Tesserae Vest
This interlocking crochet pattern can be found exclusively in my book, Interlocking Crochet (US and Europe publication date: May 26th, 2026). Grab your copy of the book today using the links below or from your favorite bookstore!
Check out the pattern on Ravelry to see what others have made and to add your own project page! Don’t forget to tag me @crochethighway when posting your work on social media so I can see your beautiful creations 💕
This post may contain affiliate links that support the content on CrochetHighway.com. All opinions are my own.
The Pattern
Say hello to the Tesserae Vest, a fully reversible crochet vest with two distinct looks in one! This easy-to-wear, cropped design is perfect for layering and it’s easily adjustable, allowing you to tailor it perfectly to your body.
Whether worn open for a casual, breezy vibe or closed for a more structured silhouette, this vest will effortlessly adapt to your style. Its standout feature is the two-sided interlocking pattern featuring bold, overlapping squares on one side and stacks of petals on the other side—two contrasting patterns that make the garment feel like a whole new piece when turned inside-out.
The vest is finished off with a series of refined touches such as a faux i-cord edging and a striking contrasting underarm panel for a stylish, polished finish.
Difficulty
Advanced
Measurements
Finished bust circumference: 29.5 (33.75, 37.75, 41.75, 45.75) (50, 54, 58, 62) inches or 75 (86, 96, 106, 116) (127, 137, 147, 157) cm
The sizing for this pattern is based on the standard Craft Yarn Council (CYC) measurements.
This vest is designed to be worn with -2 to +2 inches (-5 to +5 cm) of ease around the bust.
All my garment patterns are size-inclusive and are graded for actual bust circumferences of up to at least a 60 inches or 152 cm.
Materials
Yarn
Fingering weight.
Fiber
Cotton is a natural fit for a reversible vest designed to be worn and shown off from both sides. Its crisp stitch definition ensures that both the overlapping squares and the petal pattern read clearly and distinctly, which is essential when the two sides are the central point of the design.
A mercerized cotton will add a subtle sheen and extra durability, elevating the polished, refined aesthetic of the finished piece.
If you prefer a little more drape and fluidity, a cotton-bamboo blend is a lovely alternative that keeps the breathability and structure of cotton while softening the overall look.
Since this pattern relies on two contrasting colors, invest your energy in finding a combination that excites you. The bolder the contrast, the more dramatic the switch when you turn the vest inside out.
Notions
Scissors, yarn needle, up to 6 locking stitch markers, tape measure, safety pins or sewing clips, four 8-mm beads (optional).
Hooks
US E-4/3.5 mm (main gauge) hook, US C-2 or US D/3.0 mm (secondary) hook, or sizes needed to obtain gauge. I’m a tight crocheter, so you may have to go down in hook sizes.
Shown in
Main color: Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 (100% Cotton; 175 yds/160 m per 1.75 oz/50 g skein) in color Oatmilk (03)
Contrast color: Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 Print (100% Cotton; 175 yds/160 m per 1.75 oz/50 g skein) in color Mangrove Forest (11)
Yardage
Main color: 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) (5, 6, 6, 7) skeins or 525 (555, 645, 715, 810) (845, 940, 1040, 1075) yds/480 (505, 590, 655, 740) (775, 860, 950, 985) m
Contrast color: 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) (6, 6, 7, 7) skeins or 510 (555, 650, 730, 830) (870, 970, 1070, 1110) yds/465 (505, 595, 670, 760) (795, 885, 980, 1015) m
Yarn Substitution Ideas
Need help picking a yarn? Below you’ll find a selection of alternatives that work beautifully with this pattern.
I’d LOVE to see your work, so be sure to tag me @CrochetHighway on Instagram and use the #CrochetHighway hashtag for a chance to be featured on my stories!
Join my Facebook support Group
I proud myself with writing ultra-detailed patterns for you, so that your crocheting experience is as smooth and seamless as possible. But whenever you have a pattern related question, my Facebook support group is the place to ask. There you can also share your WIPs and brag about your FOs with the community!
