Nothing beats the feeling of getting a compliment on your top (or in this case, vest) and then casually dropping 'thanks, I made it myself' and watching jaws drop. For this project, we used Bendigo Woollen Mills’ ‘Whisper’ yarn, which you can grab 10% off with a frankie discount (until August 30, 2025). 

MEASUREMENTS

To Fit Chest

cm

60 - 65

65 - 70 

70 - 75

75 - 80

80 - 85

85 - 90

Finished Chest Size

cm

65

70

75

80

85

90

Body Length

cm

32

34

36

38

40

42

Bendigo Woollen Mills Yarn Requirements; Whisper

8 Ply x 200g balls

1

2

2

2

2

2

Yarn quantities can vary between crocheters and are therefore approximate requirements. Use only Bendigo yarns as specified.

MATERIALS

8 ply 200g ball (1x ball for 60–65cm chest, 2x balls for all other sizes)
1x 4.50mm and 5.00mm crochet hook or adjust the size of the crochet hook to give correct tension
4x stitch markers

TENSION
4 tr groups and 8 rows to 10cm over Pattern using a 5.00mm hook. It is essential to check your tension before commencing this garment, so create a tension square. If there are more stitches to 10cm use a larger hook. If there are less stitches to 10cm use a smaller hook.

ABBREVIATIONS
beg = begin/ning
blo = back loop only
ch = chain
ch sp = chain space
dc = double crochet
rep = repeat
sk = skip
sp = space
sl = slip
st/s = stitch/es
tr = treble
yoh = yarn over hook

HOW TO
This pattern is worked from the top down, starting with the neckband, which is worked flat, then working first in the round for the yoke, separating and working back and forth in rows for the armholes, then rejoining the back and front together to work the body in the round.

NECKBAND
Using a 4.50mm hook, make 9 ch.

1st Row: Dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1dc in each ch to end. 8 dc.

2nd Row: Ch1 (does not count as a stitch), *1dc in the blo in next dc, rep from * to last st, 1dc in last st.

Rep 2nd row until there are 90 (90, 90, 96, 96, 96) rows, do not fasten off.

Slip stitch the 2 short ends together, turning the seam to the wrong side to work the rest of garment in the round (right side of work facing out).

Next Round: Ch1, work 1 dc into each st to end and join with a sl st into top of ch1 at beg of round.
90 (90, 90, 96, 96, 96) dc.

Change to a 5.00mm hook and begin Pattern.

1st Round: Ch3 (counts as first tr), 2tr in same st as ch3, ch1, miss 2dc, *3tr in next st, ch1, miss 2 dc, rep from * to last 2 sts, join with a sl st in 3rd ch at beg of round.
30 (30, 30, 32, 32, 32) tr groups.

2nd Round: Ch4, (counts as first tr and ch1), (3tr in next ch sp, ch1) 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5) times, *(3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) in next ch sp, (3tr in next ch sp, ch1) 4 times*, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) in next ch sp, (3tr in next ch sp, ch1) 9 (9, 9, 10, 10, 10) times, rep from * to * twice, 2tr in last ch sp, join with a sl st in 3rd ch at beg of round.

3rd Round: Ch3, (counts as first tr), 2tr in ch sp, ch1, *(3tr, ch1 in next ch1 sp) to next 2 ch sp, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) in 2 ch sp, rep from * 3 times, (3tr, ch1 in next ch sp) to last ch sp, join with a sl st in 3rd ch at beg of round.

4th Round: Ch4, (counts as first tr and ch1), *(3tr in next ch sp, ch1) to next 2 ch sp, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) in 2 ch sp, rep from * 3 times, (3tr in next ch sp, ch1) to last ch sp, 2tr in last ch sp, join with a sl st in 3rd ch at beg of round.

5th Round: Ch3, (counts as first tr), 2tr in ch sp, ch1, *(3tr in next ch sp, ch1) to next 2 ch sp, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) in 2 ch sp, rep from * 3 times, (3tr in next ch sp, ch1) to last ch sp, join with a sl st in 3rd ch at beg of round.

Rep 4th and 5th rounds 0 (0, 1, 1, 2, 2) time/s then 4th round 0 (1, 0, 1, 0, 1) time/s.

