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Lavender dream bow vest crochet pattern with puff stitch detail

A lavender crochet vest with puff stitch texture and dark purple bows, shaped with dc2tog decreases.

Level
Intermediate
Time
4-6 hours
Hook
5.0 mm
Yarn
Worsted
Lavender dream bow vest crochet pattern with puff stitch detail

Pattern highlights

  1. Work the body in rows of double crochet alternating with puff stitch rows in Color A and Color B.
  2. Split for the armholes by slip stitching past the underarm stitches, then continue in dc with decreases on each edge.
  3. Leave the center stitches unworked at the V-neck and build each front separately from there.
  4. Shape the right front as a mirror of the left, decreasing at the neck edge while holding the armhole edge steady.
  5. Fasten off each front once the shoulder stitch count is reached.
  6. Crochet the small bow pieces separately in Color C and set them aside for finishing.

About This Pattern

I file this one under garments that earn their shelf space. It isn't a toy or a throw. It's a wearable piece that leans on color blocking and texture instead of novelty shaping. Lavender does the heavy lifting, cream breaks up the body, and dark purple shows up only where it matters: the bows. That restraint is what makes it feel considered rather than busy.

The construction runs on double crochet rows with puff stitches worked into the mix, plus the kind of paired decreases that shape an armhole without fuss. The right front works flat, mirroring the left for a symmetrical V-neck. Slip stitches tuck the underarm sts out of the way before the dc rows pick up again. None of it is flashy, but it's precise.

What comes off the hook is a sleeveless vest meant to layer over something plainer. The bows sit as the only loud note on an otherwise quiet palette. I'd call it a piece for someone who wants texture over print, and doesn't mind counting stitches to get a clean neckline.

Worth knowing

The satisfaction here is in the shaping, not the stitch count. Working dc2tog on both edges of the same row to taper the armhole and the neck at once feels efficient in a way plain decreasing rarely does. The puff stitch rows break up the dc fabric just enough to keep your hands interested. Mirroring the right front off the left, stitch for stitch, is a small test of attention that pays off in a V-neck that actually matches on both sides. And then there are the bows: a tiny, separate color project tacked onto a much bigger one, which is its own kind of reward.

Common mistakes

  • Losing the puff stitch rhythm Count loops on the hook before pulling through on each puff stitch. A missed loop throws off the texture row by row.
  • Decreasing only one edge at a time Work both the armhole dc2tog and the neck dc2tog in the same row as written. Splitting them into separate rows will drift the stitch count.
  • Forgetting the right front is a mirror Lay the left front next to your work before starting the right. The neck decreases should fall on the opposite edge.
  • Skipping the slip stitch underarm step Work the slip stitches across the first stitches before turning. Skipping them leaves extra fabric bunched at the armhole.
  • Letting bow color bleed into the body Keep Color C contained to the bow pieces and weave its ends in immediately. A stray strand shows against the lavender and cream.
Ruby

The story behind Stitch Obsession, and Ruby, who writes and tests every pattern on the shelf.

Intermediate

The kit

  1. Color A (Lavender): Approximately 300 yards of worsted weight yarn, category 4
  2. Color B (Cream/Off-White): Approximately 150 yards of worsted weight yarn, category 4
  3. Color C (Dark Purple): Approximately 50 yards of worsted weight yarn, category 4, for the bows
  4. 5.0mm (H/8) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge
  5. Yarn needle for weaving ends and seaming
  6. Scissors
  7. 14 stitches and 8 rows = 4 inches (10cm)

Armhole Shaping

Round 27Sl st in first 5 sts, ch 3, dc in each st across until 4 sts remain, leave remaining sts unworked. Turn. (52 sts)

Round 28Ch 3, dc2tog, dc in each st until 3 sts remain, dc2tog, dc in last st. Turn. (50 sts)

Rounds 29–36Continue in established pattern (alternating puff rows and dc rows), maintaining 50 sts.

Round 37Ch 3, dc in each st across. Fasten off. (50 sts)

Right Front

With wrong side facing, skip center 6 sts for V-neck, join Color A in next st.

Round 27Ch 3, dc in each st until 4 sts remain, leave remaining sts unworked. Turn. (22 sts)

Round 28Ch 3, dc2tog (armhole decrease), dc in each st until 3 sts remain, dc2tog, dc in last st (neck decrease). Turn. (20 sts)Rows 29-37: Work as mirror image of left front, decreasing at neck edge and maintaining armhole edge. (12 sts remain)Fasten off.

Hook

5.0mm (H/8) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge

Notions

Yarn needle for weaving ends and seaming Stitch markers Measuring tape Scissors

From the collection

Lavender dream bow vest crochet pattern with puff stitch detail — photo 2
Lavender dream bow vest crochet pattern with puff stitch detail — photo 3

Finishing

  1. Weave in every color change end, especially where Color A meets Color B at the dc and puff stitch transitions.
  2. Seam the shoulders and side edges with a yarn needle, matching row for row along the armhole shaping.
  3. Stitch the Color C bows onto the front panels once the vest body is fully assembled.

Why it works

The armhole starts with a slip stitch across the first stitches, which quietly removes the underarm from future rows without a bind-off.

Paired dc2tog decreases on the same row shape two edges at once, which is why the armhole and neck tighten in tandem rather than one after the other.

The right front is worked flat as a mirror of the left, which keeps the V-neck symmetrical without charting both sides separately.

What it becomes

  • Layer it over a long-sleeve top for a cooler evening out, letting the bows sit as the focal point.
  • Wear it over a plain dress to add color blocking without a busy print.
  • Pair it with jeans and boots for a textured, casual layer that isn't a cardigan.

Original pattern: https://bunnypatterns.com/lavender-dream-bow-crochet-vest-free-crochet-pattern/

FAQ

Can I skip the bows and still use this pattern?

Yes, the vest body is complete without them. The bows are a separate small piece added at the end, so leaving them off doesn't change the construction.

Why does the right front get worked separately from the left?

The V-neck opening splits the front into two pieces once you reach the center stitches. Working them as mirror images keeps the decreases symmetrical on both sides.

Does the yarn choice matter for the puff stitches?

It does. A smooth acrylic or cotton-acrylic blend shows the puff stitch texture clearly, while a fuzzy yarn will blur the detail.

How do I keep the armhole edge neat after the slip stitch row?

Work the chain-3 and dc immediately after the slip stitches without skipping a stitch. That keeps the new edge flush instead of stepped.

The next find, by post

One pattern from the collection when it is ready. Nothing else.