Betsy Ray

I designed Betsy Ray while my daughter was deep into the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace. I was imagining the sort of coat I’d have wanted as a little girl, something soft and warm with just a little bit of frill and an old-fashioned sensibility. As a mother, I worked in the details that matter to me: long cuffs for an extra year of wear, large armholes so long sleeved shirts can fit easily underneath, and pockets for warming hands and hiding treasures. Malabrigo Twist is a truly scrumptious yarn that gets softer by the wearing. My daughter says it feels like a bunny!

Construction details: Betsy Ray is worked flat in one piece from the bottom up, with a three needle bind off at the shoulders. Sleeves stitches are picked up and worked from the top down in the round.

SIZES 2 (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) The chest circumferences are 21 (23, 25, 26.5, 28, 30, 31.5, 32.5) inches.

MATERIALS

• 4 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9) skeins or 510 (645, 735, 900, 1040, 1180, 1245