1940s Men’s Fair Isle Polo Shirt Knitting Pattern – Vintage Short Sleeve Polo – Chest 40

This 1940s men’s Fair Isle polo shirt knitting pattern produces a practical sports shirt with
a simple geometric Fair Isle effect and a classic mid-century look. The design uses a basic
slip-stitch method rather than full traditional Fair Isle. On certain rows the stitches are
slipped and moved to the opposite end of the double-pointed needles so the next row
can be worked again from the same side. This technique creates the patterned effect
while keeping the knitting straightforward and easier to manage.

The shirt features ribbed sections in the darker shade, including the shoulder yokes,
collar, placket and edges, which frame the patterned body of the garment and give
the finished polo a clean, structured appearance typical of 1940s casual menswear.

The original pattern was worked in 3-ply yarn, using approximately 5 oz (142 g) of
a dark shade and 4 oz (114 g) of a light shade. The needles required are two No. 9
(3.75 mm) double-pointed needles and a pair of No. 12 (2.75 mm) needles. The
stated tension is 7 stitches to the inch.

The finished garment is designed to fit a 40 inch chest.

Choose How You Receive Your Pattern!
You can either: Order the printed version and have it mailed right to your door, perfect
for adding to your knitting collection. or opt for the PDF download if you’d like to get
started right away! The choice is yours—happy knitting!