Modified V-Neck Vest, DC Stitches, and Sleeves

Good day everyone!

I hope you're all doing well! Today brought quite the surprise… it snowed a lot after two weeks of near-constant melting. That little glimpse of spring felt almost like a tease, reminding us that April still holds tight to sweater weather. And on that note, I thought it would be the perfect moment to share my adaptation of @The Crochet Crowd's Adult Vest.

I made the original vest a couple of months ago and really appreciated the way the armhole decreases were designed. The mix of single and double crochet stitches gave the fabric a beautiful texture and made it an engaging project. That said, I’m someone who prefers sleeves, a rounder neckline, and a stitch pattern that lets me relax and get into the flow without too much thinking.

Which brings us to these beauties!

For my version, I didn’t "fix" the pattern per se, the original is great, but I did tweak it to suit my own preferences. I used a 6 mm hook and held two strands together: one medium weight #4 (Berroco Vintage in Dark Denim) and one lace weight #0 (Twig & Horn Hand Dyed Yarn in #5). I kept the stitch simple with double crochet throughout, which cut down on the number of rows and helped raise the neckline just enough to avoid that too-deep V. I also added two extra rows to the collar for a little more structure.

I love how these first two versions turned out — but I won’t pretend they’re perfect yet. I’m still chasing that just right fit. For the next one, I want to go with a truly round collar and make it long enough to fold over for an extra cozy finish.

Right now, I'm waiting for a yarn order to arrive so I can start this new WIP (cue the impatient tapping 😅). That same order also includes a few cotton skeins I’ll be using to swatch for a summer t-shirt crochet pattern I’ve been dreaming up. It'll be worked with a 4 mm hook, and I’m so excited. With better weather (hopefully!) on the way, I can already picture myself crocheting on the balcony, coffee in hand, audiobook playing in the background.

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, happy crocheting!

Have a great day!
— Jules