Mountain Capelet
Our new Gentle Giant yarn makes us think of all things dramatic, like immense stitches and voluminous folds of fabric. Last week we shared our Mountain Cowl, named after nature’s idea of high drama, and this week we welcome its sister, our Mountain Capelet!
There’s nothing fancy or fussy about knitting this Capelet, but luckily, there’s also no rule that requires a prolonged battle with your knitting needles in order to make something beautiful and special. Have some fun!
Once you’ve whipped it up, throw your Mountain Capelet on over a sweater in the fall or a coat in the winter. Dramatic? Definitely! -Whitney
Update: New Yarn + Weight
February 2017
This new version is in our brand new, super gorgeous Shepherdess Alpaca. We slightly adjusted the pattern to include more sizes and to have a more structured cowl neck, but it’s just as easy and just as cozy as the original.
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoMountainCapelet, and #PurlSohoGentleGiant. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 4 skeins of Purl Soho’s Gentle Giant, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 48 yards/ 125 grams; approximately 192 yards required. We used the color White Peppercorn.
- US 19 (15 mm), 24- and 32-inch circular needles
- 2 unique jumbo stitch markers (or scrap yarn)
Gauge
6 ¼ stitches = 4 inches
Size
One size fits many!
- Finished circumference around bottom: Approximately 45 inches
- Finished circumference around cowl: Approximately 24 inches
- Finished height from bottom edge to bottom of cowl: 12 inches
- Finished height from bottom edge to top of cowl: 20 inches
Note
Gentle Giant is the perfect yarn for wet splicing, aka spit splicing. If you’ve never given this technique a try, please visit our tutorial on the subject. You may find that it’s your new best friend!
Pattern
Cast 70 stitches onto the longer circular needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Place a marker and join to work in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.
Purl 3 rounds.
Knit every round until piece measures 9 inches from the beginning rolled edge.
Next Round: K1, k2tog, k29, ssk, k1, place marker, k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1. [66 stitches]
Next Round: K1, k2tog, knit to 3 stitches before next marker, ssk, k1, slip marker, k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1. [4 stitches decreased]
Switching to the shorter circular needles when you need to…
Repeat the last round 6 more times, removing the second stitch marker as you knit the final round. [38 stitches]
Knit every round until piece measures 6 inches from the last decrease.
Purl 3 rounds.
Bind off loosely in purl stitch.
Weave in any remaining ends and block if desired.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Love this! Perfect for the weather right now and I can’t wait to make it.
I love Madelinetosh yarns but they tend to be a little lighter in gauge than normal. Would their ASAP yarn work for this, or would it be better to go with something like Blue Sky Bulky which is more similar in weight/length?
Hi Alexis,
I’ve never knit with Madelinetosh’s ASAP, but it does seem that it’s is a bit thinner than our Gentle Giant, but if you don’t mind knitting the ASAP a bit looser than suggested, I’m sure you could make it work! I do think Blue Sky Bulky would be a closer match in gauge to the Gentle Giant and would be a beautiful option!
Thanks so much for asking and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Whitney
Hi Whitney, thanks for the quick reply. I think I will try it with the ASAP as I have several items knit in Blue Sky Bulky, and they’re a bit too heavy for me. I’ll let you know how it turns out 🙂
I LOVE this new yarn and all the knitting projects are beautiful. I am hoping that there will soon be an equally beautiful project made by crochet. Please?!
Hi Doreen P.,
Great idea, we’ll work on it! In the meantime, you may like cozy Crocheted Rib Cowl, hooked up in our Super Soft Merino:
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2013/09/19/whits-knits-crocheted-rib-cowl/
Thank you so much for writing in!
Whitney
Yes Please Crochet
Can I use two needles instead of the circular needles to make this by making a seam in the back?
I try not to use dpn or circulars if I can. Deanna 🙂
Hi Deanna,
You may have a hard time fitting all the stitches onto one straight needle. There are 70 stitches, and they’re pretty big! But if you have very long US 19 needles, go for it! Another idea is to use two circular needles as if they were straight needles.
Thank you so much for asking and good luck!
Whitney
This is where interchangeable needles work great! Just put one needle on two cords separately then place an end cap at the other end of the cord and walla you have an extra long needle.
Me encanta tu creatividad y tu línea lo amo Saludos cordiales
J’aime beaucoup vos modèles !!
Mais que veut dire K dans les explications? Merci
Salut BY,
“K” veut dire tricoter, “knit” en anglais. Mon francais n’est pas tres bien, mais j’espere que tu comprendras!
Merci!
Whitney
Bonjour,
K veut dire maille à l’endroit
P veut dire maille à l’envers
Have a great day!
Anne
where can i buy US 19, 24 -inch circular needles for the mountain capelet? thank you, annette
Hi Annette,
You can buy them right here!
https://www.purlsoho.com/tools/knitting-needles/addi-turbo-circular-needles.html
Thank you for your question and please let us know if you have any more!
Whitney
I love the fitted caplet but not crazy about the cowl neck, could I just bind off at neckline?
Hi Rosemary,
Sure! Before you do, you may want to work a few short rows in the back so that the neckline is nicely shaped. You may also want to work a few more rounds of decreases, depending on how deep a scoop you’d like.
