Imperfect Summer: A simple crochet vest top patten

You can purchase the Imperfect Summer crochet vest pattern from Etsy, Love Crafts or Ravelry,

The inspiration behind the name

Calling a design imperfect may be a little on the risky side (or just plain daft!), so I wanted to share a little about what inspired that choice.

Over years gone by, I’ve found that summer brings with it this implied need for perfection. This idea that we need a perfect beach body, a perfect tan, perfect shoes, gardens, friends, partners, lives… and so on and so forth…

I hope that as a result, we all ditch that outdated idea of this thing called ‘perfect’ that society, culture, social media, magazines or whoever else defines.

I’m all for personal development, reaching for the stars and being the best me I can, but when the goal of perfection makes us miserable instead of motivated and energised, then it’s not really perfect is it?

So here’s to rejecting the external idea of perfection and embracing the joys of imperfection and individuality and caring less about how we think other people view us.

I know that personally, I would rather focus on enjoying those sunny days in the moment than worrying about how my hair looks.

Essentially, I wanted to make something I could wear whilst out living my life.

The pattern uses a fingering weight linen and cotton blend yarn with a 5.5mm crochet hook – much larger than would normally be used with such light yarn.

Using a larger crochet hook than is typically used with a given yarn weight creates amazing drape as the stitches are open and airy.

With the larger hook comes more variation in tension, so your stitches may not all be exactly the same size… an invitation for imperfection!

In Imperfect Summer, the use of an oversized hook, paired with the natural texture of the linen creates a perfectly imperfect texture which I am just a bit in love with!

You can purchase the Imperfect Summer crochet vest pattern from Etsy, Love Crafts or Ravelry

About the Imperfect Summer Crochet Vest Pattern

Imperfect summer is a lightweight, floaty summer camisole style vest, with all the drape and all the space. It’s a simple, easy to make crochet patten for a practical wardrobe staple.

With its oversized fit, there is lots of flexibility built into this design, which allows you to embrace your own unique crochet style.

The combination of the oversized hook with fingering weight yarn and the stitch pattern used creates a perfectly imperfect, almost knit-look kind of texture, as seen in the image below.

I can see myself wearing this vest with a pair of palazzo pants to barbecues and lazy picnics and Pimms in the park.

For many, the focus of this summer is going to be outdoor reunions with friends and family. That is as close as perfect gets.

I can’t wait!

Pattern Notes

General Notes

• Please read through the pattern and all associated notes before starting your project
• This pattern uses standard US crochet terms (UK equivalents are given in brackets in the abbreviations list)
• Numbers at the end of a row indicate the number of stitches in that row and are only given at the start of a section or where there is a change
• Turning chains do not count as stitches
• Unless otherwise indicated, stitches should be worked in consecutive stitches

Construction

• The pattern is worked in two separate panels made from the bottom-up
• The body panels are seamed together at the sides
• Straps are worked from the front panel, joined to the back and a trim is added around the neckline and armholes to finish

Skills Used

• Knowledge of basic crochet stitches, techniques and terminology is assumed
• Working in the front loop only and back loop only
• Simple decreases (photo guide included for neck shaping)

This is a relatively easy crochet camisole pattern, made mostly of single crochets and worked flat in rows. It uses foundation rows, simple decreases, slip stitches and working in the front and back loops.

Its oversized, stretchy fit allows for a lot of flexibility in your tension, making it a great project for those newer to crocheting garments.

The pattern is worked from the bottom up in two simple panels which are seamed at the sides.

The straps are specifically designed not to stretch out with wear and can be adjusted for a custom fit. Guidance for this is given in the pattern.

The pattern includes photo guides for the simple shaping around the neckline, and links out to tutorials for any specific techniques such a foundation rows, seaming and blocking (a gentle blocking is optional but encouraged).

The pattern is written in English using US crochet terms.

Materials

Yarn & Crochet Hook

You will need 550(660, 740, 820, 900, 980, 1090)m of fingering weight yarn and a 5.5mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge / tension (I used my clover amour hook).

The item pictured uses 4(5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7) balls We Crochet, Lindy Chain in bluebell which is a fingering weight yarn made up of 70% linen, 30% pima cotton (50g ball = 164m/180yds). This is a chainette style of yarn which makes it super lightweight and floaty.

I love the raw, natural texture of linen and, teamed with super soft pima cotton, this yarn was really enjoyable to work with and has amazing stitch definition.

