Every once in awhile, there’s nothing I love more than saving up for an exact piece that Kate owns. We definitely know she herself appreciates a quality designer piece that she can wear again and again. It’s almost more exciting to find a piece Kate owns at a great bargain (like the pants from Gap she wore recently—who can’t splurge on those?!) or to find a perfect repliKate in an unexpected place (thrift stores, anyone?). Which led me down the next path—could I actually make my own Duchess-inspired item? Once I stumbled across this repliKate shawl knitting pattern on Ravelry, I knew I had to try.
Which also got me wondering, would Kate knit something like this?
In short, she might! When she was pregnant with George, it’s reported that she told a fan that she’d taken up knitting but was bad at it and could use some tips. As a fellow knitter, I certainly hope she kept up with it, because I know it took me quite awhile to get the hang of it. I think knitting would be the perfect hobby for Kate: it’s great for passing the time while flying and traveling, it’s a relaxing hobby that she could pick up at the end of a long day or squeeze in between engagements, and it’s great for making cute items for kids.
That said, as a mom, I think Kate is much more likely to make her kids (and maybe even William) a few things before she hones her skills enough to make something for herself. I have a hunch that George’s impending birth was what pushed her to take up the hobby in the first place. Kids’ items are a great place to start since they’re small and quick to knit. I have a sneaking suspicion there are a few Kate-knit items around the Cambridge household. We can just hope that Kate has continued her hobby and one day we’ll get to see someone in the family in some home-knit items.
If you’re interested in knitting any replica Prince George or Princess Charlotte items, check out George’s Christmas pullovers from 2014 and 2015 and Princess Charlotte’s knit bonnet and sweater, all from Ravelry.
As far as my own knit repliKate goes, the shawl was a success! It was a bit time consuming to knit but did not require too much skill and went relatively fast.
The best part about this pattern is that it’s so versatile. I knit the shawl from wool yarn, so it’s very warm, but the knit is thin enough that it can be worn as a scarf or draped sideways over the shoulders.
Kate made a great color choice, too. The mossy green (slightly more blue-toned than Kate’s shawl) is the perfect color for fall.
Have any of you made your own repliKates? Now that I’ve started, I can’t wait to make another!
I LOVE this piece! As a fellow knitter and crocheter, I have added this as a project I absolutely must try!
I made the Milk Run shawl, too– I love mine, even though it blocked out a bit larger than I’d planned. I used Paton’s wool worsted in Jade Heather.
I might have to make the replica Princess Charlotte bonnet for my own little impending bundle… But there’s so much already in the queue!
Wow! What a great job! Looks cozy
That’s lovely! I made the Cambridge Shawl by Carol Sunday… it was a labor of love, but such a versatile knit that I treasure! http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cambridge-4
Wow, Corrine! How exciting, you’ll have to teach us all how to knit! 🙂