ADD A touch of colourful, cosy warmth to your outfit with this classic Fair Isle waistcoat. It has been designed by Mary Henderson with plenty of positive ease for layering, and uses Rowan’s Felted Tweed. The colour palette of warm browns and oranges is lifted by bands of teal blue. The project is worked in the round, with columns of steek stitches for the front opening and armholes. These are reinforced with crochet before being cut open. It’s finished with knitted-on ribbed edgings.

PATTERN NOTES The waistcoat is knitted from the bottom up with steeks at the front and armholes. The Fair Isle stranded technique is used: hold the background colour in the right hand and the contrasting, more dominant colours in the left hand. Change colours at the side of the steeks. Avoid carrying colours not in use for more than three rounds as this can create bulk at the edges where stitches will be picked up later. The steek charts are for guidance: alternate colours so that tramlines are created, making the finishing easier. The number of stitches picked up for edging is for guidance; a few stitches fewer or more will make little difference, but consistency for each side is important.

SIZE
TO FIT BUST
8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
81 86 91 97 102 107 112 117 cm
32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 in

ACTUAL BUST
93 98 103 108 113 118 123 128 cm
36½ 38½ 40½ 42½ 44½ 46½ 48½ 50½ in

ACTUAL LENGTH
63 65 66 67 67½ 70 70½ 73½ cm
24¾ 25½ 26 26½ 26¾ 27½ 27¾ 29 in

YARN
Rowan Felted Tweed (Light DK weight; 50% wool, 25% alpaca, 25% viscose; 175m/191yds per
50g ball)
A TREACLE #145$ 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 x50g BALLS
B CAMEL #157$ 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 x50g BALLS
C RAGE #150$ 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 x50g BALLS
D GINGER #154$ 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 x50g BALLS
E MINERAL #181$ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 x50g BALLS
F WATERY #152$ 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 x50g BALLS

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES
3.25mm (UK 10/US 3)
circular needles, 40cm and 80cm long
4mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needles, 80cm long
2.5mm (UK 12/US C/2) crochet hook
Stitch markers
Stitch holders or waste yarn
5 x 19mm buttons