During the week between Christmas, 2012 and New Year’s Day, 2013, I spent my spare time viewing the 1987 three-part Lord Peter Wimsey TV mystery series. In the middle episode, “Have His Carcass”, Harriet Vane wears an astonishingly beautiful collection of handknits while she roams the lonely northern coast of Britain. My jacket was designed with her tweedy, romantic style in mind. Although it in no way resembles any of the actual garments worn by her character, it looks as though it would be at home in the same setting.

The construction is based on an idea sparked by Carol Anderson’s “Babies and Bears for Grownups” jacket, a design which I loved making, but which never quite worked for me in terms of fit or style. I’ve taken the same basic concept, starting at the cuffs and knitting toward the centre, but I’ve made the arms slimmer, changed the neckline to a flattering V-neck with a graceful shawl collar, and added shape to the body by knitting down after the centre-back join to create a short peplum. Great fun to knit; just as much fun to wear!

Oct/2016: Just added a tutorial on my blog for those wanting an even better all-in-one shawl collar.

Yardage required: 912 (1064, 1216, 1368, 1520, 1672).

For step-by-step contruction see: http://chezlizzie.blogspot.ca/2013/07/harriets-jacket-kal...

For styling the jacket see: http://chezlizzie.blogspot.ca/2013/12/styling-harriets-ja...

Links to blog posts by knitters.