Granny Square Vest DIY – Granny Square Day 2021

Granny square vest crochet patterns are so fun. Check out this unique granny square vest crochet pattern recipe with custom-fit instructions.

Granny square vest crochet patterns are so fun. Check out this unique granny square vest crochet pattern recipe with custom-fit instructions.

Pin this Granny Square Vest Pattern NOW and Make Later!

If you’re looking for unique and fun granny square vest patterns, you are in the right place. Keep reading for how to make this fun culturally inspired vintage granny square vest pattern and Happy Granny Square Day!

Before I begin this blog post, a HUGE shoutout to my friend Christina from City Bright Knits for looking over the pattern and providing me feedback super fast with short notice! Christina is queen of granny squares, please give her a follow over on Instagram HERE.

This post contains affiliate links, if you purchase anything by clicking on the links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Design Inspiration – Crochet Granny Square Vest Pattern FREE:

Introducing a culturally-inspired crop granny square vest crochet pattern! Welcome the #BasantiVest!

A little bit of background: Rang De Basanti in Hindi translates to “color me saffron.” The orange saffron color is an integral piece of the Indian flag and it represents courage and bravery! The green in the flag represents the fertility of the land and white represents peace and unity. The blue wheel symbolizes the sky and the ocean.

When I tell people I’m Muslim, they automatically assume I’m from Pakistan and it’s frustrating because I’m a proud Hyderabadi Indian and I love my culture! I made this vest in honor of that love for India and its rich culture but also to make a statement because Muslims are being discriminated against by Hindu nationalists all over India simply for being Muslim and it needs to stop.

A few accounts you can follow to learn more about the discrimination and support the cause: Rana Ayyub on both Instagram and Twitter; Siasat Daily; Hindutva Watch; and if you have the means please donate to Indian American Muslim Council. Also, a shout out to my cousin Zafar for providing this info, give him a follow on Twitter @DeccaniBhai where he shares tidbits of comedy along with political commentary on the Middle East/North Africa and South Asian politics.

Mohey mohey tu rang de Basanti! Let’s put on our Basanti Vest and be courageous and brave, stand up for what’s right, and teach kindness always! Don’t let politics create this divide in our beautiful India!

I brought in classic elements like the sheeshas (mirrors) and gold metallic tassels because I love them so much! This granny square vest design has been on my mind for several months, I thought it would be perfect for #GrannySquareDay which falls on Aug. 15th this year which is also India’s Independence Day!

Note: The Basanti Vest instructions below are a rough recipe, this pattern has not been tech edited or tested so please let me know if you see any issues and I will correct them as soon as possible! I am also offering an ad-free PDF but for a very low price considering this is a garment (if I had tech edited or tested this pattern it would be $6+ but I am offering it for just $3 right now). Instructions for how to customize fit are provided.

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Check out this fun Instagram Reel featuring the Basanti Vest: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CSMrYZsjjCz/

About the Pattern – Granny Square Vest Tutorial:

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner  


Yarn:

Lily Sugar N Cream Cotton Super Size Ball (Size 4 weight; 4 oz./ 113 g, 190 yds; 100% cotton)

Hot Orange – 950 yards; Purchase it on Amazon or at JoAnn

White – 380 yards; Purchase it on Amazon or at JoAnn

Rainforest/Dark Pine – 760 yards; Purchase it on Amazon or at JoAnn

Black – 570 yards; Purchase it on Amazon or at JoAnn

Aunt Lydia’s Metallic Crochet Thread in Gold  (Size 10 crochet thread; 3 ply; 100 yds; 88% mercerized cotton, 12% acrylic) – 100 yards; Purchase it on Amazon or at JoAnn

 Hook:

Notions: 

Gauge:

  • Each granny square measures 4 x 4 in.

Finished Size:

  • The vest is 13 in. long by 18 in. wide. Instructions to customize fit are provided below. Fits a chest circumference of 38 in. This size took a total of 18 granny squares and 6 triangles to complete.

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Pattern Notes for Granny Square Vest Crochet:


Note: The instructions provided are for a crop-length easy crochet granny square vest, you will need more granny squares/more yardage for a full-length vest.