Please let us know if you need any help with these modifications and thank you for your question!
Whitney
So I’m getting to the point where I would like to create a neckline. So dumb questions: pick a side that will be the back of the garment (it doesn’t matter which set as there are equal stitches between the markers?)add a few short rows? (three?) then a few more rounds of decreases before binding off? I’ve never knit short rows, I’ve goggled it understand the concept is your suggestion so there is shaping without adding stitches to the garment neckline? All in all love working with the yarn and so far things are looking good!
Hello, Rosemary!
Thank you so much for your questions, in my humble opinion there is no such thing as a dumb question! Also, thank you for your patience in the delayed response. You are correct, choose a side to be the back,as you noted it doesn’t matter since both sides are equal. 2-3 short rows would be great and we’ve got a wonderful short row tutorial here, https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2008/06/18/short-rows/, if you haven’t seen it. Then do 3-4 more rounds of decreasing.
Again, you are correct, the short rows will make a little triangle in the fabric, adding shape without adding stitches to the garment neckline.
We are so glad that you are enjoying the yarn and this project. Thank you, again, for writing in.
Best,
Kumeko
I want to make this caplet a little larger and longer. On the model it looks as if the caplet stops right along the bust. Since I have a large bust, I wanted to make it larger and longer so that the caplet will cover. I have finished several of the Mountain Cowls and wanted to work from that premise. I tried to figure out a pattern working from a cast on of 90 (and/or 80) stitches:
Cast on 90 (80)
Purl 3 rounds
K from shoulder past bust line
Next Round: K1, k2tog, k39(34), ssk, k1, place marker, k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1. [86 (76) stitches]
Follow pattern as written.
I believe I will end up with 58 (48) stitches, which will be more of a cowl neck.
Is this correct? Will this work? How much additional yarn will I need?
Thanks, Chival
Hello Chival!
It looks like you’ve definitely done your homework! This looks like a wonderful edit to the pattern for a larger sized bust. I would maybe start the decreases a little earlier, like at the base of the shoulders, so that you can decrease enough to get the cozier neck. That would simply be my preference!
Depending on how much length you are planning on adding, I would definitely get 2 extra skeins to be safe.
Best of luck! Enjoy! -Alyson
Thank you for a beautiful capelet. I can see making this longer for our cold weather in Montana. So that you could wear it over, say a dress, as you ‘coat’. Again thanks so much!!
This looks like something I just need to make! Just wondering if I could use Silk Alpaca Alloy instead and if so How much would I need?
Hello Bettina!
What a lovely idea! You would only need two skeins of the Silk Alpaca Alloy since it has more than double the yardage of the Gentle Giant. Keep in mind that its also thinner than Gentle Giant, so the fabric of the capelet would come out a little more open than the original. I think it would be beautiful!
Best of luck! -Alyson
This is beautiful, I too would love to make it longer and would welcome any instructions to do so! Can’t wait to use Gentle Giant.
Hello Michele!
Since the pattern starts from the bottom and works towards the neck, all you’ll have to do is make the first 3 purl rows and then knit for longer than 9″ at the body of the item to extend the length. Then proceed with the shoulder decreases once you’ve added your desired additional length.
Best of luck! -Alyson
Hi, I have a lot of merino script and would like to use that for this pattern. Anu suggestions for how many to cast on?
Hello Michelle!
Are you planning on making the capelet with one or two strands of the Merino Script? Either way, the gauge of the pattern would be quite off as the pattern stands written now, so it would be best to make a gauge swatch and test out the texture of the fabric you would like!
Then once you figure out how many stitches per inch you’re happy with, I would multiply that number by 45″ to determine the cast on number. Please don’t hesitate to write in again should you have any other questions! Thanks! -Alyson
thanks
Hi, I am wondering if I could use silk alpaca alloy I have on hand for this project and would I need to change needle size ? I know it is not quite as bulky
THank you
Hello Katie!
I think that yarn would be beautiful for this pattern! As you know, the yarn isn’t quite as thick, so if you don’t mind the capelet coming out with more of an open stitch pattern, give it a shot! I would go ahead and just use the same size needles recommended in the pattern. Great idea and enjoy! -Alyson
This may be obvious, but it’s not to me right now. For the instruction “Knit every round until piece measures 9 inches from the beginning rolled edge”, do you mean the bottom (cast-on) or the top of the purled edge.
I love working with the Gentle Giant yarn!!
Hello Tina!
We’re so glad to hear you like the yarn! the 9″ refers to the measurement from the cast on edge to where you begin the decreases. Thanks for asking and for clarifying—I’m sure others have the same question! Best of luck! -Alyson
Do you need to switch to the shorter length needle? If so, why? Apologies for the basic question. Thank you!
Hello Nicole!
When you get to the neck of the capelet, the circumference of the tube of stitches will be much too small for the longer needles you started knitting with. Therefore, you’ll need a shorter cable that will be able to fit around the smaller circumference of the neck stitches.
I hope this clears that up for you, don’t hesitate to write in again if you have any issues! Thanks! -Alyson
this is such a pretty chaplet. thank you for the free pattern! i’d like to try to make one for my little grand daughter? i’m not quite sure how many stitches to cast on though. if i cast on less by figuring out what her circumference is and head circumference, i know that sounds funny but i think you understand what i mean, is there any crazy figuring out i’d need to make for the decreases up the shoulder /neck part? thank you if you can help. love your site!
