DIY Q&A: Stella Knit Coat

(Stella McCartney knit coat. Availible at Bergdorf Goodman, photo via)

Dear Andrea,

I happened upon your site and thought you may be able to help me. I recently saw a photo of Cameron Diaz wearing an amazing Stella McCartney knit sweater coat. I have fallen in love and want to make one. But, my question is...how do I find a pattern for this? Is it even possible?? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Best,
Christiana

Dear Christiana,

I first spotted this coat in the New York Times and I absolutely love it too. It's from Stella McCartney's current resort collection. While there are no actual "designer" knitting patterns, or any to match exactly the one that Cameron is wearing. There are some similar styles that might interest you.



(Left: from Rowan Studio. Left: from Phildar)

This style from Rowan Studio no. 1 is similar in that it has the gathered empire waist, though much higher than the Stella version. The swing jacket from Phildar has gained popularity with its own knit-a-long. Both styles are shorter and have cropped sleeves and collar, while the Stella version has a built-up bateau neck. If you were so inclined, you could try to find a sweater of cardigan pattern that features a built-up bateau neck and alter it a bit to get one similar to Stella's. Or you could alter the pattern from Rowan, lengthen both the top and bottom halves, an change the neckline a bit. The stitch used in Stella's is a reverse stockinette and is rendered in cotton yarn. The photo and description from Bergdorf should help you figure out the details.

I hope this has been helpful to you. BTW, I recently started writing customized patterns for knitters with specific demands. Contact me to inquire about getting a designer consultation or a full pattern write-up.

Happy Knitting!


Andrea