I went to the Victoria and Albert Museum looking for inspiration, but I did not expect one colour to stay with me so strongly.

It was a beautiful day in London. I went with my sister, and even the train journey felt special. London has that effect. The old buildings, museums, stonework, and history make you look at beauty differently.

Inside the V&A, so many things inspired me: embroidered textiles, rich fabrics, historic garments, and details made by skilled hands long before ours. But one coat stayed in my mind. Its long shape reminded me of the formal coats once worn by court men, with a proud, elegant line and a feeling of ceremony.

The purple colour stayed with me too. Purple has always felt royal. It belongs to palaces, velvet, portraits, and garments made to be remembered. In the museum, it did not feel loud. It felt softened by time, dignified, and full of history.

Later, when I went to Hobbycraft, I saw the yarn and immediately thought of that deep museum purple. It reminded me of the old textiles, the court coat shape, and the richness of London itself. I bought it because the colour already felt like the beginning of a design.

From there, I started shaping the coat. I wanted it to feel loose and flowing, but still strong. The open lace gave it movement, while the cables added structure and weight. The pattern grew from the neck, shoulders, centre back, front bands, and side seams. As the cables widened towards the hem, they formed a triangular shape, almost like hidden architecture inside the fabric.

This piece felt like a puzzle, and I loved working it out. Each part had to connect carefully: the sleeves, shoulder increases, cable bands, lace, and long flared ribs.

When I look at this coat now, I remember that day at the V&A with my sister, tea in the museum restaurant, the train journey into London, and the quiet royal beauty of purple. It became my own version of a historical textile: soft, structured, flowing, and made to be worn.