The Fair Isle Vest: Design and Knit Your Own

A Virtual Class With Janine Bajus

Feb 5, 2:00-4:00pm
Feb 6, 2:00-4:00pm
Feb 12, 10:00am-12:00pm and 2:00-4:00pm
Feb 13,10:00am-12:00pm CST

Are you ready to design and knit a classic V-neck Fair isle vest? Janine will walk you through your design decisions in an accessible, step-by-step, process and teach you the techniques you need to knit a well-finished garment that fits you.

Class sessions will be recorded and remain accessible online to registered students of this class for 14 days following the event.

Design and knit your own Joy of Color Fair Isle vest! Working with your choice of 12-shade colorways —there are 7 choices — and three traditional Fair Isle band motifs, author Janine Bajus walks you through the process of creating this classic V-neck design

First we’ll explore how color is used in Fair Isle design before you start swatching the main motif. Next we’ll discuss arranging bands and how to make the bands work together. Step-by-step, you will build your personal design.

During the course of the workshop, Janine will cover the techniques required to knit this stranded vest: steeking, adding bands, increasing and decreasing in color pattern, and knitting corrugated rib.

Finally, we will walk through building your personal pattern: taking measurements, determining ease, calculating stitch counts, centering motifs, calculating armholes, and finally determining how much yarn you need to complete your size vest.

By the end of the class you will be well grounded in the theory and practice of designing a Fair Isle vest and ready to knit your own!

Special skills or knowledge needed to take this workshop:
Must have experience in two-color stranded knitting, knitting in the round, and reading charts. But it’s OK to be slow!

A kit is required for this class, and an $88 kit fee will be added at checkout. The kit will include 12 balls of Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift 100% Shetland yarn; 115 yds/25g. The last images show the color ways available.

Autumn: Heathery golds and greens (a dark colorway)
Beachcombing: Blues, red-violets, coral, gold, seaweed….
Copenhagen: Blues and golds
Fall Leaves: Clear oranges, yellows, greens and
Fresco: Faded greens, blues, and golds
Greg’s Chickens: Golds, red-oranges, olive, and grays
Hydrangea: Blues, blue-violets, pinks, and leafy greens
Naturals: Natural Shetland colors paired with traditional madder red and indigo blues
Oil Slick: Cool blues, yellow-greens, and golds
Paprika: Moody oranges, purples, and golds (a dark colorway)
Renaissance: Corals and aquas
Seashore: Turquoises and yellow-oranges

There are limited quantities of each color way available. When your order is complete, you will receive a link to select your color way. (Please note that, depending on color use and vest size, you will may need to order a few additional balls of yarn to complete the vest.)

NOTE: Due to time and shipping constraints, kits are not available to people living outside the United States. 

Supply List

For class:
• US 3 (3.25mm) 24-32″ circular needle, for swatching; ; it’s best if you have a selection of needles US 2-4 on hand to find out which one works best for you.
• Glue stick or scotch tape
• Paper scissors
Knitting Basics: Sharp scissors, Notebook, Pen or pencil with eraser, Stitch markers, Tapestry needles (large and small), Tape measure, Small calculator, Needles and crochet hooks of various sizes

For homework:
• Crochet hooks 3.5mm/US E or 3.75mm/US F
• Worsted-weight, non-superwash, yarn, in two colors—one much darker than the other; it’s best if these are from the same mill; approximately 1.5 ounces of each color
• 16″ circular needle, size to make a firm fabric with the worsted-weight yarn