     For the Tunisian crochet triangles:

  • Pattern rows are Forward pass instructions.
  • The following instructions are implied:
    • The loop already on the hook at the beginning of the row counts as the first st. 
    • Always Tunisian simple stitch in the last st of the row, being sure to work under both loops of the st.
  • Return Pass: Follow the foundation row and each row with the Return Pass.
    • Return Pass Instructions: Ch 1, *yarn over, pull through two loops; repeat from * until 1 loop remains on the hook.
  • NOTE: Your squares and triangles may be slightly smaller or bigger depending on your tension (how tightly or loosely you hold the yarn)

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Abbreviations:

Ch: Chain

Sc: Single crochet

Dc: Double crochet

Tr: Treble crochet

Sl st: Slip stitch

Tss: Tunisian simple stitch

Tks: Tunisian knit stitch

Inc: Increase

RetP: Return Pass -Explained above

Granny square vest crochet patterns are so fun. Check out this unique granny square vest crochet pattern recipe with custom-fit instructions.

Pin this Granny square vest crochet pattern now to your favorite boards and make later

Before you begin, you will need the following measurements to make this Granny Square Vest pattern.

Below is a table from craft yarn council with some basic women’s measurements for reference (as seen on https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/woman-size):

SizeX–SmallSmallMediumLargeX–Large
Chest (in.) 28–3032–3436–3840–4244–46
Back Waist16½1717¼17½17¾
Armhole depth6–6½6½–77–7½7½–88–8½
Waist23–2425–26½28–3032–3436–38


Size cont.
2X3X4X5X
Chest (in.)48–5052–5456–5860–62
Back Waist181818½18½
Armhole depth8½–99–9½9½–1010–10½
Waist40–4244–4546–4749–50

Craft Yarn Council reference for how to take measurements: https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/body-sizing 

Chest/Bust Circumference – Measure around the fullest part of the chest/bust. Do not draw the tape too tightly. 

Back Waist Length- Measure from the most prominent bone at base of neck to the natural waistline. I measured the crop length (from my neck to the midpoint of my back).

Armhole Depth- Measure from the top outside edge of the shoulder down to the armpit.

Waist circumference: Measure your waist at the smaller circumference of your natural waist, usually just above the belly button.

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GRANNY SQUARE VEST SCHEMATIC

Granny Square Vest Recipe: Important calculations before you begin making this crochet granny square vest

Follow Instruction below for How to Make a Granny Square Vest – Crochet Granny Square Vest Tutorial

GRANNY SQUARE VEST BACK WAIST LENGTH

This is the measurement from your neck to your waist. If you want a cropped vest, take the measurement from your neck to mid-back.

Divide your back waist length by 4 to find out the number of granny squares you need to make the length of your vest. 

This is how many granny squares you need to make up the back waist length, note the number here:       .

EXAMPLE CALCULATION FOR BACK WAIST LENGTH:

Cropped Back waist length was 12 in. Divide 12 in. by 4 to get the total number of granny squares to make the length of vest: 3 granny squares.

I needed a total of 3 granny squares to make the length of the vest.

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GRANNY SQUARE VEST BACK PANEL:

Divide your waist circumference by 2 to find out your panel width, note the number here:      .  Subtract 2 from this number to account for the border (border will add about 2 in.). Note the number here:     . Divide this number by 4 to find out the number of granny squares you need to make the width of the back of your vest. Note the number here:     . Multiply by the number of granny squares you need to make the back waist length. Note the number here:    . Subtract 2 from this number and note it here (subtracted 2 because we will replace 2 squares with triangles to give some shaping):    . 

This is how many granny squares you will need for the back panel, Note the number here:     . 

EXAMPLE CALCULATION FOR BACK PANEL: 

Waist circumference was 37 in. So 37 divided by 2 = 18.5 in. rounded up to 19 in. 19 minus 2 to account for the border, 17 in. 17 divided by 4 = 4.25 rounded down to 4. A total of 4 granny squares are needed to complete the width of the back panel. 4 granny squares across multiplied by 3 granny squares for length= 12 granny squares total. 12 – 2 = 10 granny squares in total for the back panel (subtracted 2 because we will replace 2 squares with triangles to give some shaping). I made two Tunisian crochet triangles for the armhole shaping, you could make granny triangles instead if you would like. 

Make two Tunisian crochet triangles or granny triangles.

