The Librarian’s Vest – Crochet Uncut

Yes, I’m a librarian, and this is my vest. I designed it to be a wearable basic, something to add a bit of preppy style and warmth to a plain workday outfit. For full effect, add glasses and a bun and practice looking down your nose at the 6 foot student towering over you. Or make it in a bright neon for a fun weekend look.

This is the simplest of garments, worked flat from the bottom up in two pieces and seamed. There’s no shaping, but the moderate gauge and wool fiber give it some stretch and memory, so worn with a bit of negative ease, it’ll hug your curves nicely.

Sizes and Materials List …
Size:	To fit 32[36, 40, 44, 48, 52] inch bust (designed to be worn with 1 – 3 inches negative ease) Chest: 30 [34, 38, 42, 46, 50] inches Length: 22 [22, 23, 24, 25, 25] inches (length can be easily modified by adding or subtracting rows before the armholes) Size shown measures 34″ and is worn with two inches of negative ease.
Hook(s):	US H/8 (5.00 mm) or size to get correct gauge
Yarn:	Patons Classic Wool, worsted 100% wool, 223 yd / 205 m, 3.5 oz / 100g ball
Colors & Approx. Yardage	Shown in 77532 Cognac Heather. Second size took approx. 2.5 balls, 600 yds Variations – Substitute worsted or light worsted wool
Gauge:	14 st and 11 rows = 4”/10 cm in hdc Always take time to check your gauge

Notes …
Stitches Used	Chain (ch) Slip Stitch (sl st) Single Crochet (sc) Half-Double Crochet (hdc) Half-Double Crochet Two Together (hdc2tog)
Abbreviations	Beginning (beg) Each (ea) Stitch(es) (st / sts) Yarn Over (yo)
Special Stitches	Half-Double Crochet Two Together (hdc2tog) [Yo, insert hook in next st and draw up a loop] twice, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook
Instructions …
Vest Back
Base Chain	Ch 55 [62, 69, 76, 83, 90].
Row 1	Hdc in third ch from hook and in ea ch across. (53 [60, 67, 74, 81, 88] hdc) (beg ch-2 does not count as st)
Rows 2–41 [41, 44, 47, 49, 49]	Ch 2, turn, hdc in ea st across. (53 [60, 67, 74, 81, 88] hdc)
Row 42 [42, 45, 48, 50, 50]	Create armholes: Turn, sl st over first 4 [5, 6, 7, 8, 9] sts ch 2, hdc2tog over next 2 sts, hdc to 6 (7,8,9,10,11) st from end of row, hdc 2 tog over next 2 sts. (51 [58, 65, 72, 79, 86] hdc)
Next 4 [4, 5, 6, 7, 8] rows	Ch 2, turn, hdc2tog, hdc in ea st across to end of row, hdc2tog over last two sts in row. (43 [50, 53, 60, 65, 68] hdc)
Next 12 [12, 12, 11, 11, 10] rows	Ch 2, turn, hdc in ea st across. Fasten off. (43 [50, 53, 60, 65, 68] hdc; 58 [58, 62, 65, 68, 68] rows)

Vest Front
Base Chain	Ch 55 [62, 69, 76, 83, 90].
Row 1	Hdc in third ch from hook and in ea ch across. (53 [60, 67, 74, 81, 88] hdc) (beg ch-2 does not count as st)
Rows 2 – 41 [41, 44, 47, 49, 49]	Ch 2, turn, hdc in ea st across. (53 [60, 67, 74, 81, 88] hdc)
Row 42 [42, 45, 48, 50, 50]	Armhole and neck openings, first side: Turn, sl st over first 4 [5, 6, 7, 8, 9] sts, ch 2, hdc2tog over next 2 sts, hdc in next 14 [16, 18, 20, 22] sts, hdc2tog.
Row 43 [44, 46, 49, 51, 51]	Ch. 2, turn, hdc2tog, hdc to end of row, hdc2tog over last 2 sts.
Row 44 [45, 47, 50, 52, 52]	Ch. 2, turn, hdc2tog, hdc to end of row, hdc2tog over last 2 sts. (12 [14, 16, 18, 20, 22] hdc)
Next 2 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6] rows:	Turn, continue to hdc2tog at armhole edge, work even at neck edge. (10 [12, 13, 14, 15, 16] hdc)
Next 14 (14, 14, 13, 13, 12) rows	Ch 2, turn, hdc in ea st across. Fasten off. (10 [12, 13, 14, 15, 16] hdc; 60 [60, 64, 67, 70, 70] rows) Note: Front is two rows longer than back to provide space at back of neck.
Return to row 42 [42, 45, 48, 50, 50]	Rep from beginning of armhole and neck section for other side, reversing. Fasten off.
Finishing …
Weave in ends. Whipstitch sides together, matching rows. Align front shoulder with back at edge of armhole and whipstitch together, matching stitches. Sc 1 row neatly around neck and armholes. Fasten off and weave in ends. Block to measurements.
Pattern and photos © Kristi Thompson Modeled by designer