Tester lookbook
My patterns would not be so smooth without the input of my team of talented testers. Swipe left & right for more photos of your favorite versions. Want to test my future patterns? Check out how you can become a pattern tester for CrochetHighway!
|
Denise (DenwitchCrafts on Ravelry) Size 3, using 750 yds of Friends 8/4 Cotton in Deep Ocean as MC and 500 yds of Berroco Modern Cotton DK in Warbler as CC |
Dhanya (dhanyajinesh on Ravelry)
Size 4, using 650 yds of Alize Cotton Gold as MC and 722 yds of Alize Cotton Gold as CC
Hook size(s): 2.0 mm; 2.5 mm
Mods: None.
Size 2, using 657 yds of Crocheted by Carrise, 12Ply Fine Cotton Gradient as MC and 453 yds of Crocheted by Carrise, 12Ply Fine Cotton, Cream as CC
Hook size(s): 2.5 mm; 3.0 mm
Mods: I followed the pattern exactly except I did accidentally mess up a small row of front/ back and seem to have somehow miscounted 5 blocks on the left front and only 4.5 blocks on the right for the eyelet so it’s a little wonky but I will find a way to fix!
Size 1, using 427 yds of Decida Natural Merino as MC and 419 yds of Decida Advent Calendar Merino as CC
Hook size(s): 3.0 mm; 3.5 mm
Mods: No mods, but my final length was shorter than it should be. I decided not to block the vest aggressively, however, because the shorter length suited me better.
Size 3, using 445 yds of Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply in Seashell as MC and 527 yds of Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply in Black as CC
Hook size(s): 3.0 mm; 3.25 mm
Mods: I seamed from the bottom up (on both sides of the underarm panels) because it’s easier for me to keep track of having an even number of stitches that way.
Mariaoze (Mariaoze69 on Ravelry)
Size 3, using 426 yds of Merkury 022 as MC and 405 yds of Merkury 023 as CC
Hook size(s): 2.0 mm; 1.5 mm
Mods: On the black panel I did 86 CH, I wanted to crochet it with zero ease around the bust. For both back and front panels I made 11 pattern repeats. For the underarm panels I made 48 rows.
Maru (malonsooo on Ravelry)
Size 3, using 547 yds of Moussa 100% Cotton 8/3 Yarn as MC and 577 yds of Mumini 100% Cotton 8/3 Hand Dyed Yarn as CC
Hook size(s): 2.5 mm; 3.0 mm
Mods: None.
Michelle (MishRynk on Ravelry)
Size 4, using 710 yds of Knit Picks Comfy Yarn in Mustard Yellow as MC and 750 yds of Expression Fiber Arts Fingering Weight in Cream as CC
Hook size(s): 3.0 mm; 3.5 mm
Mods: Decreased side panel from 62 to 50 repeats and decreased repeats on back and front panels from 13 to 12.
Pippa (Pippasmakes on Ravelry)
Size 3, using 525 yds of Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 01 White as MC and 472.5 yds of Hobbii Friends Corton 8/4 96 Teal as CC
Hook size(s): 3.5 mm
Mods: I shortened the length by 2 pattern repeats to get to natural waist.
Poornima (Poornimagv on Ravelry)
Size 2, using 613 yds of Magic Needles Kotton 4 Ply as MC and 415 yds of Magic Needles Kotton 4 Ply as CC
Hook size(s): 2.5 mm
Mods: I made the underarm panel in the MC instead of CC as suggested in the pattern.
Size 6, using 613 yds of Goosey Fibers Sparkle in Spoonbill as MC and 657 yds of Goosey Fibers Sparkle in Snow Moon as CC
Hook size(s): 3.5 mm
Mods: I make the tie a little bit longer (about 50 more chains) so I would be able to tie it loosely. I also just prefer longer ties and was debating adding beads but I don’t have any beads in the house so I didn’t do that. But maybe in the future.
Thirsty for more? Why not check out some of my recently published crochet patterns and tutorials: