Countryline

Countryline Waistcoat by Alicia Plummer

What Is Being Made

The Countryline is a knitted waistcoat (vest) designed by independent designer Alicia Plummer. This sweet little vest is crafted as a sleeveless layering piece, perfect for adding texture and warmth to any outfit. The garment features a charted stitch pattern that creates visual interest across the body of the vest.

Construction Method

This waistcoat is worked in the round from the bottom up using circular needles, which creates seamless construction for the body. Once the piece reaches the chest, it is split and worked flat for the upper portion. The shoulders are then seamed together to complete the garment. This hybrid approach—combining in-the-round knitting with flat knitting—allows for efficient construction while maintaining shaping control at the shoulders.

Stitches and Stitch Pattern

The Countryline features a charted stitch pattern that combines knit and purl stitches to create texture and visual design. The pattern repeats across the rounds, with alternating knit and purl stitches creating a textured surface. The chart indicates a repeating sequence of rounds that build the decorative pattern throughout the vest body, allowing knitters to follow a visual guide for stitch placement.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Quince & Co. Lark in worsted weight. The pattern calls for 3 to 5 skeins depending on size, with yardage varying by finished chest circumference. Quince & Co.'s local wool provides excellent texture and spring, making it ideal for this garment.
• Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm) circular needle for the main body and US size 6 (4.0mm) circular needle and double-pointed needles (DPNs) for ribbing or edging.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over a 4-inch (10 cm) square in Stockinette Stitch. The Countryline is available in five sizes with finished chest circumferences of 22.5, 25, 28, 30, and 33 inches (57, 64, 71, 76, and 84 cm). The vest is designed to be worn with 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm) of positive ease, allowing for comfortable layering over other garments.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty. Knitters should be comfortable with circular needle techniques, reading charts, and managing the transition from in-the-round to flat knitting. The charted stitch pattern requires attention to knit and purl placement, making this suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to work with stitch charts.