When I was a little girl and still inclined to play dress up in my mother's cast off slips, I was particularly fond of a bright red crinoline that had once been stiff enough to make a full skirt swish and stand away from the body. The elastic waist had long ago lost its stretch, and the crinoline had lost its stiffness. It was soft and sheer and I loved the weight of it, its drape, the way it swirled and moved as I moved. When I wore that crinoline, I was a can can dancer, a flamenco dancer. The skirt transformed and transported me. Clothes can do this sometimes. I dreamed of covering that crinoline with a skirt dense with ruffles.
Inspired both by that early feeling I had when wearing that red crinoline and by the ruffled skirts and sleeves of the traditional Flamenco dresses, the Ella Goes to Spain coat is decorated with lots of little ruffles on the lower portion of both sleeves and skirt as well as cabochon rivets for a little sparkle hither and thither.
The beautifully flattering A-line silhouette of the coat sets off most every woman's figure to best advantage, regardless of height, width, and luxuriousness or spareness of her curves.
Like the original Ella Coat that preceded it, Ella Goes to Spain is imminently customizable: the construction of the garment, more top-down than otherwise, allows you to try on and fit different aspects of the coat as you go, and then knit sleeves and skirt to the perfect length.
Look at Additional Materials for more information about sizing, yarn, and required materials. If you fancy the necklace on the mannequin, they can be found in related items below and purchased here in the Noni store.
Intrepid Easy: Requires knowledge of knitting, purling, picking up stitches within the knitted fabric, increasing, decreasing, knitting in the round, and some hand-sewing during the finishing process.
For the pictured look, we recommend Shepherd's Wool in Garnet (Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool (worsted weight; 100% merino wool; 250 yds [229m] 4 oz [110g] skein).
Small | Medium | Large | 1x | 2x | 3x | |
Bust Size: | 32" | 36" | 40" | 44" | 48" | 52" |
Finished Bust: | 34" | 38" | 42" | 46" | 50" | 54" |
18 sts and 24 rows over 4" (10cm) in St st using worsted weight yarn on a size 9 (5.5mm) needle or needle size to obtain gauge. Check your gauge.
Small | Medium | Large | 1x | 2x | 3x | |
Solid Coat: | 2020 | 2335 | 2525 | 2880 | 3090 | 3275 |
Solid Color for Coat with Contrast BO: | 1770 | 2045 | 2215 | 2525 | 2705 | 2870 |
Contrast BO: | 250 | 290 | 320 | 360 | 385 | 410 |
NOTE: Yardage in the table above is given in yards. Please multiply by 0.9144 to get meters.
Size 9 (5.5mm) 32" (80cm) or longer circular needles
Locking stitch markers
Stitch holders or waste yarn
Sewing needle and sewing thread
40 Noni Cabochon Rivets to decorate ruffles (optional)
4 - 6 Noni Wee or Tiny Heart Locket closures (Misty Blue coat)
3 JUL Zebra Florentine Hinge closures (Fuchsia coat)
Pictured samples were made in Shepherd's Wool by Stonehedge Fiber Mill: worsted weight; 100% merino wool; 250 yds [229m] 4 oz [110g] skein.
Flamenco Flare
Continue to increase every 10th row 6 or 7 times total (depending on desired length) . . .
Bottom Flamenco Ruffle
Repeat Rows 1 - 5 of Ruffled Neckline.