I keep hearing two complaints: people don't know what to do with that one skein of novelty yarn they purchased on impulse, and people don't know what to do with the skeins/partial skeins of yarn leftover after completing a big project. This simple vest is an idea I came up with to bust through part of my stash and end up with something cute and fun, not hideous and scary.

I made this vest using front-loop-only single crochet to give the vest a little more texture.  Feel free to sc through both loops if you find the front-loop-only texture distasteful. The pattern for the front panels of the vest is only one example of the many ways you can utilize your stash for the front of the vest, and you are encouraged to try different stitches. The front of the vest is a little wider than the back in order to accommodate bust size. If you are particularly busty, I suggest widening the front panels by adding a few more rows.

• Back/hood/fringe: 460 (600, 740) yards of non-variegated worsted weight yarn (I used TLC Essentials in Dark Sage because that's what I had in my stash)
• Front:  175 (225, 275) yards of stash yarn in coordinating colors
• 4.5mm (size G/7) hook or size needed to obtain gauge

S: 34" bust x 20" length (exclusive of hood and fringe)
M: 36.5" bust x 24" length (exclusive of hood and fringe)
L:  39" bust x 28" length (exclusive of hood and fringe)

9 sts x 8 rows = 2.5" in sc

For this pattern, sc = single crochet in front loop only.

The double loop stitch, DLS (adapted from the book, New Design in Crochet by Clinton D. Mackenzie, Van Nostrand, Reinhold Company, 1972): The DLS is worked with the wrong side of the project facing you.  When doing DLS for multiple rows, alternate between rows of DLS and sc, unless you would like the double-loop fringe to be two-sided.  Refer to Figures A1-A3 for each step respectively.

(Directions for right-handed crocheters):
Step 1:  Grasp the yarn with your left hand and wrap it clockwise twice around your left index finger so there are two loops around your finger. Insert the hook into the stitch so there are two loops on the hook and rotate the hook so it goes under the yarn (not shown:  wrapping the hook under the yarn in the opposite direction will yield a more secured loop stitch).

Fig. A1

Step 2:  Slip the hook under the loops around your left index finger. Catch all 3 strands with the hook and bring all three strands through the stitch (the first loop on your hook) so there are 4 loops on your hook.

Fig. A2

Step 3:  Yo and pull the yarn through all the loops on the hook.

Fig. A3

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