Inspired by 1930s and ‘40s vintage style, this vest is knit seamlessly on circular needles from the bottom up to the armholes, then divided into front and back and knit flat to the shoulders. It features colorwork in traditional Fair Isle motifs with only two colors worked at the same time, with very short floats. Campion’s wide ribbing is nicely suited for styling with high-waisted trousers (or skirt); the pattern can also be modified from its current cropped style for a longer vest (see photo at bottom left). This pattern is written for five sizes.

YARN
This pattern is written for Sport or light DK weight yarn. Samples pictured above illustrate the use of different colorwork strategies: low-contrast gradient using heathered main color with gradient striping/marled contrast colors, medium contrast colorwork using contrast color odds and ends, and high contrast solids.

Suggested yarns include Yarn Hero or Spincycle (for gradient CC), Retrosaria Brusca, and Purl Soho Good Wool.

Quantities for top left sample:

Ribbing Color (RC) approx. 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2) 100 gram skeins
Main Color (MC) approx. 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2) 100 gram skein(s)
Contrast Color (CC) approx. 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) 100 gram skein gradient yarn

NEEDLES
• Size US 3 / 3.25mm circular needle for bottom/waist ribbing, as well as arm and neck openings (these will require a shorter needle cable then the waist, as they are joined in the round)
• Size US 5 / 3.75mm main gauge circular needle
You may need to go up or down needle sizes to meet gauge.

NOTIONS
Stitch markers (one for BOR and one removable stitch marker), stitch holders, tapestry needle

GAUGE
24 sts and 27 rows = 4in/ 10cm. Gauge was measured over stockinette stitch colorwork (in main gauge needles) after blocking.

SIZES
Pattern is written for five sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5). Please see notes on
Page 3 for instructions on how to knit larger/smaller sizes with
some modifications.

finished measurements after blocking:
Please note that this vest is designed to be worn with very little positive ease or slight negative ease at the bust/chest.

bust/chest circumference — 32 (36, 40, 44, 48) inches
body length from underarm down —10.5 (10.5, 11, 11, 11.5) inches*
shoulder to underarm — 8 (8, 8, 9, 9) inches
width across back at shoulders— 14 (15.25, 16.5, 18.25, 19.5) inches

• Vest can be lengthened from its cropped style by adding rounds of colorwork and/or ribbing (see photo at bottom left, which has about 2.5 extra inches of colorwork).

Pattern Correction:
In Chart 1—column 1, row 13 should be a contrast color. This correction appears in the pattern update (January 2023).

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