I was actually inspired by two things in creating this pattern. First I was inspired by the look of a Spencer jacket, the cropped puffed-sleeve jacket paired with empire-waisted dresses during Regency times. I always loved the outfits worn by Elizabeth Bennett—the “Lizzy” in the pattern title—on the BBC production of Pride & Prejudice. I was also inspired by the great variety of sweet sundresses made by eBay sellers, in particular “darlinglilbee.” What if I could create a pattern that would compliment a sundress and take it from summer into fall?

Once the simple shrug jacket was designed, I could picture it with longer sleeves or even lengthened into an a-line coat, extending the use of a sundress all the way into winter!

I hope you will find the pattern fun to work up, with less finishing work because of the top-down design!

Supplies
• 1 skein of fine fingering weight wool or blends—less for the shrug, almost all of it for the long-sleeved coat.
(I used 100% wool Palette or Stroll, from Knitpicks.com, which has 231 yards in a 50 g ball).
• Knitting needles, US size 0 (& 000 for optional ribbing) or size to obtain gauge.
I use Addi Turbo circular needles in the 16 inch length. They are definitely an investment, but make it easy to try doll items on as you go.
• Yarn needle for finishing
• Small buttons or snaps for closure.

Gauge
Gauge—in stockinette stitch with size 0 needles, my gauge is 20 stitches and 26-27 rows in a 2 x 2 inch square (5.1 cm).