Free preview · full pattern in the Vintage Crochet Fashion

The Edwardian Knot Stitch Vest: vintage crochet pattern

A long vest worked from the shoulders down in 5-dc shells separated by knot stitches, with shaped neck, armholes and curved lower front corners, finished with a chain-loop edging and a looped fringe all around. Originally published as "The Edwardian Vest" in In Fashions: for Him, for Her, in Knits, in Crochets (Star Book No. 230) by American.

By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Updated · Editorial policy · pattern testing in progress

The Edwardian Vest as photographed in the booklet
GoldSave to Pinterest
Pattern at a glance
DetailValue
Skill levelAdvanced
Yarn weightMedium (#4)
Yardage104–115 yd (95–105 m)
Hook5.5 mm
GaugeI hook: 1 shell, 1 double knot st, 1 shell = 2¾ in (7 cm); J hook: 1 shell, 1 double knot st, 1 shell = 3 in (7.5 cm).
Finished sizeSmall to Medium (Medium to Large), made by changing hook size. Width across back at underarm 17 (18) in [43 (45.5) cm]; width across each front at underarm 8¼ (9) in [21 (23) cm].
Timeabout 9 hours

Materials

  • Medium (CYC #4) worsted-weight yarn — the original was a knitting worsted size yarn: 5 (6) skeins of 2 oz (57 g). Assumption: a 2 oz (57 g) skein of worsted-weight yarn holds about 100–115 yd (91–105 m) — check your label.
  • Crochet hook (original: plastic crochet hook size I for Small to Medium, size J for Medium to Large)
  • Hook: Start with 5.5 mm (US I-9) for Small to Medium or 6 mm (US J-10) for Medium to Large, and change size to match the gauge
Smart Yarn Matcher

Yarn Kit & Substitution Options

Compare all yarns →

This pattern calls for 115 yards of weight #4 yarn. Select a suggested yarn to see required skeins and estimated cost:

Caron Simply Soft · 100% Acrylic

315 yds per skein · High-yield yardage, silky no-scratch texture

1 skeins required

approx. $$5.49 total

Abbreviations (US terms)

chain
single crochet
double crochet
slip stitch
skip
stitch
stitches
repeat
yarn over
shell
beginning
increase
loop

Notes before you start

  • Source: "The Edwardian Vest", In Fashions: for Him, for Her, in Knits, in Crochets (Star Book No. 230), American Thread Company. Public domain in the USA.
  • As printed — materials: AMERICAN THREAD; DAWN “WINTUK” KNITTING WORSTED SIZE; 5 (6)—2 oz. skeins Gold; Plastic Crochet Hook Size I for small to medium size; Size J for medium to large size OR ANY SIZE HOOK WHICH WILL RESULT IN STITCH GAUGE BELOW. Gauge: Size I hook: 1 shell, 1 d knot st, 1 shell = 2¾ inches / Size J hook: 1 shell, 1 d knot st, 1 shell = 3 inches.
  • Modernisation note: Original is written in US crochet terms; kept as US terms (sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet).
  • Modernisation note: Spaced abbreviations (s c, d c, sl st, y o) written as sc, dc, sl st, yo; "trc" written as tr and "d trc" as dtr; "1st" written as "first"; "st of ch" written as "ch" where the stitch is a chain.
  • Modernisation note: "Cut yarn" written as "fasten off"; "attach" (yarn) written as "join".
  • Modernisation note: Long printed paragraphs split into one row, round or step per line; stitch order unchanged.
  • Modernisation note: Vintage sizing and ease differ from today's — compare the printed finished measurements with your own before choosing a size.
  • Modernisation note: "S knot st" and "d knot st" kept as printed (single and double knot stitch); the printed definition, given inside Row 1, is kept in place.
  • Modernisation note: Row 1 label added; "Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows 5 times" labelled Rows 4–13, following the printed 14th ROW.
  • Modernisation note: "Center st of loop" written as "center ch of loop".
  • Modernisation note: Check: back Row 3 prints the chain repeat as "repeat from * twice" for both sizes, giving 7 (8) shells. The larger size has 8 more chains (ch 39), which suggests one more repeat for that size. Left as printed; count your shells.
  • Modernisation note: The photograph shows a tie at the front neckline; no instructions for it are printed and none have been added.
  • Modernisation note: Metric conversions added.
Smart Pattern Companion

Row progress: 0 of 19 done (0%)

