The Tulip Square Vest is made out of squares and triangles slip stitched together. This granny square vest pattern is available in size XS up to 5XL including step by step video tutorial.
Find the free pattern below or purchase the ad-free PDF version of this pattern on Etsy and Ravelry. The PDF is designed for printing and this way you can support me!
Permission: Learn more about selling finished items using my patterns in my FAQ here.
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About the yarn
For this granny square spencer I’ve used Lion Brand Color Theory which is a new collab between Alexandra Tavel of Two Of Wands and Lion Brand. Alexandra carefully curated the colors and Color Theory lets you mix and match hues with ease. It’s my first time using this yarn and I’m hooked!
Tulip Square Spencer free crochet pattern
Materials
– Lion Brand Color Theory (weight 4/medium, 246yds/212m, 3.5oz/100g) 5 (7, 9, 11) balls in color Raisin [619-144U] or 450 (630, 890, 1050) grams of similar yarn.
For reference, model is 1.63m / 5’4″ tall with a 34” bust and wearing the spencer in size XS/S.
Spencer is oversized and designed with 2-12” of positive ease so it fits nice and comfy.
If you’re in between sizes, size down.
You can use a smaller hook to create slightly smaller squares resulting in a smaller spencer.
INCH
XS/S
M/L
XL/2X/3X
4X/5X
To fit bustsize
30-36
38-44
46-56
58-64
Actualmeasurement at bust
40
46
58
66
Width
20
23
29
33
Length
22
25
31
35
Armhole
9
10.5
13.5
19.5
CM
XS/S
M/L
XL/2X/3X
4X/5X
To fit bustsize
30-36
38-44
46-56
58-64
Actualmeasurement at bust
102
117
147
168
Width
51
58
74
84
Length
56
64
79
89
Armhole
23
27
34
50
Gauge
With hook size 6mm: 15 dc x 7 rows = 4 x 4” / 10 x 10 cm
Stitches & abbreviations
– r: round
– st: stitch
– ch: chain
– ch-sp: chain space
– sl st: slip stitch
– sl st blo: slip stitch worked in back loop only
– sc: single crochet
– dc: double crochet
– v-st: v-stitch: (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in one st
– puff: puff stitch (yarn over, pull up a long loop (3 loops on hook), [yarn over, pull up a long loop in same st] 2 times (7 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all 7 loops on your hook, chain 1 to secure the stitch)
* repeat what is between the asterisks as many times as directed
< > amount of stitches you should have at the end of a row
Notes
– This pattern is written in US terminology
– Spencer is made out of squares and triangles joined together.
– Pattern contains instructions for size XS/S with (M/L, XL/2X/3X, 4X/5X) in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.
– Spencer is oversized and designed with 2-12” of positive ease so it fits nice and comfy.
Video tutorial
Below you can find a video tutorial of this spencer.
** An ad-free PDF version is available on Etsy and Ravelry. It’s designed for printing and this way you can support me **
Squares
Square notes: – Squares are worked in rounds with the right side facing you – Beginning and ends of rounds will take place within same corner – Sl st does not count as a stitch – Video tutorial of this square can be foundhere
Ch 4, sl st to first ch to form a ring. You can also begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: ch 5 (counts as your first dc and ch 2 here and throughout pattern), [1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 2] 3 times, 1 dc, ch 1, sl st in 3rd ch, sl st into corner (4 sets of 2 dc / 1 v-st)
Round 2: *(1 puff, ch 2, 1 puff) into corner, ch 1, [1 puff in next ch-sp, ch 1] repeat across, repeat from * 3 more times, sl st in 1st puff, sl st into corner (4 sets of 3 puff)
Round 3: ch 5, 2 dc into corner, 1 dc in next puff, *[2 dc in next ch-sp, 1 dc in next puff] repeat across, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into corner, repeat from * 3 more times but replace last corner with 1 dc into corner before beginning ch-5, sl st in 3rd ch, sl st into corner (4 sets of 11 dc)
Round 4: ch 5, (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) into corner, skip next 2 st, *[(1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in next st, skip next 2 st] repeat across, (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) into corner, repeat from * 3 more times but replace last corner with (1 dc, ch 1) into corner before beginning ch-5, sl st in 3rd ch, sl st into corner (4 sets of 10 dc / 5 v-st)
Size XS/S: fasten off, weave ends. Square should measure 6 x 6” / 15 x 15 cm. Make 27 squares.
Round 5: Repeat round 2 <4 sets of 7 puff>
Size M/L: fasten off, weave ends. Square should measure 7 x 7” / 18 x 18 cm. Make 27 squares.
Round 6: Repeat round 3 <4 sets of 23 dc>
Size XL/2X/3X: fasten off, weave ends. Square should measure 9 x 9” / 23 x 23 cm. Make 27 squares.
Round 7: Repeat round 4 <4 sets of 18 dc / 9 v-st>
Size 4X/5X: fasten off, weave ends. Square should measure 10.5 x 10.5” / 26.5 x 26.5 cm. Make 27 squares.
You can make the square as big as you want by repeating round 2, 3 and 4 as many times as needed.
Triangles
Triangle notes: – Turn your work at the end of each row – Turning chains do not count as a stitch – You do not need turning chains for the first puff stitch in row 2, just pull up an extra long loop – Video tutorial of this triangle can be foundhere
Ch 4, sl st to first ch to form a ring. You can also begin with a magic ring.