Hello Susi!
I think you’re right on track! I would recommend measuring the general width of her torso (including her arms since it will go over them!) and then multiplying that by the stitches per inch gauge of the pattern so that you can determine the cast on number. Then measure the length from the cast on edge to her shoulders (depending on how long you want it to be) and then begin the decreasing. I would continue using measurements and looking at the finished piece next to her body as you move forward in order to make it a custom fit for her!
Please don’t hesitate to write in again should you have more questions. Best of luck! -Alyson
You say to knit every row but this looks like stockinette stitch. So wouldn’t you rotate knit and purl?
Thanks!
Hello Cindy!
It seems like you figured it out, but since its knit in the round no need to purl any rounds to create stockinette stitch. Happy knitting! -Alyson
Hi! I would love to make this for my niece in one of those gorgeous purple shades of gentle giant. Would it be possible for you to suggest modifications for child sizing? I’m hoping to make about a 3T.
Hi, Pam!
Thank you for writing in! I think making this for your niece would be lovely! To adjust the pattern for a child I recommend measuring the general width of her torso (including her arms since it will go over them!) and then multiplying that by the stitches per inch gauge of the pattern so that you can determine the cast on number.
Then measure the length from the cast on edge to her shoulders (depending on how long you want it to be) and then begin the decreasing. I would continue using measurements and looking at the finished piece next to her body as you move forward in order to make it a perfect fit for her!
If you have any further questions, please reach out to us again. Happy knitting!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
I love this capelet and would love to make one! I have some Knitpicks yarn in my stash and was wondering if Tuff Puff would work well?
Hello Katie!
Tuff Puff looks lovely, but the gauge seems to be slightly thinner than our Gentle Giant. I would recommend making a gauge swatch so that you can estimate how the fabric would turn out in the capelet. The Capelet’s gauge is about 1.5 stitches per inch. If you are able to get that gauge and you like the texture of the fabric then go for it!
Please write again if you have any other questions! Best of luck! -Alyson
Love this yarn and pattern, can’t wait to try it Thank you
I love this piece! I am really excited at how it turned out. I used slightly smaller needles. The length is perfect and I am really looking forward to wearing it this season. Thanks purl soho!
Would it be possible to make this with 4 double ended needles instead of circular needles?
Hello Em,
Since the circumference of this capelet is wide enough for your shoulders, you won’t be able to fit all the stitches onto 4 double points. You’ll really need the longer cable! Best of luck! -Alyson
Help! I need to knit this up today for a gift. I don’t have the size needle required. I have 10mm for my largest. How many should I cast on?
Hi, Kimmie!
Thank you so much for your question and sorry for the delayed response! If you are still interested in knitting this up on 10mm, I think the best way to figure out how many cast on stitches you’ll need is to make a gauge swatch. Once you’ve figured how many stitches to the inch you’re getting you can multiply that number by 45 (since the bottom of the capelet is 45-inches in circumference). If you have further questions, please let us know! Again, thank you for writing in!
Best,
Kumeko
I’m making this for my sister who is 6′ tall. I’ve cast on 90 stitches. I’m a little unsure of when to start the decrease or if I need to adjust the decrease. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. My gauge is right on.
Hi, Keri!
Thank you so much for writing in! Sorry about the delayed response! You are on the right track! I recommend starting the decrease at the base of the shoulders. If you have further questions, please let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
couldnt find price of wool for Mt Caplet & need prices on both sets of needles
are u still looking up my answers?
I eventually found the prices but u dont make it user friendly
Hi, Linda!
Thank you so much for writing in! I am sorry you had trouble finding the prices, but I am glad that you eventually found them! Were the hyperlinks in the “Materials” section of the pattern not working? We try to make our website as user friendly as possible by putting hyperlinks along with the listed materials. Again, sorry for the difficulty you had, if you have further questions, please let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
Hello:
I am using a yarn where 1 inch is two stitches, so I casted 90 stitches. I have reached the part where I need to make the decreases. Would you please guide me with the decreases?
If the finished circumference around the cowl is approximately 24 inches, then that would be 48 stitches with the yarn I am using. Can I deduct 5 stitches each row and end up with a 50 inch finshed circumference? Or do you have another/better recommendation?
Thanks,
Jamileh
Hello, Jamileh!
Thank you for writing in! Sorry about the very delayed response! The 50-inch circumference that you mention should be for the bottom edge of the cowl, since you adjusted your cast on to fit the gauge your bottom edge should have a 45-inch circumference.
As far as the decreases go, I recommend doing 2 more rounds of decreasing. That will get you to 50 stitches which would be a 25-inch cowl circumference. I worry that altering the decrease rows to deduct more than the 4 stitches (as is currently written in the pattern) would unnecessarily complicate the pattern.
If you have further questions, please let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
I want to buy the yarn and needles to make this lovely cape; however, when I try to print the pattern by clicking the link you provided, the page gets dark and it does not print. Hate printing from the original given the number of documents. Any suggestions?
Hello, Carolyn!
Thank you for writing in! Sorry for the delayed response!
