Stash-busting project: Pocket Full of Posies Vest

After completing a self-striping granny square cocoon cardigan as a birthday gift for a dear friend, I had leftover two partial Caron Cakes in Berries & Cream, which together added up to slightly more than one cake. Then when someone in one of the crochet Facebook groups to which I belong posted about the free pattern for the Pocket Full of Posies Vest and mentioned that it can be made with one Caron Cake, I thought it would be a good way to make something to donate to my church’s Christmas crafts fair and use up that yarn at the same time.

The way the pattern handles different sizes is interesting. You do the same number of stitches and rounds, but use different sized hooks for sizes adult extra small (H hook), adult small (I hook), adult medium (J hook) and adult large (K hook).

I used a K hook and the vest did come out an adult large. Because it’s meant to be loose and flowing, you have some leeway with the sizes. I actually stopped five rounds short of the 41 rounds specified by the pattern, because I felt it was already plenty big enough.

I did nothing to control the colors, but let them fall where they would, and it looks lovely.

The pattern is clearly written and, because a good deal of it is mesh done in chain stitch, it works up very quickly.

I will happily use this pattern again, if the need arises.