Fair Isle Cropped Vest

A modern cropped vest with zigzag bands and scattered diagonal motifs

Finished Measurements

Materials

Gauge

24 stitches × 28 rows = 10 cm (4") in stockinette stitch on 4.0mm needles

26 stitches × 30 rows = 10 cm (4") in Fair Isle pattern on 4.0mm needles

Pattern Note: Each chart square represents a 2×2 stitch block (K2 in the indicated color). This creates the chunky, bold pattern visible in the original design.

Abbreviations

Fair Isle Pattern Chart

Chart Legend

MC (Beige) = 3
CC1 (Navy/Brown) = 2
CC2 (Off-White) = 1

Important: Each square = K2 in that color. Work each chart row twice (4 rows total per chart row) to create the 2×2 block effect.

Chart Instructions: Read RS rows from right to left. Repeat the pattern across your width.

Complete Pattern Chart (42 stitches wide × 17 rows)

17
16 □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □
15 □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □
14
13 □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □
12 ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■
11 □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □
10 □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □
9 □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □
8 ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■
7 □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □
6 □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □
5 □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □
4
3 □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □
2 □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □
1
Reading the Chart:

Instructions

RIBBING (Bottom)

With 3.5mm circular needle and MC, cast on 220 sts. Place marker and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work in K3, P3 ribbing for 5 cm (2"). This matches the chunky ribbed pattern visible on the sleeves.

BODY

Change to 4.0mm circular needle.

Setup Rounds: Knit all stitches in MC for 4 rounds (approximately 1.5 cm).

Working the Chart: Each chart square represents K2 in that color. For the 2×2 block effect, work each chart row 4 times total:

Begin working from Chart Row 1, repeating the 42-stitch pattern across your round (you'll work it approximately 5 times with some adjustment stitches).

Pattern Sequence:

  1. Bottom Band: Chart Rows 1 only (8 actual rounds with the 4× repeat)
  2. Beige separator: Chart Row 2 (4 rounds of MC beige)
  3. Middle section: Chart Rows 3-11 (36 actual rounds)
  4. Top Band: Chart Rows 12-13 (8 actual rounds)
  5. Beige separator: Chart Row 14 (4 rounds of MC beige)

Total patterned section: 60 actual knitting rounds = approximately 20 cm (8")

Total body length from ribbing to armhole: Approximately 28 cm (11")

DIVIDE FOR ARMHOLES

Next Round: K11 (left shoulder), place next 50 sts on holder for armhole, K110 (front), place next 50 sts on holder for armhole, K11 (right shoulder).

You now have 132 sts for the vest front and shoulders.

FRONT & SHOULDERS

Continue in MC only, working back and forth in stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows):

Work even for 8 cm (3").

NECK SHAPING

Next RS row: K44, join new ball of yarn, bind off center 44 sts, K44.

Working both sides simultaneously with separate balls of yarn:

Row 1 (WS): Purl to end on both sides.

Row 2 (RS): On right side, knit to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. On left side, K1, SSK, knit to end.

Repeat these 2 rows 6 more times. (37 sts remain each side)

Work even until armhole measures 20 cm (7.9").

Bind off remaining shoulder stitches.

FINISHING

Armhole Edging

With 3.5mm circular needle or DPNs and MC, pick up and knit 102 sts evenly around armhole opening (multiple of 6 for ribbing).

Work in K3, P3 ribbing for 3 rounds.

Bind off in pattern.

Repeat for second armhole.

Neck Edging

With 3.5mm circular needle and MC, beginning at left shoulder, pick up and knit approximately 138 sts around neck edge (adjust to nearest multiple of 6). Join to work in the round.

Work in K3, P3 ribbing for 3 rounds.

Bind off in pattern.

Weaving In & Blocking

Weave in all ends, especially where colors were joined.

Block gently to measurements. The 2×2 colorwork creates a naturally stable fabric.

Let dry completely before wearing.

Fair Isle Technique Tips

Customization Ideas