Many of our readers have had this same issue. We have found that the secret is to first download the pattern and then print it. Rather than simply clicking the link and opening the PDF in a browser window, you should click on the pattern link using the “right click” or “control click” option on your mouse or keyboard. This will give you the option to “Download the linked file.” Once the file is downloaded, it should print like a charm!
Please let us know if you have further questions!
Best,
Kumeko
What tool do you use to weave the bulky yarns into the design I knit
Hello Marsha,
Thank you for your question. You can use a regular tapestry needle like this one: https://www.purlsoho.com/jumbo-bent-tip-tapestry-needles.html. It works with bulky yarns as well. I hope that helps. Please let us know if you have any other questions.
All the best,
Allison
I love all your beautiful patterns. I would love to knit this caplet for my little granddaughter, size 5/6.
Any chance you could help me with this? Again thank you for all your free patterns.
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for your interest in this pattern! Unfortunately we do not have the resources to customize patterns, but with a little gauge swatch and some measurements this pattern can be adjusted with very little math!
Best,
Adam
Hi,
I bought the cascade magnum yarn from you guys to make this pattern and a size 17″ round needles. Do I have the adjust the pattern? How do I do a gauge with round needles? Thank you!
Hello Margit,
Thanks for your interest in this pattern. Doing gauge in the round is easy. Cast on “x” stitches on a circular needle, knit a row in whatever stitch pattern and then instead of turning your work you will slide it down to the other end of the needle. Strand the yarn across the back of the work loosely and continue knitting the “right” side. If your gauge is the same as the pattern you don’t have to adjust anything. If it is a tighter gauge, try adding on a few stitches to accommodate for your gauge, multiplying your stitches per inch by the bottom edge finished measurement found in the pattern. This pattern looks great a little loose, so you have a lot of room to play!
Best,
Adam
I was ready to order supplies for the capelet….and you’re out of stock onthe circular needles required…..would you be able to let me know when available
Hi, Marsha!
Thank you for writing in! I am going to check with our NY store to see if they have needles in stock. If they do, they’ll be contacting you via email. If not, we’ll be sure to let you know once they arrive! If you have further questions, please let us know!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
What would you think of this in a rib stitch?? Or even just the cowl…. .
I did that with the bandana cowl but it’s a stand up neck vs a drape cowl neck.
Thanks xo
Hi Tina,
You can never be too creative, so I say go for it if you love the way a rib stitch looks!
Best,
Adam
Hi!
I know this question has been asked twice already but I was wondering if there was any way someone over at Purl could actually write out the pattern for an average 2 toddler sized caplet? I would imagine the pattern would then fit most little girls from 2-4 just as it fits most adults…I have no idea how to convert measurements into cast on stitches, etc so I am hoping you can help so I can gift this to a little one!!
Hello Nancy,
Thanks for your interest in this pattern! Unfortunately we do not have the resources to customize patterns, but with a little gauge swatch and some measurements this pattern can be adjusted with very little math!
Best,
Adam
Hai, I just want to make it in worsted wool, don’t want to make too bulky. Could you please advice how many stitches to cast on in the beginning.
Thanks I am self taught knitter but I would love to knit this capelet. And please do tell me which number knitting needles to use.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Indu,
Thanks for your interest in this pattern! Unfortunately we do not have the resources to customize patterns, but with a little gauge swatch and some measurements this pattern can be adjusted with very little math!
Best,
Adam
I just finished this and I love the look but I could use some suggestions on how to adjust the shaping as I have very square shoulders and it’s currently pulling across the chest and doesn’t feel quite long enough in the shoulder decreases and also the overall length. Thanks! (also, the Wet splice worked like magic. I love it!)
Hi Mary,
I’m so happy you love the pattern! I have a quick fix suggestion. Instead of decreasing every other round, you should decrease every third round. This means that you’ll have two knit rounds in between decrease rounds. Also, I wouldn’t decrease as many stitches as indicated in the pattern if you are feeling it fits tightly across your shoulders. The caplet should come out longer and fit better in the shoulders if you follow these suggestions! Best of luck and happy knitting!
-Adam
Hello! I’ve looked for the specified needles in three different stores but am unable to find them so the closest thing are US 17 29 Inch. Should knitting with these needles still give me a garment around the same size so it isn’t too small for an adult woman?
Hi, Tori!
Thank you for your question! If you are interested in knitting this up on US 17 needles you may end up with a caplet that is a bit too small. If you’d like to try making this on US 17 needles you’ll need to adjust the pattern just a bit. We recommend knitting a gauge swatch – this will help you calculate how many cast on stitches you’ll need. Once you’ve figured how many stitches to the inch you’re getting you can multiply that number by 45 (since the bottom of the capelet is 45-inches in circumference).
If you have further questions, please let us know! Again, thank you for writing in!
Best,
Kumeko
I got about 3 stitches per inch so That would be 135 stitches. Does this sound correct?? It seems like it would be too large to me since it’s about double the original amount of stitches but I’m not quite sure. Also, if I do cast on that many stitches, will I be able to do so on 32″ circular needles or will I need longer ones?
I have just one more question. If I do add that many more stitches, how would that affect my knitting when I start to decrease? Should I do as said until the “knit until last 3” and just knit the extra stitches I added??
Thank you!!
