Pink Side-Tie Crochet Vest – Free Pattern & Tutorial
There is something undeniably satisfying about finishing a wearable crochet piece, especially one that looks like it came straight from a boutique shelf. This pink side-tie crochet vest is exactly that kind of project — stylish, breezy, and surprisingly quick to make. Whether you are a seasoned crocheter or someone who has only recently graduated from scarves and dishcloths, this pattern is designed to be approachable without sacrificing any of the charm that makes handmade clothing so special.
The vest features a relaxed, open silhouette with side ties that allow you to adjust the fit to your body. It works beautifully as a layering piece over a flowy white blouse, a simple tank top, or even a fitted long-sleeve shirt during cooler months. The pink colorway gives it a soft, feminine feel, but the construction translates just as beautifully in sage green, cream, burnt orange, or any color that speaks to your personal style.
Before we dive into the full pattern, let’s talk about what makes this vest such a worthwhile addition to your crochet wardrobe.
Why You’ll Love This Pattern
Crochet vests have had a serious moment in fashion over the last few years, and for good reason. They are versatile, comfortable, and add texture and dimension to any outfit without requiring the precision fitting that full sweaters demand. Because vests do not have sleeves, you skip some of the trickier parts of garment construction while still ending up with something that looks genuinely impressive.
This particular design uses a simple combination of double crochet and chain spaces to create an open, lace-like fabric that is lightweight but still has beautiful drape. The body is worked in two flat panels — a front and a back — that are seamed at the shoulders. The side ties are crocheted separately and attached along the lower edges of the panels, allowing you to cinch the vest at the waist for a more fitted look or leave it loose for an easy, relaxed vibe.
The pattern is written for a standard women’s size medium, with notes throughout to help you adjust for other sizes. If you have ever been intimidated by garment sizing in crochet patterns, the construction method here makes modifications much more intuitive than you might expect.
Materials You Will Need
Getting started requires just a few basic supplies, most of which you may already have in your stash.
Yarn: Approximately 400–500 yards of worsted weight yarn in pink. For this pattern, a soft, slightly drapey yarn works best — something with a bit of cotton or bamboo content will give the finished vest that lovely, flowy quality. 100% acrylic works fine too, particularly if you choose a thinner worsted weight. The sample shown was made with a dusty rose pink, but any shade of pink — from a bright fuchsia to a barely-there blush — will look gorgeous.
Hook: 5.0 mm (H/8) crochet hook. If your tension runs tight, size up to a 5.5 mm. If it runs loose, size down to a 4.5 mm.
Notions: Scissors, a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming, and a tape measure. Stitch markers can be helpful but are not strictly necessary.
Gauge: 13 double crochets and 7 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in the main stitch pattern. Take the time to check your gauge before starting. Because this is a wearable piece, gauge matters more here than it would for a bag or a dishcloth. Even being slightly off can result in a vest that is several inches too wide or too narrow.
Abbreviations
Throughout this pattern, the following standard US crochet abbreviations are used.
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
dc — double crochet
ch-sp — chain space
sk — skip
st(s) — stitch(es)
rep — repeat
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
beg — beginning
sp — space
yo — yarn over
rnd — round
Pattern Notes
The vest is constructed in two identical flat panels. Because both the front and the back are made the same way, you essentially just make the same piece twice, which simplifies the whole process enormously. The panels are seamed at the shoulders, leaving a generous opening in the center for your neck. The side edges are left open and finished with a simple border, and the ties are attached at a marked point along each side.
The stitch pattern creates a mesh-like texture that works up faster than it looks. Each row is a combination of double crochets and chain-1 spaces, creating that airy, open quality that makes this vest so perfect for warm weather. When you hold the finished fabric up to the light, you can see the delicate lacework that runs through the whole piece.
This pattern is written for a finished bust measurement of approximately 40 inches (101 cm), which corresponds to a standard size medium. For a smaller or larger size, see the sizing notes at the end of the pattern.
The Pattern
Panel (Make 2)
Foundation Chain: Chain 67. (For sizing adjustments, your foundation chain should be an odd number.)
Row 1 (WS): Dc in the 4th chain from the hook (the skipped chains count as dc), dc in each chain across. Turn. You should have 65 dc.
Row 2 (RS): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1 throughout), skip the first 2 sts, dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st; rep from across to last st, dc in last st. Turn. You will have 32 ch-1 spaces across.
Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in ch-1 sp, dc in next dc; rep from across. Turn. You will have 65 dc.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: Repeat Row 3.
Continue repeating Rows 2 and 3 (alternating mesh row and solid row) until your panel measures approximately 20 inches (51 cm) from the foundation chain. End with a solid row (Row 3 type) so that the top of the panel has a clean, even edge.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Repeat to make a second identical panel.
Shoulder Seaming
Lay both panels flat with the right sides facing each other. The top edges (your last row) will be seamed across the shoulders.
Using your yarn needle and a length of yarn, seam the first 7 inches (approximately 23 stitches) on each side of the top edge using a whip stitch or mattress stitch, leaving the center approximately 10 inches open as the neck opening.
Specifically: Starting from the left corner of the top edge, seam across 7 inches, fasten off. Then starting from the right corner of the other panel, seam across 7 inches on that side, fasten off. The gap left in the center will become your neckline.
