I have had the idea to sew a special Christmas dress the last few years, but I never found a fabric and pattern combination that really spoke to me til this past year, 2016. I've been wanting a matching dress and coat for several years. You don't find these sets in stores very often, though you can find patterns to sew your own. And that's exactly what I did. My inspiration was the classic sets from the 1950s and 1960s. Also, the Duchess of Cambridge has recently worn several beautiful ensembles that I have really loved. Here's a couple patterns I found in my stash. This is from the '60s. So cute, but I don't like sleeveless dresses. I get too cold. Ok, so I couldn't wear this one, but I had to include it anyway. PRECIOUS! A modern pattern. I like the dress. This is the pattern that I eventually chose. It is a vintage reprint, Simplicity 1284. And my version I made the short sleeve dress and the coat. I had this burgund