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Valor Cross-Body Vest

Smart Crochet Pattern

SKILL LEVEL

◆ ◆ ◆ ◇ ◇ (Intermediate)

SIZES

Women's XS through XL (Customizable). Due to grading constraints for this particular design, the pattern caps at size XL (46" chest).

  • The Bespoke Fit: Making it for yourself? Enter your exact chest and length measurements alongside your unique gauge. The Smart Pattern will instantly generate instructions tailored perfectly to your body and your yarn.

  • Standard Sizing (Perfect for gifting!): Don't have exact measurements? Simply grab the baseline numbers from our Size Standards Chart below, plug them into the generator, and click "GENERATE PATTERN."

HOOKS

Hook Size (in size for your main gauge) and a hook 1mm larger for edging sections.

YARN

Weight: Bulky (5) or Super Bulky (6). Sample used Super Bulky (6).


  • Amount: Because this is a Smart Pattern™, your exact yardage is calculated automatically! Simply enter your body measurements and custom gauge into the generator to reveal your tailored yarn requirements. 

  • Planning your yarn purchase? Use the Sample Details below as a baseline, or plug your standard size into the generator for a quick yardage forecast before you shop.

GAUGE

Target Fabric Feel: Standard

Aim for a standard, comfortable fabric—not too stiff, not too loose. Use the hook size recommended on your yarn's label.

SAMPLE DETAILS

(For reference, if you want to replicate the exact look of the photos)

Size: Adult Small 

Chest Circumference: 34"

Finished Yoke Circumference: 40”
Finished Yoke Height (Including Edging): 10.6”
Finished Body Panel Width: 12.9”
Total Finished Length (Top of yoke edging to lowest point): 24.0”

Hooks: 7mm hook for main gauge and a 8mm hook (1mm larger than main gauge hook) for slip stitch edging.

Gauge: 10 stitches & 9 rows per 4" (10cm) in alternating rows of half double crochet in the back loops only (hdcblo) & Single Crochet in the back loops only (scblo).

Yarn: Custom-dyed 2-ply Super Bulky (6) Weight yarn (123yds/100g).

Fiber Blend: Superwash Merino (80%), Nylon (20%).

Amount Used: 440 yards.

NOTIONS

  • Measuring tape

  • Scissors

  • Stitch markers

  • Tapestry needle

NOTES

  • Choose Your Size: Because this is a Smart Pattern™, you can choose your exact fit! If you are making this for yourself or have access to the recipient, measure their exact chest circumference and type that number into the generator for a bespoke fit. Alternatively, you may choose an input from the Size Standards Chart.

  • Construction: The vest is worked in 3 pieces (the yoke, body panel, and side strap). The yoke and body are made first, then seamed together, followed by the side strap.

  • Stitch Multiples & Numbering: * If a number comes before the abbreviation (e.g., 2hdc), stitch the given number into the same stitch to create an increase. If the number is placed after the abbreviation (e.g., hdc 2), work the given stitch across the subsequent number of stitches.

  • Right Side / Wrong Side: This pattern alternates between Right Side (RS) and Wrong Side (WS) rows. The texture of the ribbed stitches will look different on each side, so you can easily "read your fabric" to know which side you are working on.

  • Gauge is Magic: Because you are using a Smart Pattern generator, you don't have to stress about perfectly matching my original gauge! Simply crochet a 6x6" (10cm) swatch in the alternating ribbed stitch, measure how many stitches and rows fit into 4 inches, and type your exact gauge into the generator. The math will automatically adjust your yardage and stitch counts for whatever yarn you are using!

Abbreviations

Tutorial Access

Specialty Techniques

SCHEMATIC
SIZE STANDARDS CHART

💡 No swatch yet? No stress. Just use the sample's gauge (10 stitches & 9 rows) for now to instantly calculate and generate a custom pattern preview. You can always come back and enter your exact stitch and row gauge when you're ready to start your project!

Units of Measurement

per 4" (10cm) in alternating rows of half double crochet in the back loops only (hdcblo) and single crochet in the back loops only (scblo).

Stitches

Rows

Tool Setup: Your Needle & Hook Sizes

Enter your actual measurements below (or select from the Size Standards chart above).

Chest Circumference

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👋 WELCOME TO SMART PATTERNS

Enter your custom measurements above,
then click GENERATE PATTERN.

##YOKE FINISHING


Rows 10-{YOKE_FINAL_ROW}: Repeat rows 2-9 until you reach row {YOKE_FINAL_ROW}. You will be ending on Row 8 of the Row 2-9 repeat.

^You should have {YOKE_FINAL_ROW} rows along the wider bottom edge, and {YOKE_TOP_ROWS} rows along the shorter neckline edge.

Bind off leaving a tail long enough for seaming (about twice the height of the yoke).


### YOKE SEAM

Thread your tail with a tapestry needle and seam the yoke together. Stitch together working through the front and back loops of the left side and only the back loop on the right side.


### TOP EDGING

(RS): Using your main gauge hook, join yarn at the seam. {YOKE_TOP_EDGE_TEXT}, join. Bind off. ({YOKE_TOP_EDGE_STS} sts)


### BOTTOM EDGING

(RS): Using your main gauge hook, join yarn at the seam. {YOKE_BOTTOM_EDGE_TEXT}, join. Bind off. ({YOKE_BOTTOM_EDGE_STS} sts)

##YOKE FINISHING


Rows 10-{YOKE_FINAL_ROW}: Repeat rows 2-9 until you reach row {YOKE_FINAL_ROW}. You will be ending on Row 8 of the Row 2-9 repeat.

