Sizes: 0-6 (6-12, 12-18, 18-24)

Materials

Yarn:

 Cheval Blanc Salsa (60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic; 120 yards [110 meters]/50 grams): 71 Grey (Color A), 2 (4, 4, 5) balls; 94 Navy (Color B), 1 (2, 2, 2) balls; 16 Off-White (Color C), 1 ball; 12 Black (Color D), 1 ball.

Hook: US size E/4 (3.5 mm)

Notions: Removable markers; tapestry needle

Gauge: 22 sts and 13 rows = 4’ (10 cm) in Crochet Moss Stitch

Pattern Notes

The vest is worked in two pieces and then seamed together. The panda applique is worked separately and then sewn to the front of the vest.

Pattern

Back

Ribbing

With Color B, ch 46 (48, 50, 52)

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across row, turn. (44 (46, 48, 50) sts)

Row 2: Ch 3, *dcfp, dcbp; rep from * to end, turn. (44 (46, 48, 50) sts)

Row 3: Rep Row 2.

Cont in ribbing until piece measures 1 (1.5, 2, 2)” [2.5 (4, 5, 5, 5) cm].

Body

With Color A.

Row 1: Ch 1, sc in each st across row, ch 1, turn. (44 (46, 48, 50) sts)

Row 2: Sc in 1st sc, *ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st; rep from * to last sc, sc, turn. (23 sc and 21 ch-1 sp (24 sc and 22 ch-1 sp, 25 sc and 23 ch-1 sp, 26 sc and 24 ch-1 sp)

Rep Rows 1-2 until piece measures 5½ (6, 6.5, 7½)” [14 (15, 16.5, 19) cm], ending with a RS row.

Shape Armholes

Row 1 (WS): Sk first 6 sc, attach yarn with a sc in next st, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next sc; rep from * across row to last 6 sts, leave rem sts unworked, ch 1, turn. (17 sc and 15 ch-1 sp (18 sc and 16 ch-1 sp, 19 sc and 17 ch-1 sp, 20 sc and 18 ch-1 sp)

Row 2 (RS): Sk 1st sc, sc in next sc and in each st across row, turn. (32 (34, 36, 38) sts)

Row 3: Rep Row 1.

Row 4: Rep Row 2.

Row 5: Rep Row 1.

Rep Rows 4-5 until piece measures 9 (10, 11, 12)” [23 (25, 28, 30) cm].

Shape First Shoulder

Row 1 (WS): Ch1, turn, sc in 1st sc, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next sc; rep from * 3 times, sc in next st, leave rem sts unworked for neck and shoulders, turn. (5 sc and 3 ch-1 sp)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st and ch sp across row, turn.

Row 3: Rep Row 1.

Row 4: Rep Row 2.

Fasten off.

Shape Second Shoulder

With WS facing, sk next 14 (16, 18, 22) unworked sts and join yarn with sc in next sc, (ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in last sc, turn. (5 sc and 3 ch-1 sp)

Rows 2-4: Rep as for First Shoulder

Fasten off.

Front

Work same as for back until armhole shaping.

Shape Armholes

Row 1 WS): Sk first 6 sc, attach yarn with a sc in next st, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next sc; rep from * across row to last 6 sts leave remaining sts unworked, ch 1, turn. (17 sc and 15 ch-1 sp (18 sc and 16 ch-1 sp, 19 sc and 17 ch-1 sp, 20 sc and 18 ch-1 sp)

Row 2 (RS): Sk 1st sc, sc in next sc, and in each st across row, turn. (32 (34, 36, 38) sts)

Row 3: Rep Row 1.

Row 4: Rep Row 2.

Row 5: Rep Row 1.

Rep Rows 4-5 until piece measures 9 (10, 11, 12)” [23 (25, 28, 30) cm].

Shape First Shoulder

Row 1 (WS): Ch 1, turn, sc in 1 st sc, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * 5 times, sc in next st, leave rem sts unworked for neck and shoulders, turn. (7 sc and 5 ch-1 sp)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st and ch-sp across row, turn. (11 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in 1 st sc, *ch1, sk next sc, sc in next sc; rep from * across row, sc in last sc, turn. (6 sc and 5 ch-1 sp)

Row 4: Rep Row 2. (10 sc)

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in 1 st sc, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next sc; rep from * across row to last sc, sc in last sc, turn. (6 sc and 4 ch-1 sp)

Row 6: Rep Row 2. (9 sc)

Row 7: Rep Row 3. (5 sc and 4 ch-1 sp)

Row 8: Rep Row 2. (8 sc)

Row 9: Rep Row 7. (5 sc and 3 ch-1 sp)

Row 10: Rep Row 8. (8 sc)

Row 11: Rep Row 7.

Rows 12-15: Rep Row 10-11 twice.

Fasten off.

Shape Second Shoulder

With RS facing, sk next 6 (8, 10, 14) following first shoulder. Join Color A with sc in next sc, (ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next sc) 5 times, sc in last sc, turn. (7 sc and 5 ch-1 sp)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st and ch sp across row, turn. (11 sts)

Rows 3-15: Work same as for First Shoulder.

Fasten off.

Finishing

Sew shoulder seams. Sew side seams.

Neck Ribbing

Join Color B, sc evenly around, making sure to end up with an even number of sts, sl st to 1st sc to join.

Rnd 1: Ch 3 *dcfp, dcbp; rep from * to end of rnd.

Fasten off.

Shoulder Ribbing

Join Color B, sc evenly around, making sure to end up with an even number of sts, sl st to 1st sc to join.

Rnd 1: Ch 3 *dcfp, dcbp; rep from * to end of rnd.

Fasten off.

Panda Applique

Rnd 1: With Color C, 6 sc into a Magic Ring

Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: *Work 2 sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * 6 times. (18 sts)

Rnd 4: Sc in next st, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep from * 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st. (24 sts)

Rnd 5: *Work 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts; rep from * 6 times. (30 sts)

Rnd 6: Sc in next 3 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts; rep from * 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc in last st. (36 sts)

Rnd 7: Work 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts; rep from * 6 times. (42 sts)

Rnd 8: Sc in next 4 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts; rep from * 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts. (48 sts)

Ears (Make 2)

Rnd 1: With Color D, 6 sc into a Magic Ring

Pull tight but do not join. You should have a half circle, ch 1 turn
Row 2: *Work 2 sc in first st, sc in next st; rep from * to end of row, ch 1, turn. (9 sts)
Row 3: Sc in each st around row.

Fasten off.

Eyes (Make 2)

Rnd 1: With Color D, 6 sc into a Magic Ring.

Work 2 sc in each st around until there are 9 sts.

Fasten off.

Finishing

Sew eyes on panda. Sew ears on either side.

Sew applique on front of vest body.

Fasten off. Weave in any loose ends.