Cape Instructions.
Instructions for larger sizes given in brackets. Where one set of figures
is given this applies to all sizes.
The cape is knitted in stripes of 3 different yarns - labelled Medium,
Light and Dark - the Medium (or Main) colour is a bouclé and the Light
(Red) and Dark (Brown) are smooth yarns.
Back
With No 10 needles and M, cast on 92 (98
: 104) stitches and work 4 rows k1/p1 rib.
Next row: rib 7 (3
: 6) m1, *
rib 6 (7 : 7),
m1 ; repeat from * to last 7 (4
: 7) stitches, rib 7 (4
: 7). [106 (112
: 118) sts]
Join in D, change to No 8 needles and using stocking stitch, start with
a knit row, and work in stripes as follows:
1st and 2nd rows: in D.
3rd to 6th rows: in M.
7th and 8th rows: in L.
9th to 12th rows: in M.
These 12 rows form the striped pattern. [Note: Carry yarns loosely
up side of work.]
Continue in pattern and work a further 12 rows straight.
Shape sides:
Next row: k2, k2tog, knit to last
4 sts, k2tog tbl, k2.
Work 11 rows straight.
Repeat the last 12 rows until 70 (76
: 82) stitches remain.
Work a few rows straight until back measures 32 inches (81 cm) at centre,
ending with right side facing.
Place a marker at each end of last row.
Continue decreasing 2 stitches as before, but on the next and every following
4th row until 38 (44 : 50)
stitches remain.
Work 3 rows straight, then decrease 2 stitches as before on the next
and every alternate row until 28 (30
: 32) stitches remain.
Work 1 row straight, and leave stitches on a spare needle or stitch holder.
Left Front
With No 10 needles and M, cast on 46 (48
: 52) stitches and work 4 rows k1/p1 rib.
Next row: rib 3 (3
: 3) m1, *
rib 8 (7 : 9),
m1 ; repeat from * to last 3 (3
: 4) stitches, rib 3 (3
: 4). [52 (55
: 58) sts]
Join in D, change to No 8 needles and using stocking stitch, start with
a knit row, and work 24 rows straight in striped pattern.
Continue in striped pattern, shaping side edge as follows:
Next row: k2, k2tog, knit to end.
Work 11 rows straight.
Repeat the last 12 rows until 34 (37
: 40) stitches remain.
Work a few rows straight until front matches back to marker, ending with
right side facing. Place a marker at each end of the last row.
Now decrease 1 stitch as before, but on the next and every following
4th row until 20 (22 : 24)
stitches remain.
With wrong side facing, shape neck by casting off 4 (5
: 5) stitches at the beginning of the next
row.
Continue decreasing at the side edge on every 4th row from previous decrease,
and at the same time decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge
on the next and every alternate row until 9 (13
: 16) stitches remain.
Work 1 row.
Now decrease 1 stitch at the side edge as before, but on the next and
every alternate row, and at the same time continue decreasing
at neck edge on the next and following 1 (3
: 5) alternate rows. [5 (5
: 4) stitches remain].
Now keep neck edge straight and continue decreasing at side edge as before
on following 2 (2 : 1)
alternate rows. [3 sts]
Next row: purl.
Next row: k1, k2tog.
Next row: p2.
Next row: k2tog.
Fasten off.
Right Front
Work to correspond with left front, reversing shapings and working 'togtbl'
when shaping side edge.
Side Panels (make 2)
With No 10 needles and M, cast on 80 (84
: 88) stitches and work 4 rows k1/p1 rib.
Next row: rib 1 (3
: 5), m1, *
rib 7, m1 ; repeat from * last 2 (4
: 6) stitches, rib 2 (4
: 6). [92 (96
: 100) sts]
Join in D, change to No 8 needles, and stocking stitch, and starting
with a knit row, work 24 rows straight in striped pattern.
Continue in striped pattern, shaping sides as follows:
Next row: k2, k2tog, knit to last
4 sts, k2togtbl, k2.
Work 11 rows straight.
Repeat the last 12 rows until 56 (60
: 64) stitches remain.
Work a few rows straight until work matches back to markers, ending with
right side facing. Place a marker at each end of the last row.
Continue decreasing as before, but on the next and every following 4th
row until 28 (32 : 36)
stitches remain.
Work 3 rows straight, then decrease 2 stitches as before on the next
and every alternate row until 10 stitches remain all sizes.
