We may not have sweater weather in Florida, but Nothing says hello Autumn like a pumpkin granny square vest.
Inspiration & Design
Autumn 2024 has inspired me. A table runner and a vest all inspired by the pumpkin granny square pattern, I’m beyond giddy!
This isn’t the first granny square pattern that we’ve worked on together, but it’s the first one I’m 100% happy with. I have no notes! Well, perhaps some, but they are minor! Granny square vests are amazing! There are so many modifications that one can make to work a slightly different vest every time.
For this pumpkin granny square vest, I opted to loosely follow the construction of the Galentines Vest from February. I say loosely, because really, all we borrowed from that design was the basic construction and knit rib details.
The Yarn
To create this vest, I stash dived and happily enough, found 3 different yarns that while not the same fiber content, worked together beautifully. How deep did my stash dive go? Well, the pumpkin color is a crafternoon treats yarn from her woolen spun base circa 2017 or 2018. This feels like just yesterday but timely speaking, it’s at least 7 years old. If you’ve never had the chance to try a woolen spun yarn, I highly recommend it, it’s so lofty.
For the stem, I wanted a truly contrasting yarn and thought the left over ball from Lotus Yarns (cotton/cashmere blend) would work beautifully. How well do the turquoise green and orange play off each other?
Lastly for the main color, I chose a yarn that has no label, or fiber content attached to it but I do know I purchased it from Made in America yarns in super Clearance.
These yarns create such a very pumpkin patch chic vest. A little rustic with a wonderful color combination.
Can I make this Pumpkin granny square vest?
I definitely think you can! Other than making the granny squares the vest requires seaming, making a back panel with decreases and some finishing touches for the neck and armhole.
The vest is composed of two panels seamed at the shoulder and sides. Stitches are picked up at the armhole and neckline to complete it.
Full Description of Design
Whether you are standing under a mighty tree with gently falling leaves, at the pumpkin patch or perhaps indulging in a crisp and tart apple at the orchard, complete your fall look with the Pumpkin Granny square vest.
How I made the pumpkin granny square vest
Materials
- Yarn
- Total Weight : 220 g
- I used 175 g of the main color – a sport weight wool blend
- 40g of the pumpkin orange – a woolen spun light sport weight yarn
- 5 g of the stem color – a cotton cashmere fingering weight yarn
- Hook – 4mm
- Knitting needle: 16” circular needle in 4mm and 4.5mm
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers
Gauge
- Pumpkin granny square – 3.5” x 3.5” made with sport weight yarn and a 4mm crochet hook
- Back Panel: alternating dc and hdc rows with a 4mm crochet hook after steaming – 17 sts and 10 rows measured over 4”
Finished Size
- Length: 18.75”
- Width of chest with knit rib: flat – 14.75” / around 29.5″
- Width of widest part: 19” flat – 38” around
Abbreviations
- Ch – chain
- Sl st – slip stitch
- Sc – single crochet
- Hdc – half double crochet
- Dc – double crochet
- Hdc2dec – half double crochet dec, for this pattern I opted to work the invisible half double crochet method but feel free to use another method.
- KBLO – knit through the back loop
- BOR- beginning of round
- PM – place marker
Special Sts
- K1 P1 Twisted Rib
- short rows
Notes
To make the pumpkin granny square vest
Start by making 24 Granny squares and 4 granny triangles
Once our granny squares and granny triangles are complete, join them with your preferred method, as follows. For reference I used a whip stitch join.
Back Panel
We will start crocheting the back panel from the bottom, up.
To start: FDC 75, ch1 and turn.
NOTE: if you have used more granny squares for your width, count the number of dc and ch1 spaces from the bottom row of the front panel to guide your stitch count. Ultimately we are looking to make the back panel as wide as our front panel.
Row 2: Hdc in each st, ch1 and turn
Continue alternating dc and hdc rows until you reach 7.25” . I crocheted 17 rows.
Next, we start decreasing to follow the armhole shaping of the front panel.
Row 18: 2 hdc2dec, hdc in each st until 4 sts remain, 2 hdc2dec, ch1 and turn.
Row 19: dc in each st, ch1 and turn.
Repeat rows 18 and 19, 4 more times. We have decreased 20 sts and our st count is now 55.
Continue alternating hdc and dc rows until you’ve crocheted 19 more rows. Cut yarn and fasten off.
Short rows at the back panel
The short rows form a slope at the neckline that helps our vest lay better on our shoulders.
With ws facing: attach yarn the at the rightmost st of the back panel.
- Row 1: 15 sc, ch1 and turn.
- 7 sc, sl st in the next st, turn.
- 7 sc, ch1 and turn.
- sc in each st, leaving a long tail, cut yarn and fasten off.
Remaining side
Turn work so that you are right side facing, and repeat rows 1 through 4 of the short rows.
After completing the front and back panels we can steam/lightly block our panels or proceed with joining.
Adding width to the back panel
Turning out back panel 90 degrees to work on the raw edges, Attach yarn to the first dc on the back panel, work a dc, *sk the dc bar, work a granny st on the hdc bar; repeat from * until you complete a total of 8 granny sts, work a dc on the base of the first hd dec row. Leaving a long enough tail to seam, cut yarn and fasten off. Repeat for other side.
Our back panel is officially complete and we can move on to seaming.
Shoulder seam:
Lay panels right sides facing, seam 15 sts using your preferred seaming method. I used slip stitches. Cut yarn and fasten off, weave in ends.
Side seam:
Still with our panels right side facing. Add yarn to the bottom of the panels and seam until you reach the base/bottom of the armhole. Repeat for other side seam.
Finishing touches
Armhole Rib
For this I opted to work a 1 x 1 twisted knit rib. If you would rather not or don’t want to venture into knitting, feel free to substitute for a front post back post rib.
Using the main color yarn and a 4mm crochet hook work 110 single crochet around the armhole, sl st to the first sc to join in the round. Insert your 4.5mm 16” circular needle into the loop and pick up 110 stitches. PM after picking up the last loop
Work two rounds as follows – *KtBLO, purl; repeat from * until you reach the BOR.
Switching to your 4mm 16” circular needle, continue working the above patter.
Bind off in your preferred method, as I tend to bind off loosely I used the slip stitch bind off method to keep my stitches tidy. Cut yarn and fasten off
Repeat for the remaining armhole.
Neckline
Attach yarn at the mid back, work dc until you reach the shoulder sts, work 2 hdc, then work a sc in each granny square st, when you reach the remaining shoulder work 2 hdc, then complete the round by workin dc in the remaining sts, sl st to the first dc to join.
For the next round, ch1, dc in each dc, hdc in each hdc, sc in each sc, sl st to join to the first dc, cut yarn and fasten off.
Now would be an excellent time to weave in your ends and lightly block the garment.
Once dry, you are ready to enjoy your pumpkin spice life!