Once the shoulder seams are complete, turn the vest right side out. Try it on briefly if you like — you should already be able to see the shape of the finished piece, with the sides hanging open and the neck opening sitting comfortably.
Border
A simple border along the neck and arm openings gives the vest a polished, finished look.
Neckline Border: With RS facing, join yarn at the right shoulder seam. Work a row of sc evenly around the entire neck opening, working approximately 1 sc per stitch or row end as needed to keep the edge flat. When you reach the starting point, sl st to join and fasten off. Weave in ends.
Armhole Borders: With RS facing, join yarn at the shoulder seam on one side. Work sc evenly down the front side edge to the bottom corner, then fasten off. Repeat for the back side edge on the same side. This creates a clean finish along the open side edges without joining them together — the sides remain open to accommodate the ties.
Repeat the armhole border on the other side.
Side Ties (Make 4)
The ties are what give this vest its signature look. They are worked as simple chains with a narrow strap of single crochets, giving them a clean, ribbon-like appearance.
Tie: Chain 60.
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. (59 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Fasten off, leaving a 12-inch tail for attaching.
Repeat to make 4 ties total.
Attaching the Ties
The ties are attached at a point approximately 7–8 inches up from the bottom edge along each side of both panels. This placement falls roughly at the natural waist when the vest is worn, which is exactly where you want the cinching effect to happen.
Mark the attachment point on the front panel’s left side edge and right side edge. Repeat for the back panel.
Thread the tail from one tie onto your yarn needle and sew the tie securely to the marked point on the front panel’s right side edge. Reinforce the attachment by weaving through several times so the tie can bear the tension of being tied. Repeat to attach a second tie at the marked point on the front panel’s left side edge. Attach the remaining two ties to the corresponding points on the back panel.
When worn, the front right tie and the back right tie will be tied together at your right side, and the front left tie and back left tie will be tied together at your left side, pulling the panels together and creating that beautiful gathered-waist effect.
Sizing Notes
This pattern is written for a finished bust of approximately 40 inches, which suits a standard women’s size medium to large. Here is how to adjust for other sizes.
For a smaller size (finished bust 34–36 inches), start with a foundation chain of 55 and reduce your panel height slightly to approximately 18 inches if you prefer a cropped look.
For a larger size (finished bust 44–48 inches), start with a foundation chain of 79 or 89 (always keep it an odd number) and add an inch or two to the panel height as needed.
The shoulder seaming measurements can stay roughly the same across sizes since neck openings do not vary dramatically. You may want to add or subtract an inch from the shoulder seam length depending on your build.
Because the side ties control so much of the actual fit, this vest has a natural ease to it that makes it more forgiving than a traditional fitted garment. When in doubt, go slightly larger — you can always cinch the ties tighter to bring in the silhouette.
Finishing Tips
After seaming and attaching all your ties, give the vest a gentle wet block. Fill a basin with cool water, submerge the vest, and gently press out the excess water with a towel. Lay it flat on a blocking mat or a clean dry towel and use pins or blocking wires to coax the mesh into an even, open structure. Let it dry completely.
Blocking makes an enormous difference with lace and mesh crochet. Before blocking, the fabric can look a little uneven and the holes may seem inconsistent. After blocking, everything opens up beautifully and the whole piece takes on that professional, finished quality.
Once dry, do a final check of all your seams and tie attachment points. Give each tie a gentle tug to make sure it is fastened securely. Weave in any remaining ends carefully so they are hidden in the structure of the fabric.
Styling Ideas
The pink colorway of this vest opens up so many outfit possibilities. Here are a few ways to wear it.
For a casual daytime look, pair it over a simple white fitted tank and your favorite denim cutoffs. The pink ties loosely at the sides for an easy, relaxed fit, and the open mesh gives just enough coverage without being too warm.
For something a little more put together, try it over a flowy white or cream blouse with wide-leg linen trousers. Cinch the ties into a bow and tuck the blouse slightly for a chic, structured silhouette.
In cooler weather, layer the vest over a fitted cream or white long-sleeve top and pair it with high-waisted dark jeans and ankle boots. The vest becomes a beautiful textural layer that adds visual interest without adding much bulk.
For a beachy, bohemian feel, wear it open over a swimsuit as a cover-up and pair with a wide brim hat and sandals. The mesh structure makes it perfectly suited for the beach or poolside.
A Few Final Thoughts
One of the most rewarding things about making your own clothing is that it fits your body, your taste, and your vision in a way that nothing off the rack ever quite can. This pink side-tie crochet vest is a beautiful example of that. It is not a complicated pattern — it really does come down to alternating two simple rows over and over — but the finished result is something genuinely special.
If this is your first garment, take your time with the gauge swatch and do not skip the blocking step. Those two things will make the difference between a vest that looks handmade and one that looks handcrafted. There is a world of difference between those two things, and both are within your reach.
Share your finished vest with the hashtag #PinkSideTieCrochetVest so others can see how yours turned out. Every colorway, every variation in yarn weight or stitch tension, creates something slightly different and entirely unique. That is the magic of making something by hand.
Happy crocheting.