Hi Tori,
Thanks for writing back. That seems like a lot of stitches per inch for this yarn. Are you sure you are measuring correctly? Try measuring over a wider expanse, like 3-4″ and then divide the number of stitches you count by how many inches you measure. This gives you a more accurate gauge. If you are indeed at three stitches per inch, then yes, a cast on of 135 will work and as long as you are fine squishing your stitches on your needle, the circular you have will work as well. Now, for the decrease portion! This pattern has you decrease on either side of the beginning of round and halfway point. All you have to do is find your midpoint in the round and place a marker to decrease on either side. It’s as easy as that! Good luck on this and let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Adam
I would like to make this using smaller needles, say 15s, 13s, 11s or even 10.5s. Can you suggest the number of stitches for the different needle sizes. I really love the pattern, but I find it difficult to knit with such large needles.
Hi Katherine,
Thanks for writing in! I’d love to help but I can’t really suggest a cast on without a gauge. Otherwise I could be leading you down the wrong road. Let me know which gauge you are getting and then I can totally help you out!
Best,
Adam
Hi, I’d like to ask about the type of cast on method you guys used and how did you guys manage to get the bottom of the capelet to curl up. I wasn’t able to make a nice curled up edge at the bottom of the capelet. I also used 10mm instead of 15mm. I used the inverse proportion equation to figure it out. Here is the equation I used: y=k/x. Y is the needle size, K is the constant and x is the number of stitches required. 1050=k, 10mm=105 stitches, 15mm=70. I just found this interesting. How did you guys manage to make the bottom of the capelet curl up? Which cast on method did you guys use? Thanks!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for the math equation! We used the long tail cast on for this pattern. The edge isn’t actually curling in the pictures. Since the pattern starts with purl stitches and then switches to knits, it might look like the capelet is curling up to show the wrong side, but it is actually not. Let me know if this answers your question!
-Adam
I need some clarification. “knit every round until piece measures 9 inches from the beginning rolled edge”.
Do I measure the 9 inches from the cast-on edge or from the beginning of the stockinette section?
The edge itself measures 2 inches so I want to make sure I get all the length the pattern calls for.
Thanks in advance.
Petra
Hi Petra,
Thanks for writing us and good question. You’ll want to measure the piece as it lies naturally. This means that you will not unroll the edge. I hope this helps!
-Adam
Who from the cast on edge? Or from where the stockinette starts?
Hi Petra,
You’ll measure from the cast on edge. Please let us know if you have further questions and thank you for writing in!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
I’m wondering if my email came through.
Hello Petra,
Somehow we missed this comment, sorry! Have we answered your question? Please let us know.
Best,
Kumeko
Hi, I have just finished my 9 inches and am up to the decreasing part. I have no idea what to do because I casted on 105 stitches on 10mm needles. I want to make my capelet look as similar as the one in the picture.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for writing in! You’ll want to find the midpoint in between the beginning and end of the round and place a marker. After doing this, you can continue to follow the pattern by decreasing on both sides of the marker. I hope this helps!
-Adam
would it be possible to knit this without joining and then it would be a cozy shawl? are there adjustments to the pattern i should make?
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in! Interesting idea! I do think that you could do this but given how snug the caplet is, the resulting shawl would probably have a tendency to fall off of your shoulders. I believe that you will need to do a fair amount of trail and error to get it to fit in a pleasing way. Alternately, you could try our Moonstone Wrap using 7 skeins of our Gentle Giant. I think that could be quite lovely!
Best,
Cassy
Hi,
Are the stitches slipped knit wise or purl wise?
Thanks!
Anne
Hi Anne,
Thanks for writing in! For our SSK, we prefer to slip the first stitch knitwise and the second purlwise. We think that it makes a neat ssk. You can also slip both stitches knitwise if you prefer!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
HI, I tried doing K1, k2tog, k2tog, knit until three stitches before the place marker, ssk, K1, K1, K2tog, k2tog, knit until three stitches before the place marker, ssk, K1 and it became really narrow. How can I make it look normal?
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for writing in! You are decreasing six stitches per decrease round, which is two too many. The pattern has you decrease four per decrease round (two on each side of the marker). I’d rip out and try the decreases again and you’ll find that your shaping will end up where you want it!
-Adam
Help! I knitted a swatch to check my gauge and it seems way off. The instructions say 6 1/4 = 4 inches but mine is more like 10 = 4 inches (rows) and 9 = 4 inches (stitches). I used US 19 needles and if I understand it correctly I would need bigger needles. But how is that possible?
Hi Shelley,
Thanks for writing in! Based on the gauge you are getting, I would suggest going up a needle size. Every knitter has different personal gauge and this effects how many stitches you get per inch. I find that sometimes, I knit tighter when I am using larger yarn as I am trying to compensate for how different it feels in my hands than the fingering and DK weight yarns that I favor. You could try trying to relax your stitches as you knit or go up a needle size and see if you can achieve gauge using these options.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I love this pattern and this yarn and love how it turned out. I think I would like to block it, but would prefer to know your preferred technique for doing so? I’ve never made a wearable piece like this (so different from hats and scarves) and I’m nervous it will be ruined. I’m giving it as a gift, and I’m super excited about it!