Work 1 row straight.
Leave stitches on a safety-pin.
Make a second side in the same way.
Left Front Border
With No 10 needles and M, cast on 9 sts.
1st rows (right side facing): k2,
(p1, k1) 3 times, k1.
2nd row: k1, (p1, k1) 4 times.
Repeat the last 2 rows until the strip fits up the left front to the
start of the neck shaping, when slightly stretched, ending with right
side facing.
Leave stitches on a safety-pin at the top and sew border in position.
Right Front Border
Work to correspond with the left border with the addition of 13 buttonholes.
The first buttonhole is to come 4 inches (10 cm) up from the lower edge,
and the 13th is 2 inches (5 cm) below the start of the neck shaping; the
remainder are spaced evenly between.
First mark position of buttons on left front with pins to ensure even
spacing, then work holes to correspond.
To make a buttonhole:
With right side facing, rib 4, cast off 2, rib to end. On the next row
cast on 2 stitches over those cast off.
To Make Up
Using a cool iron and dry cloth, press parts lightly on the wrong side,
omitting the ribbing.
Pin side panels to back; join panels up to markers matching stripes carefully,
then join the remainder of the seam.
In the same way, join the front panels to side panels, leaving 9 inch
(23 cm) slits for hands, bottom of slit to come 18½ inches (47 cm)
up from the lower edge.
[Editor's note: If you are making a shorter cape you will need to work out where you need to put the slits for the arms.]
Right Slit Border:
With No 10 needles and M, pick up and knit 45 stitches along the front
edge of the slit and work 5 rows k1/p1 rib, with rows on the right side
having a k1 at each end.
Cast off evenly in rib.
Left slit border: work to correspond.
Neck Border:
With right side facing, using No 10 needles and M, work as follows:
Rib 9 from right border, pick up and knit 15 (16
: 17) stitches up right side of neck, k10
from side panel decreasing 1 stitch in centre, 28 (30
: 32) stitches from back decreasing 3 stitches
evenly, 10 stitches from side panel decreasing 1 stitch in centre, then
pick up and knit 15 (16 : 17)
down left side, and finally rib 9 from left border. [91 (95
: 99) stitches.
Work 5 rows in k1/p1 rib.
Make a buttonhole in the next 2 rows as before, then work 12 rows. Make
a buttonhole in the next 2 rows, then work 4 rows in rib.
Cast off loosely in rib.
Fold neck border in half to the wrong side and slip-hem loosely in position
all round. Oversew loosely round double buttonhole.
Catch down short ends of slit borders neatly to main work.
Press seams.
Sew on buttons and press studs at neck.
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Materials
13 (13 : 14)
50g balls in a bouclé DK yarn M (Terrazo), and 3 (3
: 4) 50g balls each DK yarn D (Loam Brown)
and yarn L (Red Earth).
A pair each of Nos
8 (4mm) and 10 (3¼mm) needles.
14 buttons and 2 press studs
Tension
The tension is given as 20sts and 30 rows to 4 inches overall using the
striped pattern on No 8 needles.
Size matters
The pattern is given in three sizes to fit chest: 32-34 (34-38
: 40-42) inches or 81-86 (91-96
: 101-106) cm.
Length from top of shoulders 41½ (42
: 42½) inches or 105 (106 :
108) cm.
Abbreviations
m1: pick up horizontal loop lying before next stitch and work
into back of it.
k2tog or p2tog: knit or purl 2 sts together (decrease one stitch).
tbl: through back loops. [k2tog tbl also known as "ssk"
or slip, slip, knit]
stocking stitch: one row knit and one row purl, ("stockinette").
A word on the wool.
The original yarns were: Patons Totem - a standard double knitting using
4mm needles, and:
Patons Camelot (about which there is some misleading information on the
web); it is a bouclé yarn knitted on 4mm needles with a stated tension
of 19 sts to 4 inches - which makes it a somewhat heavy DK (or worsted/Aran)
type weight.
The pattern knits these yarns alternately in stripes and this overcomes
their differences. In substituting I would look for any DK or worsted
weight that I liked and experiment with needle sizes to get the stated
tension.
I can't offer any insights on yardage for these vintage yarns.
Disclaimer
(well...almost)
In transposing any pattern it is always a risk that errors will be introduced,
in spite of dedicated proof reading.
If you have any problems with this pattern, please
and I will try and assist.
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