Fasten off.

Place a stitch marker into each of the four 2 ch spaces.
46 (50, 54, 60, 64, 68) tr groups.

Front and back: 14 (15, 16, 18, 19, 20) tr groups each.

Armholes: 9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) tr groups each.

FRONT
You will now be working the back and the front separately.
**With right side facing join yarn into the front right-hand side 2 ch sp.

1st Row: Ch3 (counts as first tr), 2tr in same 2 ch sp, *ch1, 3tr in next ch sp, rep from * to end, turn.

2nd Row: Ch4, (counts as first tr and ch1), *3tr in next ch sp, ch1, rep from * to last ch sp, 1tr in top of ch3, from previous row, turn.

Rep last 2 rows 4 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7) times.**

Fasten off.

BACK
Work as for front from ** to **. TURN.

BODY
Join body
(You will now begin to work in the round).

Next Round: Ch3 (counts as first tr), 2tr in first ch 1 sp, *ch1, 3tr in next ch sp, rep from * to end of row, ch3, (do not turn, you will now join back to front in next ch sp), *3tr in next ch sp, ch1, rep from * to end of round, ch3 and join with a sl st to top of ch3 at beg of round (front and back are now joined at armholes to work in the round).

Begin Body
1st Round: Ch4, (counts as first tr and ch1), *3tr in next ch sp, ch1, rep from * to 3 ch sp, (3tr in next ch sp, ch1) twice, *3tr in next ch sp, ch1, rep from * to 3 ch sp, 3tr in next ch sp, ch1, 2tr in same ch sp, join with a sl st into top of ch3 at beg of round.

2nd Round: Ch3, (counts as first tr), 2tr in ch sp, ch1, *3tr in next ch sp, ch1, rep from * to end of round, join with a sl st to top of ch3 at beg of round.

3rd Round: Ch4 (counts as first tr and ch1), *3tr in next ch sp, ch1, rep from *, ending with 2tr in last ch sp, join with a sl st into top of ch3 at beg of round.

Rep last 2 rounds until body measures
30 (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)cm (or length desired) from top of Neckband.

Next Round: Change to a 4.50mm hook and ch1, work 1dc into each tr and 1dc into each ch sp, to end (making sure you have an even number of sts), sl st to first dc at beg of round, do not fasten off, and beg lower band.

LOWER BAND
Using a 4.50mm hook, make 16ch.

1st Row: 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, *1dc in each ch, rep from * to end, work a sl st in each of the next 2 sts on the bottom of garment, turn. 15dc.

2nd Row: Sk the 2 sl sts, *1dc in the blo in each dc, rep from * to last st, 1dc in last st.

3rd Row: Ch1 (counts as 1 dc), *1dc in the blo in each dc, rep from * to end, work a sl st in each of the next 2 sts on the bottom of garment, turn.

Rep last 2 rows until you have worked into every dc around the lower edge of body.

Slip-stitch the edges together on the wrong side.

Fasten off.

ARMHOLE BANDS
With right-side facing, using a 4.50mm hook join in yarn at the centre of underarm and ch1.

Next Round: work 1dc into side of each row before stitch marker, 1dc into each tr between stitch markers (skipping ch sp), and 1dc into side of each row after stitch markers (making sure you have an even number of dc sts), sl st to first dc at beg of round, do not fasten off, and beg armhole band.
Make 9ch.

1st Row: 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, *1dc in each ch, rep from * to end, (8dc). Work a sl st in each of the next 2 sts at armhole edge, turn.

2nd Row: Sk the 2 sl sts, *1dc in the blo in each dc, rep from * to last st, 1dc in last st, turn.

3rd Row: Ch1 (counts as 1 dc), *1dc in the blo in each dc, rep from * to end, work a sl st in each of the next 2 sts at armhole edge, turn.

Rep last 2 rows until you have worked into every dc around armhole edge.

Slip-stitch the edges together on the wrong side.

Fasten off.

TO MAKE UP
Weave in all ends.

This article was produced in partnership with Bendigo Woollen Mills. Want to nab the yarn we’ve used in these projects? Get 10 per cent off any full-price yarn or accessories at the Bendigo Woollen Mills website.