Free preview · full pattern in the Mid-Century Crochet Fashion
The New High Rise Crocheted Vest and Skirt: vintage crochet pattern
A matching set: a straight skirt worked flat in sc/dc pattern with shaping increases, then in joined rows of double crochet shells, and a sleeveless vest worked from the shoulders down in shells and single dc, edged with 5-dc scallops.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Reviewed · Editorial policy
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Reviewed September 14, 2026 under our editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Intermediate |
| Yarn weight | Medium (#4) |
| Yardage | 207–230 yd (189–210 m) |
| Hook | 5 mm |
| Gauge | Skirt, H hook: 3 sts = 1 in (2.5 cm). Vest, H hook: 1 dc, dc shell, 1 dc = 2 in (5 cm); I hook: 1 dc, dc shell, 1 dc = 2¼ in (5.5 cm). |
| Finished size | Small to Medium (Medium to Large). Vest: width across back at underarm 16 (18) in [40.5 (45.5) cm]; width across each front at underarm 8 (9) in [20.5 (23) cm]. Skirt: 18 in (46 cm) long or desired length; waist and hip measurements not printed. |
| Time | about 15 hours |
Materials
- Medium (CYC #4) worsted-weight yarn — the original was knitting worsted or Sayelle (a worsted-weight acrylic): 4 (5) skeins of 4 oz (113 g) for the set, or 2 (2) for the vest and 3 (3) for the skirt. Assumption: a 4 oz (113 g) skein of worsted-weight yarn holds about 200–230 yd (183–210 m) — check your label.
- Crochet hooks (original: plastic crochet hook size H for the skirt; size H for the Small to Medium vest, size I for the Medium to Large vest)
- 7 in (18 cm) skirt zipper, sewing needle and thread, tapestry needle
- Hook: Start with 5 mm (US H-8) for the skirt and the Small to Medium vest, and 5.5 mm (US I-9) for the Medium to Large vest; change size to match the gauge
Abbreviations (US terms)
Notes before you start
- Source: "The New High Rise — Crocheted Vest and Skirt", 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 “SAYELLE”® or “DAWN” KNITTING WORSTED; 4 (5)—4 oz. skeins Lemon or Amber for vest and skirt or; 2 (2)—4 oz. skeins for Vest; 3 (3)—4 oz. skeins for Skirt; Plastic Crochet Hook Size H for Skirt; Size H for Small to Medium Vest; Size I for Medium to Large Vest OR ANY SIZE HOOKS WHICH WILL RESULT IN STITCH GAUGE BELOW.; 1—7 inch CONMAR No/Snag Skirt Zipper. Gauge: SKIRT H hook: 3 sts = 1 inch / VEST H hook: 1 d c, d c shell, 1 d c = 2 inches / I hook: 1 d c, d c shell, 1 d c = 2¼ 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: Skirt Row 1 label added (printed without a row number); the vest back's first two unnumbered steps labelled "First shoulder", "Second shoulder" and "Joining row".
- Modernisation note: Left front "Repeat last row 7 times" labelled Rows 3–9 and the following "NEXT ROW" labelled Row 10; these numbers follow from the printed 11th ROW.
- Modernisation note: Skirt shell written as "(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc)" and the later shells as "(3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc)" — the printed wording is "2 d c, ch 1, 2 d c in next st (shell)" and "3 d c, ch 1, 3 d c shells".
- Modernisation note: Check: the skirt rows turn with ch 4, but the join is printed as "joining last row to 3rd st of ch 3 at beg of row". Left as printed; join into the 3rd ch of the turning chain.
- Modernisation note: The skirt is printed before the vest in the booklet; the same order is kept. The skirt's waistline edging and zipper, printed at the end of the skirt, are kept in that section.
- Modernisation note: Metric conversions added.
Skirt
- Row 1: Ch 73 (77), 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch, ch 1, turn.
- Row 2: Sc in first sc, dc in next sc, *sc in next sc, dc in next sc; rep from * across row, ch 1, turn.
- Row 3: Sc in first dc, dc in next sc, *sc in next dc, dc in next st; rep from * across row. Rep Row 3 for pattern, always working a sc over a dc and a dc over a sc.
- Row 4 (increase row): Work in pattern across first 10 (12) sts, *1 sc and 1 dc in next st; rep from * once (1 pattern inc), *work in pattern across next 14 sts, inc in next 2 sts; rep from last * twice, work in pattern across next 12 (14) sts, ch 1, turn.
- Next 5 rows: Work even in pattern.
- Next row: Work in pattern across first 8 (10) sts, inc in next 2 sts, *work in pattern across next 18 (18) sts, inc in next 2 sts; rep from * twice, work in pattern across next 10 (12) sts.
- Next row: 1 sc in each st, ch 4, turn.
- Next row: Sk next st, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st (shell), *ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st, ch 1, sk next st, shell in next st; rep from * across row, ending with ch 1, dc in last st, ch 4, turn.
- Next row: Shell in center of shell, ch 1, dc in next dc; rep from beg across row, ending last repeat with dc in 3rd ch of turning ch, ch 4, turn.
- Rep last row 3 times, joining last row to 3rd ch of ch 3 at beg of row.
- Continue to work in same manner, always joining and turning each row, until skirt measures 12 in (30.5 cm) from beg.
- Then work in same manner but work shells of (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) until skirt measures 18 in (46 cm) from beg or desired length. Fasten off.
- Join yarn in first st at waistline, work a sc in each st and a sl st in each row at back opening.
- Sew zipper in position.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the The New High Rise Crocheted Vest and Skirt pattern is in the Mid-Century Crochet Fashion
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Vest — Back
- Vest — Left Front
- Vest — Right Front
- Finishing
Included with 12 patterns for $15 — $1.25 per pattern.
Errata
No corrections have been published for this pattern. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will log the fix here with a date.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the The New High Rise — Crocheted Vest and Skirt pattern from?
It was published as "The New High Rise — Crocheted Vest and Skirt" 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 New High Rise — Crocheted Vest and Skirt?
medium (worsted) (#4) yarn. Not printed — 4 (5) skeins of 4 oz (113 g) for the set. Assumption: a 4 oz (113 g) skein of worsted-weight yarn holds about 200–230 yd (183–210 m) — check your label.
What hook should I use?
Start with 5 mm (US H-8) for the skirt and the Small to Medium vest, and 5.5 mm (US I-9) for the Medium to Large vest; change size to match the gauge Gauge: Skirt, H hook: 3 sts = 1 in (2.5 cm). Vest, H hook: 1 dc, dc shell, 1 dc = 2 in (5 cm); I hook: 1 dc, dc shell, 1 dc = 2¼ in (5.5 cm).
