“If I thought it would not tempt her to go out in sharp winds, and grow coarse, I would send her a new hat and pelisse.”
—Sir Walter Elliot, Persuasion

In the Regency era, a pelisse was a coat that was worn over a gown. As with so many feminine garments of this period, it was inspired by a military garment that was a tight-fitting short jacket but was seldom worn and was usually draped casually over the officer’s shoulder. The most striking elements of the military pelisse were a braided fastening and fur lining, which marked the initial feminine pelisse coat. This pelisse is based on a round shape with full, ruffled, feminine accents at the cuffs and around the entire circumference of the jacket. It can be closed in a variety of ways to emphasize the lacy neckline or the long movement of the bodice.

NOTES
• This pelisse begins below the back neck and is worked in the round for a few rounds, then is worked flat to the outer edge. Waste yarn is inserted for the sleeve placement and is later removed, and the sleeves are worked in the round to the ruffled cuff.
• A circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches.