Testing new pattern I’m creating with this inexpensive yarn and a new stitch I’m trying - the Linked Double Crochet stitch. The LDC stitch looks like a DC but creates a denser fabric without the bulk of a single crochet.

It was really hard to find a cute cropped vest to crochet so I came up with this pattern so it will fit the way I like it…a little boxy and cropped. The final measurements for S-M size is 19” across and 17” long.

Basically:
For back and front:
1. With smaller hook H, chain 15 and make band in SC: SC in 2nd chain from hook across then SC in back loop only starting with the second row - 14 sts. Crochet 62 rows for size S-M.

Switch to I hook for body:

1. Crochet across band using Linked Double Crochet stitch (LDC) - 62 sts
2. Crochet 9 rows - 8”

Back:
Decrease for armhole: skip 4 sts, crochet 54 LDC sts, leave last 4 sts unworked - 54 sts
LDC decrease 1st two and last two sts - 52 sts
Repeat decrease a total of 3 rows of decreases - 48 sts
Continue until armhole is 8”

Work shoulders and back neck:
R 1: Work 11 LDC
R 2: Dec at neck - 10 sts
R 3: SC 5, ch 1 link into ch and crochet LDC in the sixth st, LDC another 2sts, Dec last 2 sts - 9 sts (NOTE: the sc5 creates a slight slope for the shoulder)

Mark 26 sts for neck. Join yarn for other shoulder and work as above for 3 rows to make up shoulder.

Front:
Work same as back until piece measures 8”. Work armhole and V neck at same time. Front stich count is 54sts.

Left side of front:
Total sts for front piece is 54sts, divide in half for 27sts each side. work as follows:
R 1: slip stitch 4 sts, LDC 21 sts, LDC dec at neck - 26 sts
R 2: LDC 24, LDC dec at arm edge - 25sts
R 3: LDC dec at arm edge, LDC 23, LDC dec at neck - 23sts
R 4: LDC 21, dec LDC at arm - 22sts
R 5: LDC 20, dec LDC at neck - 21 sts
R 6 - R 17: Dec LDC at neck every row - 9sts
R 18: sc 5, ch 1 link into ch and crochet LDC in the sixth st, LDC another 3sts - 9 sts. Should be the same number of stitches to match back shoulders.

Join yarn at middle and work other side of V neck the same as above.

Assemble and Bands:
Sew front and back together at shoulders and sides.

Work arms and neck bands as follows:

Arm bands: with H hook, crochet SC around each armhole - 82sts. Join.
R 1: Ch 2, HDC around - 82sts
R 2: Front post HDC (FPHDC) around -82sts
Join and cast off

V Neck Band: with H hook, sc 113 sts around front and back neck edge. I did it as follows: 35sts down front V, 1 st at center, 35sts up front V, 1 st at shoulder seam, 7sts down back neck edge, 26sts across, 7 sts up back neck edge, 1 st at should seam, join - 113 sts
R 1: Ch 2, HDC around to front V, crochet 3 sts at bottom of V together - 111
R 2: Front post HDC (FPHDC) around to front V, crochet 3 sts at bottom of V together - 109 sts
Join and cast off.

Wash and block to 19” across and 17” length. Done