^You should have {YOKE_FINAL_ROW} rows along the wider bottom edge, and {YOKE_TOP_ROWS} rows along the shorter neckline edge.

Bind off leaving a tail long enough for seaming (about twice the height of the yoke).


### YOKE SEAM

Thread your tail with a tapestry needle and seam the yoke together. Stitch together working through the front and back loops of the left side and only the back loop on the right side.


### TOP EDGING

(RS): Using your main gauge hook, join yarn at the seam. {YOKE_TOP_EDGE_TEXT}, join. Bind off. ({YOKE_TOP_EDGE_STS} sts)


### BOTTOM EDGING

(RS): Using your main gauge hook, join yarn at the seam. {YOKE_BOTTOM_EDGE_TEXT}, join. Bind off. ({YOKE_BOTTOM_EDGE_STS} sts)

## CROSS-BODY PANEL


Row 1 (WS): Leaving a 30" tail, fsc {PANEL_START_STS}, turn. ({PANEL_START_STS} sts)


Row 2 (RS): Ch1, 2hdc, {PANEL_R2_BRACKETS}, hdcblo, hdc, turn. ({PANEL_R2_STS} sts)


Row 3 (WS): Ch1, sc, scblo {PANEL_R3_SCBLO}, sc, turn. ({PANEL_R2_STS} sts)


Row 4 (RS): Ch1, hdc, hdcblo {PANEL_R3_SCBLO}, hdc, turn. ({PANEL_R2_STS} sts)


Row 5 (WS): Ch1, sc, scblo {PANEL_R3_SCBLO}, sc, turn. ({PANEL_R2_STS} sts)


Row 6 (RS): Ch1, hdc, hdcblo 3, 2hdcblo, {PANEL_R6_BRACKETS}, hdcblo 4, hdc, turn. ({PANEL_R6_STS} sts)


Row 7 (WS): Ch1, sc, scblo {PANEL_R7_SCBLO}, sc, turn. ({PANEL_R6_STS} sts)


Row 8 (RS): Ch1, hdc, hdcblo {PANEL_R7_SCBLO}, hdc, turn. ({PANEL_R6_STS} sts)


{PANEL_REMAINING_ROWS}

Do not break yarn.


### BODY PANEL EDGING

Row 1: Side Edge (WS): Turn your work 90 degrees to crochet down the vertical raw edge (your starting chain side). {PANEL_SIDE_TEXT}. 


Row 2: Top Edge (WS): Ch1 and turn 90 degrees again to crochet across the straight, unworked top edge of the panel (the raw row ends). {PANEL_EDGE_TEXT}. 


Fasten off, leaving a long 40 inch tail to be used for seaming the panel to the yoke. ({PANEL_EDGE_STS} sts)

##ATTACH CROSS-BODY PANEL TO YOKE


(RS): Position the yoke so that the yoke seam is at the center and facing toward the back. Clip or pin the front and back body in place so that it is centered evenly on the yoke. The last round of the yoke (hdc sts) should just overlap the unworked edge sts of the body panel. 


Thread a tapestry needle onto the 30" tail of the body and sew the body to the yoke, working around the posts of the stitches of the last round of the yoke. Sew the front body to the yoke with the same method threading the other 30" tail with a tapestry needle. 

^There should be an equal number of unworked stitches on each arm opening of the yoke.


###SLST EDGING

With a hook size 1mm larger than main gauge: Join yarn at the outer end of the body panel at the end of the yoke/body panel seam. Slst very loosely around the last row of the body panel (if slst's are too tight it will negatively affect the fit) until you reach the yoke seam on the other side. Bind off, weave in ends.

##SIDE WAIST STRAP


Row 1: Leaving a 15" tail, ch {STRAP_CH}, insert hk into second ch from hk & slst {STRAP_STS} working into the spiny bumps of the ch, turn. 


Row 2: ch1, slstblo {STRAP_STS}, turn.


Row 3 Onward: Repeat row 2 until you reach a custom length of your preference (the side strap should be small enough to cinch the front and back of the body panel towards the waistline, while also allowing the garment to be easily put on and taken off). 


Bind off leaving a 15" tail.


### SLST EDGING

With a 8mm hk (or hk size 1mm larger than what you used to achieve correct gauge). Join yarn at the outer end of the body panel at the end of the yoke/body panel seam. Slst very loosely around the last row of the body panel (if sts are too tight it will negatively affect the fit) until you reach the yoke seam on the other side. Bind off, weave in ends.


### SEW SIDE STRAP TO BODY PANEL

(RS): Orient the side strap at the position of the natural waistline and clip or pin it in place (the body panel should slightly overlap on top of the side strap). Make sure the side strap is spaced identically on both the front and back sides of the body panel. 


Thread the side strap tail with a tapestry needle and sew to the body panel, stitching around the posts of the stitches. Complete on both the front and back sides of the body panel.


###FINISHING

Weave in all ends. Steam or wet block for a polished finish.

## CONGRATULATIONS!


You just finished your Valor Cross-Body Vest! I hope you love your custom fit!


SHARE YOUR POPPY SHOP MAKE

I love seeing your creativity and yarn choices. When you share your finished project, let your maker friends know you used a Poppy Shop Smart Pattern so they know they can use their own gauge and yarn, too!


📸 Tag us on Instagram & TikTok: @PoppyShopStudio 

🏷️ Use the tags: #ValorCrossBodyVest #PoppyShopSmartPatterns #PoppyShop

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