The Italian Cardigan

The Inspiration

La Mia Boutique knit jacket

The Pattern

McCalls 6844

Line drawing

Staggered collar bands

Tapered and curved bottom edges of front bands

It was a challenge making a such a big buttonhole!

Close-up of lettuce edge

Back

The Kate Dress Coat Dress

In February 2012, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a grey tweed, double-breasted 1950s-style frock with a full skirt, elbow-length sleeves, and a wide shawl collar.  This dress caused some controversy because the clothing label Jesiré had gone out of business about a year before she wore their dress.  It's widely speculated that her dress was a purchased second-hand by a secret shopper at a small vintage store close to Kate's family home in Bucklebury.  One of the rare dresses sold on Ebay for £950.00 (about $1432.00 USD), and it wasn't even owned by the Duchess!  I'm so glad I can sew!



The great thing about Kate's clothes is that you can find images from all different angles to recreate the details, including a side view with the underarm zipper pull


and a full back view.


There's this zoom of the two decorative buttons and two working buttonholes.  I never cared for this unevenness, so I made mine with all four working buttonholes.

There's even this lightened close-up of the tweed fabric.

Invisible zipper in the side seam.  This fabric was a dream to sew; the seams pressed in place so smoothly.

This was a frankenpattern consisting of a the top half from an old reliable pattern

and a new pattern for the skirt.







Fabric used:  Black and white Isla herringbone silk suiting, 2.5 yards at $4.24 = $10.60
Red Radiance silk/cotton lining: 2 yards (sleeves are not lined) at $3.99 = $7.98
Buttons: $3.08
Total: $21.66
Barganista savings: 98%.