Lucy by Janet McMahon: A Colourful Fair Isle Vest Knitting Pattern with Detailed Instructions and Charts

LUCY

by Janet McMahon A colourful Fair Isle vest worked in double knitting weight yarn. This vest was inspired by the knitwear in the Ralph Lauren Autumn / Winter 2012 collection. The vest is fitted at the waist. To fit small (medium, large, xlarge). Finished measurements: Chest 34"(38", 42", 47") / 87 (95,105, 118) cms Length 20 %2" (20 12", 22", 23 %2") / 52 (52, 55, 58) cms

Requirements

Double knitting weight yarn (l used Sirdar Countrystyle dk) in the following amounts:

100g (100g, 150g, 150g) in main shade (l used mid brown) 50g (50g, 100g, 100g) in each of two contrasting colours (l used burgundy and pink 50g in each of four further contrasting colours (l used light blue, navy, cream and heather) 3.25 mm and 3.75 mm needles

Tension

24 sts and x 26 rows to 10 cm measured over pattern.

Abbreviations

k = knit p = purl sts = stitches k2tog = knit 2 together dec = decrease beg = beginning RS = right side wS = wrong side ms = main shade sl = slip the next st psso = pass the slipped st over

BACK

Using 3.25mm needles and ms (l used mid brown) cast on 110 (122, 134, 150) stitches. Row 1 (RS): (k2, p2) to last 2 sts, k2. Row 2 (Ws): (p2, k2) to last 2 sts, p2. Repeat the last 2 rows three times more, decreasing 1 st at end of last row. 109 (121, 133, 149) sts Change to 3.75mm needles and work 2 rows in stocking stitch starting with a knit row. Breaking off and joining in colours as necessary commence working from the appropriate size chart and shape the sides as follows: Decrease 1 st at each end of 17th (17th, 19th, 21st) row and 3 following 6th rows. 101 (113, 125, 141)sts Work 9 (9, 11, 11) rows straight. Increase 1 st at each end of next and 3 following 8th rows. 109, 121, 133, 149) sts Continue straight until works measures 31 (31, 33, 35) cms.

armholes

Cast off 7 (8, 9, 10) sts at the beg of next 2 rows. 95 (105, 115, 129)sts Decrease 1 st at each end of next 13 (15, 17, 20) rows. 69 (75, 81, 89)sts Decrease 1 st at each end of 3 alternate rows. 63 (69, 75, 83) sts Continue straight until armholes measure 21 (21, 22, 23) cms.

Shape shoulders

Pattern until there are 16 (18, 20, 24) stitches on right hand needle, turn, leaving remaining stitches on a spare needle. Working on the 16 (18, 20, 24) sts only, cast off 3 sts at the beg of next row. Cast off 5 (6, 7, 9) sts at beg of next row. Cast off 3 sts at beg of next row. Cast off remaining 5 (6, 7, 9) sts. With RS facing, place centre 31 (33, 35, 35) sts on holder for back of neck. Rejoin yarn to remaining 16 (18, 20, 24) sts and pattern to end. Work 1 row. Cast off 3 sts at beg of next row. Cast off 5 (6, 7, 9) sts at beg of next row. Cast off 3 sts at beg of next row. Cast off remaining 5 (6, 7, 9) sts.

FRONT

Work as given for back until start of armhole shaping. Armhole shaping and divide for neck Cast off 7 (8, 9, 10) sts at beg of row and work until there are 47 (52, 57, 64) sts on right hand needle, turn, leaving remaining 55 (61, 67, 75) sts on a spare needle. Work each side of neck separately. Decrease 1 st at beg of next row. 46 (51, 56, 63) sts Decrease a st at armhole edge on next 13 (15, 17, 20) rows and 3 following alternate rows. AT THE SAME TIME, decrease 1 st at neck edge on every following alternate row until 10 (12, 14, 18) sts remain. Continue straight until front matches the back to the start of shoulder shaping with RS facing for start of next row.

Shape shoulders

Cast off 5 (6, 7, 9) sts at beg of next row. Work 1 row. Cast off remaining 5 (6, 7, 9) sts. With RS facing, place the centre st onto a holder. Rejoin yarn to remaining 54 (60, 66, 74) sts and pattern to end. Cast off 7 (8, 9, 10) sts at beg of next row, work to last 2 sts, k2tog. 46 (51, 56, 63) sts Complete to match first side, reversing shapings.

MAKING UP

Neaten up all loose ends.

NECKBAND

Join right shoulder seam. With RS facing, using ms and 3.25mm needles, pick up and knit 46 (46, 54, 62) sts down left front, knit 1 st from holder and place marker on this st, pick up and knit 45 (47, 53, 61) sts up right front, pick up and knit 5 sts at start of back neck, knit across 31 (33, 35, 35) sts on holder for back, pick up and knit 5 sts at end of back neck. 133 (137, 153, 169) sts Row 1 (WS): k2, (p2, k2) 21 times, purl marked st, (k2, p2) to last 2 sts, k2. Row 2 : Rib to within 2 sts of marked st, k2tog, sl marked st, sl1, k1, psso, rib to end. Row 3: Rib to marked st, purl marked st, rib to end. Repeat last 2 rows once more and row 2 again (6 rows worked). Cast off in rib. Join left shoulder seam.

ARMHOLE BANDS

With right side facing, ms and 3.25mm needles, pick up and knit 134 (140, 148, 160) sts along armhole edge. Row 1 (WS): k1, (p2, k2) to last 3 sts, p2, k1. Row 2 (RS): p1, (k2, p2) to last 3 sts, k2, p1. Repeat these two rows 2 more times. Cast off in rib. Join side seams to complete. LuCy @Janet McMahon, 2012 2013. www.yellowpinkandsparkiy.blogspot.com The following pages have the charts for the different sizes. It is important to make sure you work from the correct chart for your size, otherwise the Fair Isle pattern will not be centred. Chart for small size

Chart for medium size

Chart for large size

Chart for xlarge size