This is a crochet pattern review of the Power Puff Crochet Vest pattern designed by PinkSheepDesigns. Reviewed by Heidi of Gorgeous Crafts.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links (*), meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate and an Awin Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Find the crochet pattern review below, or click here to purchase the crochet pattern from Etsy*.
Recently, I had the amazing opportunity to test out the Power Puff Crochet Vest pattern for PinkSheepDesigns. Let me tell you, it’s an absolutely fantastic design that I am thrilled to share with you.
Who are PinkSheepDesigns?
I’ve been following PinkSheepDesigns on Instagram for a while now, they have such a lovely fun feed!
Very early last year I noticed that Evelyn, the owner behind PinkSheepDesigns, had put out a call for pattern testers for the Power Puff Vest. I’d never tested someone else’s pattern before but the pattern looked simple enough for me as a beginner tester and used bulky yarn which I knew would work up quite quickly.
So I jumped in and applied to be a tester!
Evelyn accepted me straight away and sent out the pattern.
I have to admit, I was quite nervous! Obviously I’ve created items using other people’s patterns before but this was the first time that I was actively reviewing someone’s work!
Luckily for me it was all very straightforward, Evelyn had a team of us working on it at the same time. As the tester call had been out for a couple of weeks, by the time I got involved all of the mistakes had already been picked up. As Evelyn was looking for testers for each of the different sizes offered, that didn’t matter.
Materials I Used
Bernat Blanket Extra* (100% Polyester, 87m (95yds)/300g (10.6oz), super chunky) 2 skeins each in Velvet Teal and Burgundy Plum.
25mm, 20mm hooks. I used these from Etsy*
Material Notes
The pattern suggests using a jumbo weight (7) yarn OR super bulky (6) yarn that calls for a suggested
hook size of 15mm on the label. However, at the end of the pattern there is a long list of suggested yarns depending upon whether you want to use a single strand of yarn or two held together.
I chose Bernat Blanket Extra* in Velvet Teal and Burgundy Plum. No I’m not a UK football fan, I just seem to wear these colours a lot and wanted a vest that would work with my current wardrobe.
Bernat Blanket Extra is on the single strand list and I purchased 2 skeins of each colour. I managed to get one size 2XL vest with a good sized hood (see the photos below) AND almost one size XL vest, I ran out halfway through the collar.
I frogged the hood on the first vest to finish off the collar on the second and was able to rework a smaller hood. While it looked ok, I actually preferred the fuller hood.
Time Spent
I’ll admit that didn’t record how much time it took but being big yarn it does work up quite quickly. From memory, I’d say it might take you a long weekend to work this up if you spent most of your time crocheting.
Measurements
As I mentioned below, I ended up making two vests, the first was 2XL but I soon realised this was too big for me and so I made another in size XL. The chest measurement for XL is 44 inches; and for 2XL is 48 inches.
I added an extra 4 stitches to the starting chain as 19 chains was too short for my liking. This made the length 23 inches which was much better.
Gauge
Most crocheters have a love-hate relationship with gauge swatches! I get it, you’re keen to just get on with the pattern and most of the time it doesn’t really matter. But with clothing – it REALLY matters. The number one reason why people end up with a piece of clothing that doesn’t fit is because they didn’t work a gauge swatch!
This pattern is no exception. As requested, I made up a gauge swatch with both of the recommended hook sizes and it’s a good thing I did as my gauge wasn’t right at all! I ended up making three swatches to make sure that I was getting the correct gauge.
All that work helped me to discover that I made the gauge only if I used the 25 mm hook and I had to crochet a little tighter than I normally would have. When I tried with the 20 mm hook my swatch was definitely too small.
Once I had the gauge right, and knew which hook I needed to use, I started work on the pattern.
Crochet Vest Pattern Notes
At first I chose to create the 2XL size but as you can see from the photos below it was a little large for me, although I still loved it!
As this uses bulky yarn you do need the large 25mm and 20mm hooks.
Luckily PinkSheepDesign also create their own supersized hooks through 3D printing! they’re pretty cool! You can check out their Etsy shop here*
Unfortunately, as I’m in the UK, the postage costs to have one of their lovely hooks shipped to me was too expensive so I got my wooden ones here*.
I chose to extend the collar until it was tall enough to turn into a hood by simply continuing until I was happy with how it looked as a hood. I then turned it inside out, folded the collar in half and whip stitched along the top edge to close it.
It wasn’t until after I’d completed this first crochet vest that I realised I’d forgotten the pattern states US sizes which are slightly different to UK sizes (I’m currently a UK size 18).
As I still had plenty of yarn left over I decided to make another one!
This time I swapped the colours over and worked up an XL size vest. And as you can see this one fit me MUCH better!
I didn’t have quite enough yarn to make a hood so instead I added some toggle closures that I had hanging around my craft room, you can find similar ones here on Amazon*. I quite like how it turned out, don’t you?
The final vests are super snuggly and much warmer than I thought they would be. The photos were taken in January and it was bitterly cold outside but the vests kept me really toasty while we were taking the photos.
Oh and if you want to see me dancing around in them check out this Instagram post (try not to fall over laughing at how silly I look!).
If you’re looking to make something cute and yet warm you can grab the pattern from PinkSheepDesign’s Etsy shop here*.
Crochet Vest Pattern Review
One really great reason to pick up a PinkSheepDesign pattern is that they are size inclusive! Not only do they cater to smaller sizes like XXS/XS, but they also offer options for larger sizes up to 4XL/5XL! This ensures that everyone can enjoy creating and wearing these fabulous designs.
Moreover, you will find that the pattern instructions provided by PinkSheepDesign are exceptionally clear and user-friendly. They are accompanied by numerous photos, making it much easier for you to follow along and guide you through each step of the process.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced sewer, the detailed instructions will definitely be of great help. Additionally, the pattern notes are incredibly precise, offering valuable insights and tips for achieving the best results.
The materials section is also very thorough, providing specific yardage recommendations for every size and giving estimated chest and length measurements. This attention to detail ensures that you can confidently select the right materials and achieve the perfect fit for your garment.
Throughout the pattern there are notes on how you can add stitches for extra length and then how to adapt the pattern to include those additional stitches!
If you want to make the crochet vest in the same colour way as Evelyn has in the photos there are notes on where to make the colour changes too! It is very thorough.
Where some of the instructions would be difficult to explain in writing, for example how to connect two pieces using the mattress stitch, Evelyn has included links to video tutorials. This way you can actually see how to work that part of the pattern.
One thing I absolutely loved about the pattern is that Evelyn includes detailed explanations and illustrations for each stitch, making it easy to follow and understand. Additionally, she provides tips and tricks for achieving the perfect fit and look. Rest assured, you’ll have all the information and guidance you need to create a stunning crochet vest.
By choosing a PinkSheepDesign pattern*, you are not only getting a stylish and inclusive design, but also receiving comprehensive instructions and support to successfully complete your project.
Happy stitching!