Hello Lisa,
Thank you for writing in! Sorry for the delayed response! We have a fantastic tutorial on our preferred method of blocking, you can find it here. Please let us know if you have further questions!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Hey there! I was wondering if it would be possible to make this from the top down? Would it be the same except for switching increases for decreases? Thank you!
Hi Maria,
This is totally possible and super easy! You’ll just cast on the amount you are supposed to cast off and follow the pattern backwards, replacing increases for decreases. Thanks!
-Adam
I knitted this today and it’s amazing. One question, the arms were a little baggy at the decreases. Should I have knitted them tighter to prevent that? I will make this again for a gift so I’m trying to troubleshoot first. Thanks!
Hi Jillian,
So glad you love it! I’m not clear on what you mean by the arms being baggy at the decreases. Does this mean the shoulders were too wide? Let me know.
-Adam
Yes, the shoulders turned out too wide, but I could also see when I shaped the arms they don’t look as tight as the picture, so maybe I’ll try again and beware of knitting too loosely.
The same thing happened to me. The shoulders are a bit loose. Still a pretty knit though!
Hi,
Love the white peppercorn color…will you be getting that back in so it can be ordered?
Kim
Hi Kim,
Thanks for writing in! We currently have White Peppercorn in stock!
Best,
Cassy
I love this pattern and am excited to make it up! I am wondering what the best method for casting on is for this pattern using the Gentle Giant yarn. Do I use the long tail purlwise cast on?
Thanks so much!
Rebecca
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for writing in! For this, and most of our projects, we like to use the long tail cast on. We think that it creates a neat and flexible cast on. You are certainly welcome to try the long tail purlwise cast on here. Please let us know how it turns out if you do!
Best,
Cassy
Thank you, Cassy!
I tried both ways. The regular long tail cast on looks better but I couldn’t figure out how to join in the round until the second row so that the cast on would show purl side out. For that to work, I purled back in the other direction but of course could not join in the round until I reached the end of that second row. (Perhaps I’m missing something! If so please do make a suggestion!) I’ve decided to fix the “missing link” on the first row when I’m weaving in the ends.
Rebecca
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for writing back! I am glad to hear that you were able to find a solution! When working with the long tail cast on, you will join in the round as you would with any other cast on. Sometimes, one can get a little mixed up given that the tail is coming from the same edge as the working yarn. In these cases, I like to place the needle on a flat surface, make sure that my stitches are oriented correctly, and pick up the circular needles so that the working yarn is coming from the right and join in the round at that point. If you are still having difficulty, I know that there are a variety of videos on YouTube that could be helpful for getting a visual on how to join the long tail cast on in the round.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Thank you again, Cassy.
I figured out a solution but your reply has helped as well. I made two capelets, one for my mom for her 85th birthday. She LOVES it. The Gentle Giant yarn does not make us itch which is often a deterrent for me for using wool.
Rebecca
Hi, Is it absolutely necessarry to buy both lengths in the circular needle, given they are the same size? Can this garment be knitted al the way in the longer length circular needle?
Hi Julie,
Thanks for writing in. It’s better if you buy both lengths of the circular needle because as you decrease for the shoulders you won’t be able to stretch your stitches around the cord. If you don’t want to buy both lengths, you might be able to get away with using the magic loop method using the longer cord. Hope this helps!
-Adam
Thank you Adam, I understand now, that does make sense!
Hi! I want to make this capelet in Baby Alpace Grande (wool allergies) and have figured out the math to make it work. My question is about the cast on. My favorite is the cable cast on, but I notice that this leaves a weird knit row when I start to purl the first 3 rows. Is there a different cast on that I should use? Thank you.
Hi Maria,
Thanks for writing in! For this pattern and for most of our patterns, we use the long tail cast on. We think that it provides a smart looking edge that has a nice amount of stretch. It works well here to create the lovely rolled edge!
Best,
Cassy
Hi,
If I wanted to make this longer (more cape than capelet), how would you suggest changing the pattern? Thank you!
Best,
Liza
Hi Liza,
Thanks for writing in! There are a couple of things you could try depending on the look you want to achieve. You could make add rows in the beginning to make the body longer. I would try casting on more stitches and adding more decreases to create a little more room for arm movement depending on how much longer you would like to make it. You could also just add slits on either side to free up your arms. I hope this all makes sense. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Warmly,
Marilla
Marilla,
I am thinking of adding “slits” for armholes as I am making this a little longer as well. Problem is I have NO idea how to make “slits”. Any ideas/pattern suggestions?
Thank you! Tanya
Hi Tanya!
Thank you for your question. To add armhole openings to your cape, you can bind off a certain number of stitches using your gauge for reference, and then cast those stitches back on in a following row! Your gauge will be helpful to determine how many stitches to bind off for your desired armhole width in inches. To see how we did this in a different pattern, I recommend checking out our City Cape, which has armhole openings included!
All the best,
Margaret
Margaret,
I was thinking of vertical holes/slits for the arms as opposed to the horizontal slits in the City Cape pattern. Any recommendations on patterns to look at and copy for that.
Thank you, Tanya
Hi Tanya!
Vertical armholes would be easy to add in, too! All you would need to do is put your desired amount of inner front stitches on hold while you knit the back flat back and forth. Then, you can put the back stitches on hold while you knit the front stitches to the same height, and then join in the round again! This will create a gap for your armholes where the front and back stitches weren’t connected in the round.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
Yes, thank you that does help!
