This is a wonderful pattern. I know no Japanese, but with some help reading a few symbols on the internet I actually found it easier to follow than an English pattern.

I substituted Kazekobo’s colours for Shetland yarns in the order shown above.

I began with the rib (although the pattern suggests knitting from the bottom of the Fair Isle upwards and then working the rib downwards). I cast on 282 sts and worked in the round on 2.5mm 80cm circular needles. After the rib I made 4 stitches (286sts) and changed to 3mm 80cm circular needles.

I worked in the round following the chart exactly (luckily it was my size). When I got to the armholes, I put the first straight rows on scrap wool and worked decreases for each part separately at the ends of the rows. It was easier than I thought since I didn’t need to take my work off the needles and the chart told me exactly where I should be.

I grafted the shoulders using Kitchener stitch. For the armhole edges and collar I picked up and knit into the left sides of the ‘v’ of a knit stitch one away from the edge.

Unfortunately when I had finished I couldn’t fit my head through! It was easy enough to snip the collar and unpick it though. I re-knit the final few rows in a plain rib for stretchiness. It now fits snugly and I love it. The colours turned out just like those in 1930’s Fair Isle vests.

P.S. Jamieson’s Shetland Wool yarn can be easily substituted for patterns calling for Jamieson & Smith yarn using this chart.

P.P.S. The photographs were taken at Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire, England.