Tunisian crochet triangle:

Ch 2, complete a foundation row

Inc middle st by completing Tunisian knit stitch (refer to video tutorial above)  until you have 15 sts, sc around doing (sc, ch1, sc) into corners, sl st and cut yarn

Granny triangle video reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_EHSvcWblQ  

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GRANNY SQUARE VEST FRONT PANELS:

Divide chest/bust measurement by 4 to find out how many inches each front panel should be across. Note the number here:    . Divide this number by 4 to find out how many granny squares make up each front panel width. Multiply by the number of granny squares needed for back waist length. Note the number here:    .  Subtract two from this number to get the total number of granny squares for ONE front panel. 

This is the total number of granny squares you will need for one front panel, note the number here:   .

Make two granny triangles for each front panel.

Make two extra granny squares for inside pockets.

EXAMPLE CALCULATION FOR FRONT PANELS

Chest circumference was 38 in. 38 in. divided by 4= 9.5 in. makes up the panel width. 9.5 in. divided by 4 in.= 2.375 rounded down to 2. A total of 2 granny squares make up the front panel width. Multiply 2 by the number of squares needed to complete the back waist length which was 3. 2 x 3= 6 granny squares total needed for the front panel. Subtract 2 from this number (because we will be replacing 2 squares with 2 triangles for the armhole and neck shaping), 6 -2 = 4 granny squares needed to complete the front panel. Make 2 granny triangles to add the shaping for the neckline and armhole. 

Total of 4 granny squares and 2 granny triangles are needed to complete ONE panel.

Remember to repeat for the second panel. 

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Pattern Instructions:

Granny Square:

Make a magic circle. 3 dc into circle, ch 2, 3 dc into circle, ch2, 3 dc into circle, ch2, 3 dc into circle, ch 2, sl st into first dc.

Going into previous ch2 space, complete (3 dc, ch1, 3 dc)* ch 2 rep* around into each ch 2 space followed by a ch 2. Sl. st into the first dc.

Complete 3 dc into previous ch 2 space, ch 2, (3 dc, ch1, 3 dc)* ch 2 rep into corners, completing 3 dc into middle ch 2 spaces.

Sc evenly around to create a border.

Granny Triangle Video reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_EHSvcWblQ 


Tunisian crochet triangle:

Ch 2, complete a foundation row

Inc middle st by completing Tunisian knit stitch (refer to the video tutorial above)  until you have 15 sts, sc around doing (sc, ch1, sc) into corners, sl st and cut yarn

Whip st squares and triangles with black yarn as shown below. Sew pockets on the inside of the front panels.

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Joining and Finishing Touches:

Using black yarn, sew along the top and sides to join the back and front panels (sew from top point to the middle point of the outer triangles) and along the sides, leaving enough space for the armhole, I left an opening of about 8 inches.

With black yarn, Treble crochet border around the bottom of the vest. Leave a 6 in. tail and cut yarn.

With black yarn, Sc border around front panels and along the neckline. Leave a 6 in. tail and cut yarn.

With black yarn, Sc around the armhole. Leave a 6 in. tail and cut yarn.

Weave in all loose ends.

Attach gold metallic crochet thread short tassels in every other st around the bottom of the vest, I made the tassels about 2 to 3 in. Make sure these are secure, you could use a glue gun or tie knots to secure the tassels.

Embroider sheeshas/mirrors as seen on center points and corners of granny squares and triangles (see diagram for reference).

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You are done! Have any questions? The best way to reach me is via email: noorsknits@gmail.com. Share your finished vest with me on social media using the hashtag #BasantiVest for a chance to be featured! Tag me on Instagram @noorsknits and on Facebook @noorsknits1

This is an original pattern from Noor’s Knits, ©2021. Please do not reprint, repost, or sell any parts of this pattern, but feel free to link back to my blog. You are welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern but please kindly link back to my website. Send questions to noorsknits@gmail.com.

If you enjoyed this pattern, please be sure to check out the Tunisian Giving Scarf and the Honeycomb Kitchen Set!

Granny square vest crochet patterns are so fun. Check out this unique granny square vest crochet pattern recipe with custom-fit instructions.

Pin this granny square vest pattern to your favorite Pinterest boards!