Tanya
You are very welcome, Tanya!
Happy knitting,
Margaret
Hi! Just ordered the gentle giant to finally make this and I am so excited! Do you think it is possible to use only the 24” length needles? Others have asked about using only the longer and I understand why that wouldn’t work but it seems you could use just the smaller if you could tolerate a little squeeze.
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks for writing in! Given the number of stitches and the size of the stitches on the bottom of the capelet, it may be a bit challenging to get all of the stitches on a 24″ cord. You can certainly give it a go but I do think that it will be a challenge.
Best,
Cassy
what would you suggestI have worsted twist yarn and would like to knit a capelet. oulr appreciate your suggestions. The mountain capelet is my favourite.Thank you .
Irene
Hi Irene,
Thanks for writing in! At present, we do not have a pattern for a caplet using Worsted Twist (we will certainly keep it in mind)! However, we do have the City Cape, which is knit with Alpaca Pure but could easily be knit with Worsted Twist as they knit at a similar gauge. You would need fewer skeins of Worsted Twist as the yardage is higher (6 or 8 skeins).
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Mmm….it just looks yummy ?.
Is this pattern worked from the bottom (chest area) to the top (neck area)?
I have an idea ? to make the neck area longer. Would I just keep knitting 38 stitches until I have the length (or rather- height) that I need?
Thank you so much
Hello Patty,
Thank you for writing in. You are correct- this Capelet is knit bottom up and if you would like a longer nech you would just keep knitting until you are happy with it. Let us know how it goes!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
I really enjoy this pattern, but I’m worried about sizing. I see that the pattern was updated in the newer Sheperdhess Alpaca Mountain Cowl to have more sizes, but I prefer the neck style of the original Cowl. Do you have any suggestions for how to blend the two patterns? The design/pattern of the original Mountain cowl in the largest size of the SAMC?
Thanks in advance
Hi Sarah,
Great question! To get a more drapey neck, as in the Gentle Giant version of this capelet, you will do a few fewer decreases before moving onto the neck (perhaps 2 or 3). Then you will knit until the neck measures 6 inches from the last decrease that you worked before knitting the border rows. This should give you more of the drapey neckline that you are after. It may take a bit of trial and error to decide how many fewer decreases to work but I think that it should work out well!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I love this pattern but was wondering if you have a crochet version or tips on how to convert to crochet?
Hello Ann,
Thank you for reaching out! While we do not have a Crocheted version of this pattern, I will certainly pass along your suggestion!
Warmly,
Marilla
I love the pattern but don’t knit, do you have a crochet version?
Thank you
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for writing in! We do not have a crocheted version of this capelet but we will keep your request in mind for the future!
Best,
Julianna
Hello. I love this pattern and have it on right now! I want to make one for my sister but think she’ll need it a bit larger. How do I go about this? I’m a beginning knitter so am unsure how to size this up. Thanks.
Hello Carol,
I’m so happy to ear you success story! I would reccomend casting on more stitches and then doing the same amount of decrease. This will make the circumference of the body and the neck larger. I would say that the first step to doing this is figuring out your desired circumference. Once you know this you can use your gauge to determine your cast on.
Let us know how it goes and if you have any further questions along the way!
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Thank you! Will give it a try. I wear my capelet every morning and love it…the exact thing I’d been looking for over the years.
I am curious just how much ease there is in the Mountain Capelet? The current 45” circumference is much smaller than I would need, especially to wear over another sweater or even a jacket. I realize I can cast on additional stitches & adjust the decreases accordingly but need some advice on what RTW size range this compares to. Much appreciation, Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for reaching out! Great question! As this lovely capelet is one size, the ease varies based on the person wearing the capelet. I will say that on our model there is about 2-4 inches of positive ease. That said, we have seen it worn with 1-2 inches of negative ease and that looks lovely as well! For the updated version, we designed it with 4-8 inches of positive ease. This gives a more easy fit.
As to Ready to Wear size, we tend to go with actual measurements as opposed to number sizing as ready to wear sizing differs so greatly from brand to brand. With actual measurements, we hope that you will be able to create a finished product that fits you as well as possible!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
This is my all-time favorite pattern, am just finishing my third mountain capelet. It fits my daughter, size 8, as well as myself, size 14, and looks equally gorgeous on both of us. I like to add a vintage rhinestone pin — classy! (And easy and fast)
I love this yarn. Do you have a pattern for a cardigan using Gentle Giant please?
Hello Jane,
Thank you for writing and your kind words! I will certainly pass along the suggestion.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
This happened to me also but not enough to detract. I learned from an online knitting forum that in order to avoid gaps or holes, cinch the stitch after the decrease. It works.
Looks good can’t wait to receive it all.
Is there a yarn that would be comparable weight to the Shepherdess Alpaca?
Hi Robin,
Thanks for reaching out! Either Super Soft Merino or Manos del Uruguay Franca should be a good substitute for the Shepherdess Alpaca version of the Mountain Capelet!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi. I just finished this. I accidentally made the neck a little bigger and decided to keep it. When I finished I had to go back to my joins and take the ends to wet join to finish. Any reason to not try to wet join the ends that I cut or should I just tie them somehow?
