Unabridged

Unabridged Waistcoat by Alicia Plummer

Project Overview

Unabridged is a beginner-friendly knitted waistcoat pattern designed by independent designer Alicia Plummer. This downloadable PDF provides instructions for creating a classic sleeveless garment in multiple sizes, ranging from 34 inches to 54 inches finished bust measurement. The pattern accommodates various body types with eight different size options, making it an accessible project for knitters new to garment construction.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a fitted waistcoat—a sleeveless vest-style garment suitable for layering over shirts, sweaters, or dresses. The finished piece is designed with 2 inches of positive ease, meaning the garment will sit comfortably on the body without clinging. The waistcoat is knitted seamlessly using circular needles, a construction method that reduces finishing work and creates a polished final product.

Knitting Techniques

• Circular needle construction: The waistcoat is worked on circular needles in the round, which is a foundational technique for creating seamless garments. This method eliminates side seams and allows for continuous knitting without turning the work.
• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch pattern used throughout the garment creates a smooth, classic fabric with a recognizable V-pattern texture on the right side.
• 3-needle bind off: This finishing technique joins two sets of live stitches together, commonly used in waistcoat construction to create clean, professional edges where pieces meet.
• Stitch markers and waste yarn: These tools help track pattern repeats and hold stitches temporarily during construction, essential skills for beginner garment knitters.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Lakes Yarn & Fiber Alturas, a premium fingering weight yarn composed of 60% superwash merino, 20% yak, and 20% silk. This luxurious fiber blend offers durability, softness, and natural stitch definition. Each 100-gram skein yields 400 yards (366 meters), and the project requires 2 to 4 skeins depending on size, totaling between 800 and 1,450 yards of yarn.

Needles and Notions

Construction requires US 3/3.25 mm circular needles (32 inches/80 cm length) for ribbed edgings and US 5/3.75 mm circular needles (32 inches/80 cm length) for the main body fabric. An additional US 5/3.75 mm needle is needed for the 3-needle bind off finishing technique. Supporting notions include 2 stitch markers for tracking pattern sections, 4 stitch holders or waste yarn for managing stitches during construction, and a darning needle for weaving in yarn ends.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch on the larger needles. Accurate gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. Eight size options are provided: 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 50, and 54 inches finished bust, ensuring a proper fit across a wide range of body sizes.

Yardage Requirements by Size

• Sizes 34–40 inches: 800–975 yards
• Sizes 42–46 inches: 1,025–1,175 yards
• Sizes 50–54 inches: 1,325–1,450 yards

Skill Level

Designated as a beginner pattern, Unabridged introduces knitters to fundamental garment construction techniques including circular needle work, basic shaping, and professional finishing methods. While beginners can successfully complete this project, familiarity with basic knitting stitches and the ability to follow written instructions is assumed.