This pattern is found in The Colorwork Bible and cannot be purchased as an individual download. The book is available for purchase here.

This gorgeous colorwork vest looks way more complicated than it really is. As with most traditional stranded colorwork, there are no more than two colors every round, and many of the rounds involve only one color. The color changes are close together so that you don’t have to worry about catching floats. The pattern is worked bottom up, so that when you divide for the armholes you’ll start working back and forth as opposed to in the round. Traditional Fair Isle vests are almost always steeked for the arm and neck openings, but this design has you work flat, to hone your stranded skills on the wrong side of the fabric. If you feel confident with using steeks, you can always alter the pattern; theyarnloop.com has an outstanding tutorial called Adding Steeks for Seamless Knits that will walk you through how to convert flat patterns to be steeked.

Finished Size
31¾ (35½, 39¼, 44¾, 48½, 52¼)“ (80.5 90, 99.5, 113.5, 123, 132.5 cm) bust circumference.
Vest shown measures 35½“ (90 cm); modeled with 2½” (6.5 cm) of positive ease.

Yarn
Fingering weight (#1 Superfine)
Shown in: Anzula Luxury Fibers Dreamy (75% superwash Merino wool, 15% cashmere, 10% silk; 385 yd 352 m/4 oz 114 g): Storm (A) 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2) skein(s); Terracotta (B); One Red Shoe (C); Au Natural (D); Heidi (E); Coco (F) and Boysenberry (G), 1 skein each.

Needles
Size U.S. 1 (2.25 mm): 16” (40 cm) and 32” (80 cm) circular (cir).
Size U.S. 2 (2.75 mm): 32” (80 cm) cir.
Adjust needle sizes if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions
Markers (m); removable m; stitch holders; tapestry needle.

Gauge
30 sts and 34 rows = 4” (10 cm) in chart patt with larger needles.

Notes

• This vest is worked in the round from the bottom up.

• Stitches are bound off for the bottom of the armholes, and the front and back of the vest are worked back and forth separately.

• Front and back are then joined at the shoulders using Three-Needle Bind-Off.

• Finally, stitches are picked up along the armholes and around the V-neck to work ribbing.