Row 2: 1 puff in 1st st, *ch 1, 1 puff in next ch-1 sp* repeat to center ch-2 sp, ch 1, (1 puff, ch 2, 1 puff) in center ch-2 sp, ch 1, *1 puff in next ch-1 sp, ch 1* repeat to end, 1 puff in last st, turn <6 puff>
Row 3: Ch 3, 3 dc in 1st puff, *2 dc in next ch-sp, 1 dc in next puff* repeat to center ch-2 sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in center ch-2 sp, *1 dc in next puff, 2 dc in next ch-sp* repeat to end, 3 dc in last puff st, turn <22 dc>
Row 4: Ch 3, (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in 1st st, skip next st, *(1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in next st, skip 2 st* repeat to center ch-2 sp, (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in center ch-2 sp, *skip 2 st, (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in next st* repeat to end, skip next st, (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in last st, turn <20 dc / 10 v-st>
Size XS/S: fasten off, weave ends. Make 14 triangles.
Row 5: Repeat row 2 <14 puff>
Size M/L:fasten off, weave ends. Make 14 triangles.
Row 6: Repeat row 3 <46 dc>
Size XL/2X/3X:fasten off, weave ends. Make 14 triangles.
Row 7: Repeat row 4 <36 dc / 18 v-st>
Size 4X/5X:fasten off, weave ends. Make 14 triangles.
Assembly
Arrange all squares and triangles as indicated by diagram below with the good sides facing upwards. Sl st everything together using a loose tension.
Slip stitch tip: insert your hook in the front loop of the square on top, and in the back loop of the square below.
Put the back panel on top of the front panel and sl st all remaining squares and triangles together.
Ribbing
– Use loose tension when working ribbing – Measure ribbing on a smooth surface – Make sure to always end with an uneven amount of rows
Armholeribbing – make 2
With hook size 6mm, ch 5
Row 1: sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn <4 sl st>
Row 2: sl st blo in each st across, turn <4 sl st>
Repeat row 2 until row 95 (111, 143, 207) or until ribbing measures 18 (21, 27, 39)” / 45 (58, 68, 99) cm.
Tip: optionally you can seam up a few stitches to make a smaller arm hole. Adjust ribbing length accordingly.
Neckline ribbing
With hook size 6mm, ch 6
Row 1: sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn <5 sl st>
Row 2: sl st blo in each st across, turn <5 sl st>
Repeat row 2 until row 173 (207, 253, 293) or until ribbing measures 30 (36, 44, 51)” / 76 (91, 112, 129) cm.
Hemlineribbing
With hook size 6mm, ch 9
Row 1: sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn <8 sl st>
Row 2: sl st blo in each st across, turn <8 sl st>
Repeat row 2 until row 217 (251, 317, 361) or until ribbing measures 40 (46, 58, 66)” / 101 (117, 147, 168) cm.
Ribbingassembly
For each ribbing, sew ends together using sl st: insert hook in front loop of beginning ch and back loop of sl st.
Use your tapestry needle to sew ribbing to spencer. You can use stitch markers to prevent ribbing from moving.
Blocking
You can (steam) block the dress to help smooth the joined granny squares.
Hi Wilma, I loved making this pattern so much! My vest is gorgeous in a rich dark turquoise. I got impatient to wear it so I cheated and did a simpler FPDC / BPDC ribbing instead and I love it. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful patterns with us Wishing you much love and blessings, Tam x x
Hello.
I love this shape and pattern and am in the UK. I was confused by the yarn weight as you say 4/Medium, but on the Lion Brand website they say 3/Light. Would this is DK yarn in the UK do you know please?
Many thanks
Hi Wilma,
I’m not usually a fan of granny squares, but this vest caught my eye and I just have to try it! I got the pattern from Etsy and have plenty of yarn so I can’t wait to get started! It’s perfect for cooler weather here in the upstate of South Carolina. Thanks for sharing!
Charlene
Hello Wilma!
I have admired this tulip square for a while and decided this is the pattern I will make. I followed your link to Lion Brand and purchased the kit. I am looking forward to making this vest and wearing it this winter as ankther layer to keep warm.
Take care,
Patty
Hi Wilma, I loved making this pattern so much! My vest is gorgeous in a rich dark turquoise. I got impatient to wear it so I cheated and did a simpler FPDC / BPDC ribbing instead and I love it. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful patterns with us Wishing you much love and blessings, Tam x x
Hello.
I love this shape and pattern and am in the UK. I was confused by the yarn weight as you say 4/Medium, but on the Lion Brand website they say 3/Light. Would this is DK yarn in the UK do you know please?
Many thanks
Hi Wilma,
I’m not usually a fan of granny squares, but this vest caught my eye and I just have to try it! I got the pattern from Etsy and have plenty of yarn so I can’t wait to get started! It’s perfect for cooler weather here in the upstate of South Carolina. Thanks for sharing!
Charlene
absolutely wonderful items & so many i want to create, all thanks to you. many thanks
Hello Wilma!
I have admired this tulip square for a while and decided this is the pattern I will make. I followed your link to Lion Brand and purchased the kit. I am looking forward to making this vest and wearing it this winter as ankther layer to keep warm.
Take care,
Patty