Knitted Cape Directions
- 1). Knit a gauge swatch. A gauge swatch is a small sample made with the yarn you plan to use for the cape. With a swatch, you can measure the gauge--number of stitches in one inch of knitting.
- 2). Measure your neck. Add 4 inches to your neck measurement to find the length of the neckline for your cape.
- 3). Cast on. Determine the number of stitches to cast on by multiplying the gauge from step one by the desired neckline measurement in step two. If the number comes out odd, add one stitch to make it even. Use your favorite cast-on method to obtain this number of stitches.
- 4). Knit for 3/4 inches in one-by-one rib. One-by-one rib describes a ribbing pattern in which you knit two stitches and then purl two stitches. Repeat this pattern for each row.
- 5). Make the buttonhole. Knit one row of one-by-one rib, stopping when you have four stitches left in the row. To complete the row and knit the buttonhole, yarn over, knit together (or purl together depending on where your pattern falls) and finish the last two stitches in one-by-one rib pattern.
- 6). Knit an additional 3/4 inches of one-by-one rib.
- 1). Knit in the following pattern for 6 inches. Row 1: knit two, increase, knit to last two stitches, increase, knit two. Row 2: purl to end of row.
- 2). Knit to desired length. Any pattern can be used, but for a basic look that is easy to knit use a stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row). Stop 1 inch short of the desired total length of the cape.
- 3). Knit the last inch in one-by-one rib.
- 1). Cut and weave in yarn. Cut the yarn leaving a tail of about 6 inches. Using the embroidery needle, weave the tail into the knitted fabric.
- 2). Sew on button. Sew the button adjacent to the buttonhole in the collar.
- 3). Block. If the fabric comes off the needles looking slightly out of shape it will need to be blocked. To do this, lightly wet the cape and gently pull it into shape. Lay it flat to allow it to dry.