following row.

**Row 42 (RS):** Ch 19. Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 17 ch (18 hdc made into the new chain), then hdc in each of the 77 body sts across. Turn. **(95 hdc)**
*Check: 18 + 77 = 95. ✓*

**Row 43 (WS):** Ch 19. Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 17 ch (18 hdc), then hdc in each of the remaining 95 sts across. Turn. **(113 hdc)**
*Check: 18 + 95 = 113.*

**Adjustment for even neck split:** On this row, work the final stitch as a hdc2tog (or simply skip the very last stitch) to bring the count to **112 hdc**, giving symmetric shoulders.
*Check: 112 − 36 neck = 76 ÷ 2 = 38 each side. ✓*

**Rows 44–58 (15 rows):** Ch 1, hdc in each st across. Turn. **(112 hdc)**

Sleeve section should measure approx. **6 in tall** from the widening row.
*Check: rows 42–58 = 17 rows ÷ 2.75 = 6.2 in ≈ 6 in. ✓*

---

### SHAPE NECKLINE (work shoulders separately)
You will now work only the two shoulder sections, leaving the center 36 sts unworked to form the neck opening.

**Right Shoulder**
**Row 59 (RS):** Ch 1, hdc in each of the first 38 sts. Turn, leaving remaining 74 sts unworked. **(38 hdc)**
**Rows 60–62:** Ch 1, hdc in each st across. Turn. **(38 hdc)**
Fasten off.

**Left Shoulder**
With RS facing, skip the center 36 sts and rejoin yarn in the next st.
**Row 59 (RS):** Ch 1, hdc in this st and each of the last 38 sts. Turn. **(38 hdc)**
**Rows 60–62:** Ch 1, hdc in each st across. Turn. **(38 hdc)**
Fasten off.

*Check: 38 + 36 + 38 = 112. ✓*

Repeat the entire Panel (Foundation through Neckline) for the second piece.

---

## ASSEMBLY

1. **Shoulder seams:** Lay Front and Back with RS together. Seam each shoulder (the 38-st sections) using whip stitch or sl st. Leave the center 36-st neck gap open on both panels—these align to form the neck opening.

2. **Sleeve and side seams:** Fold the vest so Front and Back meet at the outer sleeve edges. Starting at the sleeve cuff, seam across the top of the sleeve, continue down to the underarm (the point where the sleeve widening began, Row 42), then continue straight down the side seam to the bottom hem. Repeat on the other side.

3. Weave in all ends as you finish each seam.

---

## FINISHING — Ribbed Edging
Switch to the **US G-6 / 4.0 mm hook** for tidier ribbing.

### Neckline Edging
With RS facing, join yarn at a shoulder seam.
**Round 1:** Ch 1, work sc evenly around the neck opening (approx. 64–72 sc total; aim for roughly 1 sc per row-end and 1 sc per st along the flat edges). Join with sl st to first sc.
**Rounds 2–3:** Ch 1, sc in BLO in each st around. Join with sl st.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

*Tip: Keep neck stretchy—do not pull the ribbing tight, so the vest slips easily over the head.*

### Sleeve Cuffs (both sleeves)
With RS facing, join yarn at the underarm seam.
**Round 1:** Ch 1, sc evenly around the cuff opening. Join with sl st.
**Round 2:** Ch 1, sc in BLO in each st around. Join with sl st.
Fasten off.

### Bottom Hem
With RS facing, join yarn at a side seam.
**Round 1:** Ch 1, sc in each st around the bottom edge (approx. 154 sc for size M; 77 sts × 2 panels). Join with sl st. **(154 sc)**
**Rounds 2–3:** Ch 1, sc in BLO in each st around. Join with sl st.
Fasten off and weave in all remaining ends.

---

## Final Measurements (Size M, after finishing)
- Chest: ~44 in (loose fit) ✓
- Length: ~16–17 in including hem
- Sleeve: short, ~6 in drop-shoulder cap

**Care:** Follow the yarn label. Block gently to even out stitches and relax the fabric.

Enjoy your Easy Breezy Vest! 🧶