Thanks
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for reaching out! While you can use a wet splice to join a new yarn as you are adding the yarn, it can’t be used to secure your ends after you have finished a project. I would suggest using the diagonal method in our Weaving In Ends tutorial!
Best,
Julianna
Hello. I have made this several times and it is lovely. I work at a yarn store and a customer wanted to make this but she is a larger size than what this pattern is designed for. What do you suggest to increase the size for her? She is using Malabrigo Rasta for this project.
Thank you.
Hello Elizabeth,
Thank you for reaching out! Malabrigo Rasta is a thinner yarn than our Gentle Giant yarn, so you will have a different gauge. This means that, you will need to knit up a gauge swatch first. Once you know how many stitches per inch you are getting you will need to decide the desired circumference of the body and neck. Once you know these numbers you can use them to decide on your cast on.
I hope this helps and let us know if you have any further questions!
Best,
Marilla
Please, could you tell me what’s “ssk”?
Tks ??
Hi Lydia,
Thanks for reaching out! An SSK, or Slip Slip Knit, is a type of decrease, which you can learn how to do in our Slip Slip Knit (ssk) tutorial!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
My son loves the one I made and now wants one of his own. I can probably follow along pretty easily if you can let me know… How many stitches should I cast on for a child size capelet? He is about 45″ tall. How much yarn might I need?
Thanks!
Hi Alexis,
Thanks for reaching out! I am so glad to hear that you and your son both love this pattern! I would recommend to figure our his shoulder width measurements and the circumference around his shoulders. You can then calculate the cast on with the gauge of 6 1/4 stitches = 4 inches based on his measurements! I would also recommend approximately 3 skeins.
All the best,
Gianna
I have made four of the capelet’s and, obviously, love the pattern. I have one thing I’d like to fix if possible: when I do the shoulder decreases there are fairly big holes or gaps in that shoulder seam. Is there a way to fix that as I knit.
Hi Tina,
Thanks for reaching out! Sometimes when working a k2tog the stitch can get over stretched and cause a hole or gap to appear, the best ay to avoid this is to make sure that you are not over stretching the stitch when preforming the decrease. This is also something that you can usually fix when you block your finished Capelet! I recommend checking out our Blocking tutorial, it is an excellent resource to use!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hello! I’m working on this now and my rolled hem really wants to turn to the inside rather than out – I’ve done about 10 rows at this point. Did I do something wrong or will it correct itself later? Thanks!
Hi Marina,
Thanks for reaching out! I think you should be okay to keep going, this is something you can easily adjust by Blocking the finished piece!
Warmly,
Gianna
I wanted to make this for my 12 yo daughter. She about a size 0 or 2 in adult clothes. How would I modify the pattern to fit her? Thanks!!
Hi Julie,
Thanks for writing in! The best place to start when making modifications to a pattern is by taking your daughter’s measurements. The most important measurement to take for this pattern would be the circumference around her chest and arms (since that’s where the bottom edge of the garment falls).
Once you know that, you can decide on how much ease you’d like the caplet to fit with. I’d recommend knitting it with a few inches of positive ease for the most comfortable fit!
Then, you can calculate your new cast-on number by multiplying the (chest/arm circumference + ease) by the number of stitches per inch (1.56 stitches per inch, according to the gauge we knit this pattern to). Finally, round the resulting number to the nearest even number and cast on that amount of stitches!
From here, you can essentially follow the pattern as written, but just keep in mind the new stitch count when placing your stitch markers to begin the decreases. There are two decrease “seams,” and they’re located exactly opposite each other on the sides of the caplet.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Lili
Hi Lili,
Thank you for your reply. I have calculated the number of stitches to cast on: 64.
I’m not sure how to figure out the decrease rounds.
Thank you,
Julie
You’re very welcome, Julie! The stitch marker is placed exactly halfway around the round, so it should fall after 32 stitches. Here’s how you would work the first Next Round to take that into account:
Next Round: K1, k2tog, k26, ssk, k1, place marker, k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1. [60 stitches]
All the best,
Lili
Hello, I love the White Peppercorn as pictured in the knitted version here, but on the Gentle Giant page it seems to have a yellowish tinge. Is that actually so in person? Thanks!
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for reaching out! The more yellowish color that’s shown on the product page is the more accurate of the two, since we took those under studio lighting. The Mountain Capelet is a pretty old pattern, and we have much better photography equipment now than we did back then! Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi,
I couldn’t figure out how to get the updated 2017 pattern. I wanted to use a lighter weight yarn like your shepherdess alpaca. Maybe plenty? But I can’t find the pattern with the additional sizes, etc.
Thanks!!
Hi Jane,
Thanks for writing in! You can find the updated version in Shepherdess Alpaca right here. However, Shepherdess Alpaca was still a super bulky weight yarn, so it was thicker than Plenty! I’d say that the best match from our current yarns would be Super Soft Merino, which is still a much lighter weight than Gentle Giant though. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I’m ready to cast on. Please confirm whether this is knit from top to bottom or knit from bottom to top. I want to make it longer so I need to know where I should add on rows at the bottom. Many thanks for this free pattern.
Hi Stephanie,
This pattern is knit from the bottom up! Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili