Elf Coat update 4 – Catchup and restart:

It's been a long time since I updated this blog. It's also been a long time since I did any crochet, let alone any work on the Elf Coat. The main reason is the usual: Life.

Anyway, with the beginning of the New Year, I decided to make a new start and get a move on to the next section of the project. But first, I need to update a little.

Elf Coat Skirt Pointed section:

I started this project with the pointed section of the “skirt”. As this pattern is designed for women, I decided to make just a single pointed section (as opposed to the multiple sections which give it a flowy pleated effect) which will go at the back of the skirt and the rest of the sections will be straight.

I finished the pointed section in June 2025. Although the stitch count was correct, it was about 8 inches shorter than it should be, reaching only 15 inches long, not 23 as per the pattern. I'll assume this is to do with my gauge. I may have to add to the short end so that it fits with the design, otherwise it's not going to be such a long coat.

A woollen swatch in blue on a wooden table. It tapers out from 3 inches to approximately 10 inches wide and is about 15 inches long (although the edges are curling in)

Continuing with the pattern:

Now my first skirt section is completed, I need to create the rest of the pieces to make the rest of the skirt which sits below the belt. As they are meant to me approximately 23 inches (to have some length) I can add rows to the section I'm making now, and I'll add length to the pointed section so that it matches. That can be done with an extra piece I create.

This new section is an easier piece with only a couple of increases and no points. But I'll need to make quite a few of them to make the rest of the skirt.

I started the new section on New Years Eve as I was waiting for the clock to count down the final hours of 2025. I then continued on New Years Day, whilst watching films and generally being lazy.

I often find that when I watch TV, I get 'bored' of what I'm watching and end up doing something else like look at my phone or zone out. I've decided that a better use of my time will be to crochet the new pieces of my coat.

Me, lying in bed with the beginning of a crochet piece on my lap and the pattern on my Kobo Reader in the background

I hope to be able to do much more of this coat this year so that it's ready for the autumn/winter of 2026.

I hope you had a good new year and wish you all the best in your Crochet/Knitting/Crafting journey for 2026.