Right Front

0 of 19 done
  1. Note: Use same directions for both sizes; see hook sizes.
    Mark row complete
  2. Row 1: Starting at shoulder, ch 15, 5 dc in 5th ch from hook, work a s knot st (single knot st: draw up a ½ in / 1.3 cm loop on hook, yo and pull through loop, sc in single loop of st — this completes a s knot st; draw up a ½ in loop on hook, yo and pull through loop, sc in single loop of st — this completes a d knot st), sk next 3 ch, sl st in next ch, work a s knot st, sk next 3 ch, 5 dc (shell) in next ch, sk next ch, dc in next ch, ch 1, turn.
    Mark row complete
  3. Row 2: Sk first dc, sc in first dc of next shell, ch 5, sc in last dc of same shell, d knot st, sc in first dc of next shell, ch 5, sc in last dc of same shell, ch 3, turn.
    Mark row complete
  4. Row 3: Shell in center of ch-5 loop (note: all shells will be worked in center ch of loop and will not be referred to again), s knot st, sl st in center of next d knot st, s knot st, shell in next loop, dc in last sc, ch 1, turn.
    Mark row complete
  5. Rows 4–13: Rep Rows 2 and 3 five times, ending last row with ch 3, turn.
    Mark row complete
  6. Row 14 (shape neck and armhole): S knot st, sc in first dc of shell (inc at beg of row), ch 5, sc in last dc of same shell, d knot st, sc in first dc of next shell, ch 5, sc in last dc of same shell, s knot st, dc in 3rd ch of ch at end (inc at end of row), ch 3, turn.
    Mark row complete
  7. Row 15: S knot st, sl st in sc of next s knot st, s knot st, shell in next loop, s knot st, sl st in center of next d knot st, s knot st, shell in next loop, s knot st, sl st in sc of next s knot st, s knot st, dc in 3rd ch of ch at end of row, ch 1, turn.
    Mark row complete
  8. Row 16: Sc in first dc, *d knot st, sc in first dc of next shell, ch 5, sc in last dc of same shell; rep from * once, d knot st, sc in 3rd ch of end ch, ch 3, turn.
    Mark row complete
  9. Row 17: Shell in first sc, *s knot st, sl st in center of next d knot st, s knot st, shell in next loop; rep from * across row, ending last repeat with 6-dc shell in last sc, ch 3, turn.
    Mark row complete
  10. Row 18: S knot st (inc), sk first dc, sc in next dc, ch 5, sc in last dc of same shell, *d knot st, sc in first dc of next shell, ch 5, sc in last dc of same shell; rep from * across row, ch 3, turn.
    Mark row complete
  11. Row 19: Shell in next loop, s knot st, sl st in center ch of next d knot st, s knot st; rep from beg twice, shell in next loop, s knot st, sl st in sc of next s knot st, s knot st, dc in 3rd ch of end ch, ch 1, turn.
    Mark row complete
  12. Row 20: Sc in dc, *d knot st, sc in first dc of next shell, ch 5, sc in last dc of same shell; rep from * across row, turn.
    Mark row complete
  13. Row 21: Ch 3, *shell in next loop, s knot st, sl st in center of next d knot st, s knot st; rep from * across row, ending with shell in last sc, ch 1, turn.
    Mark row complete
  14. Row 22: Sc in first dc of shell, ch 5, sc in last dc of same shell, d knot st; rep from beg across row, ending sc in first dc of next shell, ch 5, sc in last dc of same shell, turn.
    Mark row complete
  15. Row 23: Ch 3, *shell in next loop, s knot st, sl st in center ch of next d knot st, s knot st; rep from * across row, ending with shell in last loop, dc in last sc, ch 1, turn.
    Mark row complete
  16. Rep Rows 22 and 23 until there are 24 shell rows from beg or length desired, ending with Row 22 of pattern.
    Mark row complete
  17. Next row (start lower edge shaping): Work in pattern across row until 4 shells have been completed, then s knot st, sl st in next d knot st, s knot st, dc in center ch of next loop, ch 1, turn.
    Mark row complete
  18. Next row: Sc in dc, d knot st, sc in first dc of next shell, continue in pattern across row.
    Mark row complete
  19. Rep the last 2 rows, having 3 shells only in next row. Fasten off.
    Mark row complete

Working on:

Note: Use same directions for both sizes; see hook sizes.

Continue this pattern

The rest of the The Edwardian Knot Stitch Vest pattern is in the Vintage Crochet Fashion

Still to come in the full pattern:

  • Left Front
  • Back
  • Finishing

Included with 71 patterns for $15 — $0.21 per pattern.

See what's inside
Cover artwork for the vintage garments collection: a folded crochet garment with collar and cuffs

Errata

No corrections have been published for this pattern. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will log the fix here with a date.

Project log

Your notes on this pattern

Keep track of the yarn, hook and changes you used. Saved in this browser only — nobody else can see it.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the The Edwardian Vest pattern from?

It was published as "The Edwardian Vest" in In Fashions: for Him, for Her, in Knits, in Crochets (Star Book No. 230) by American Thread Company. The publication is in the public domain in the United States; this version is transcribed and modernised by crochetpatterns.io.

What yarn or thread do I need for the The Edwardian Vest?

medium (worsted) (#4) yarn. Not printed — 5 (6) skeins of 2 oz (57 g). Assumption: a 2 oz (57 g) skein of worsted-weight yarn holds about 100–115 yd (91–105 m) — check your label.

What hook should I use?

Start with 5.5 mm (US I-9) for Small to Medium or 6 mm (US J-10) for Medium to Large, and change size to match the gauge Gauge: I hook: 1 shell, 1 double knot st, 1 shell = 2¾ in (7 cm); J hook: 1 shell, 1 double knot st, 1 shell = 3 in (7.5 cm).

You might also like