Yarn Substitution Options 

For this pattern I used a hook much larger than that recommended for the yarn weight. This is what creates the slightly open stitch work and all that drape. You can use an other similar weight and fibre yarn to create a similar effect.   

Different fibres and yarns will produce a different finished result. You may find this post useful in choosing a substitute yarn.

If you want to learn more about cotton yarns (in particular what makes pima different), then this post I wrote a while back, digging into cotton yarn may interest you.

Other Materials & Notions 

• 4 stitch markers (or scraps of contrasting yarn) are recommended
• Yarn needle, scissors and a tape measure
• You may wish to block this project, in which case I recommend a blocking matt and pins. Learn more about blocking here.

I also recommend using stitch markers for this project to mark where the underarm shaping starts so that when you come to sew together the panels at the side seams it’s easy to see where to work to.

Sizing

• The vest is designed to be oversized in the body with 12-22cm of positive ease on the chest (i.e. 12-22cm larger than the body it is designed to fit) and 18-30cm positive ease on the hips, giving you lots of room for the fabric to move around 
• You can adjust the length of the straps to suit your preference – guidance is given on this in the pattern
• Measurements are given unblocked – the fabric created will be fairly stretchy (especially in the length) which will give some flexibility with sizing
• Approximate measurements of the finished garment are given below to help you in choosing a suitable size for you / the recipient of the garment
• The pattern is designed for adults and offered in 7 women’s sizes
• Stitch and Row instructions for different sizes are written in increasing order, with the smallest size first and larger sizes following in bracket. i.e. XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X) Sts or Rows 
• If you make any adjustments, the amount of yarn required will change. The meterage given for each size below is an approximation based on meeting gauge
• The item you see pictured is a size S worn by me, UK size 8-10 (US 4-6), 5ft 1in

Measurements

Measurements below are given in cm and are approximated based on matching gauge

• To fit bust: 76(86, 96, 106, 116, 126, 136)
• Finished bust circumference: 88(101, 110, 123, 132, 146, 158)
• Hip circumference: 101(114, 123, 136, 146, 158, 171)
• Length (from top of strap):62(64, 65, 65, 66, 68, 69)

The pattern includes a photo guide to help with the front neckline shaping and instructions on how to adjust the length of the straps for a custom fit.

Buy the pattern now from Etsy, Love Crafts or Ravelry

How to purchase a Dora Does crochet pattern:

I sell my PDF crochet patterns in my Etsy, Ravelry and Love Crafts stores. You can purchase this pattern on any of these platforms, depending on your preference. Simply click the relevant links throughout this pattern page to be taken to the listing, or visit the store homepages in the links at the start of this paragraph.

Stitches & Abbreviations: US terms 

(UK Equivalent in Brackets)

• BLO = back loop only
• ch = chain
• dec = decrease (denotes decrease row)
• fsc = foundation single crochet (UK foundation double) – see special stitches
• FLO = front loop only
• rep = repeat
• RS = right side
• sc = single crochet (UK double crochet)
• sc2tog = single crochet together (UK double crochet 2 together) – see special stitches
• sc2tog FLO = single crochet 2 together over the front loops only (UK double crochet 2 together over front loops only) – see special stitches
• sc3tog = single crochet 3 together (UK double crochet 3 together) – see special stitches
• sk = skip (UK miss)
• sp = space
• ss = slip stitch
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• WS = wrong side
• yo = yarn over

Special Stitches

Foundation Single Crochet (fsc)

Ch2, insert hook into second chain from hook, yo and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). *Yo and pull through 1 loop (this creates the base chain of the next fsc), yo and pull through 2 loops to complete the st. To start the next st, insert the hook into the ‘v’ of the base stitch, yo and pull up a loop. Repeat from * for required number of sts.

You can find more details on foundation rows including a tutorial here.

Single Crochet 2 Together over Front Loops Only (sc2tog FLO)

Insert hook into the FLO of the indicated st, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook into the FLO of the next st, yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through all 3 loops to complete the stitch.

Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog)

Insert hook into indicated st, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook into next st, yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through all 3 loops to complete the stitch.

Single Crochet 3 Together (sc3tog)

Insert hook into indicated st, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook into next st, yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), insert hook into next st, yo, pull up a loop (4 loops in hook) yo, pull through 4 loops to complete the stitch.

Gauge

12.5 sts and 14 rows in 10cm of single crochet worked in the front loop only, using a 5.5mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.

Gauge is based on an unblocked swatch. Variation in your gauge will lead to variations in the finished size of your project. The fabric will be prone to stretch.

Learn how to make and measure a gauge swatch here