CAPE
Just a simple Autumn and Winter warmer. Great to layer over or under your jacket. This is a fabulous first project as the recipe is so easy to modify to your needs and abilities. Directions are for two versions. Absolutely no sewing involved!
GLOSSARY
Sts- stitches Co- Cast on Bo- Bind off Ml- Make one, knit into both the front and back of a st Sl st- Slip stitch. PM-Place marker Wyib- With yarn in back. P- Purl Wyif- With yarn in front. K- Knit Slm- Slip marker. Ws- wrong side.
Materials
Depending on whether you want an inner or outer layer or somewhere in between: Circular needles suitable for obtaining appropriate fabric. Darning needle For the Gathered Castle Street Cape, you will need a length of yarn approx. 24" for finishing.
FIND YOUR GAUGE
If you are looking for complete artistic freedom, this is your moment. Please take the time to make a swatch using your yarn and needles of choice, measure your sts per inch and rows per inch. This figure is very important for the remaining recipe.
TAKE YOUR VERY IMPORTANT MEASUREMENT
This recipe is based on one very important measurement that can not be altered. Everything else in the recipe is adaptable, this is not! Please find the width ofthe shoulders, measuring from the bony protrusion at the top of one shoulder to the Other. Multiply by 2. This is your very important measurement.
YOUR RECIPE
There are two variations on the cape, so the first thing to do is decide which version you will make. 1. The Gathered Castle Street Cape 2. The Fitted Castle Street Cape
THE GATHERED CASTLE STREET CAPE To determine the number of sts to co, multiply your very important measurement by your sts per inch. (Example: 44" multiplied by 3 sts per 1" = 132 sts) If you come up with an odd number, add or subtract one st to make your numbers even. Co your sts and join to knit in the round, being careful notto twist sts. Round 1- PM\*Kl, Pl; repeat from \* to the end. Carry on in this lxl rib, slm at beginning of each row, until piece measures approx. 9". A shorter length will make a lower neckline. A longer length will create a higher neck and/ or more of a sleeve depending on the dimensions of the body you a making this for, don't make it too long or you will get a funny rumpled effect. THE FRoNT- Slm, Kl, Pl until you have worked half the sts on your needles. Stop. Turn your work and continue the lxl rib on the ws. When you reach the marker, turn work again. You will continue to work back and forth on this half of the cape, allowing the other sts to rest on the needles. Make sure you follow the sts from the previous rows, purling the P sts, knitting the K sts. At this point, if you only have a certain amount of yarn to work with, it may help you to start weighing the remaining yarn. Use approx. a third of the weight to make the front and two thirds for the back. ( Example. 90 g remaining. Use 30 g for the front, 60 g for the back.) To create a neat selvedge: Sl the first st of every row. If the st is a P st, sl st wyib. If the st is a K st, sl st wyif. Make sure that you work the final st of every row. If you are not weighing your yarn, determine the length you would like at the front of your cape.( Example. 15.5" on a ladies small hits just above the naval). If you would like to measure the piece; measure from the very top edge, following the selvedge where it splits from the round and ease the tape measure around the curl of the fabric on the needles. len you are happy that it is the right length, B( The back- Your needles have now been freed from the funny curling fabric that was the cape front. Join the yarn at the edge and carry on the Kl, Pl ribbing pattern. Be sure to match sts, knitting the K sts and purling the P sts. Create a neat selvedge and knit until you run out of yarn or until the back is the length you would like. It looks nice if the back is a further third to fifth longer than the front. (Example. On the ladies small the back measures 19" and the front is 15.5".) BO all sts. To finish- Weave in all ends, making sure they are secure. Thread your darning needle with your length of yarn and using a running st at the top edge of the cape, creating a gathered neckline. It is helpful if you use the ribbing to create a regular gather. ( Example. Bring the yarn behind 6 sts and over 2 sts.). It is also helpful if you keep your gathering very close to the top edge, too low and the gathers begin to get floppy. Also, make sure you are not gathering the neckline too tight or you will not squeeze your head through. Secure the ends. Voila! You are fnished. Wear your Gathered Castle Street Cape with regal bearing!
THE FITTED CASTLE STREET CAPE
To determine the number of sts to Co, take your very important measurement multiply by your sts per inch. This is your very important figure. Take this figure and multiply it by O.75. Round to your nearest even number. This is the number of sts you need to CO. Example. 24" multiplied by 5sts per inch = 120 120 multiplied by 0.75 = 90 Co 90 sts CO your number of sts. Join in the round being careful not to twist your sts. Round 1- PM\*Kl, Pl; repeat from \* to the end. Carry on in this lxl rib, slm at beginning of each row, until piece measures approx. 2- 5 inches. The shorter the length, the 'neater' the collar. A longer length results in something closer to a cowl neck or a turtle neck depending on the drape of the fabric you have created. Increase round- In this round you need to increase your sts to the number of sts in your very important figure. To do this you must Ml st every 4 th st. Slm,\* Kl, Pl, Kl, K into the front and back of the next st, repeat from \* to the end ofthe round. Carry on in the lxl rib until the piece measures to the approx. underarm of the body you are making this for. Example. For a child's size 2 yrs, this is 6.5". THE FRoNT- Slm, Kl, Pl until you have Worked half the sts on your needles. Stop. Turn your work and continue the lxl rib on the ws. When you reach the marker, turn work again. You will continue to work back and forth on this half of the cape, allowing the other sts to rest on the needles. Make sure you follow the sts from the previous rows, purling the P sts, knitting the K sts. At this point, if you only have a certain amount of yarn to work with, it may help you to start weighing the remaining yarn. Use approx. a third of the weight to make the front and two thirds for the back. ( Example. 90 g remaining. Use 30 g for the front, 60 g for the back.) To create a neat selvedge: Sl the first st of every row. If the st is a P st, sl st wyib. If the st is a K st, sl st wyif. Make sure that you work the final st of every row. If you are not weighing your yarn, determine the length you would like at the front of your cape.( Example. 10" on a child's 2 yrs hits just above the belly). If you would like to measure the piece; measure from the very top edge, following the selvedge where it splits from the round and ease the tape measure around the curl of the fabric on the needles. len you are happy that it is the right length, B( The back- Your needles have now been freed from the funny curling fabric that was the cape front. Join the yarn at the edge and carry on the Kl, Pl ribbing pattern. Be sure to match sts, knitting the K sts and purling the P sts. Create a neat selvedge and knit until you run out of yarn or until the back is the length you would like. It looks nice if the back is a further third to fifth longer than the front. ( Example. On the child's 2 yrs the front measures lo" and the back measures ".) BO all sts. To finish- Weave in all ends, making sure they are secure. Voila! You are finished. Wear your Gathered Castle Street Cape with regal bearing!
