Mari Lynn Patrick begins this capelet with a simple crocheted chain for the neck edge. Then she has fun by working unusual crochet stitches in bands of lacy texture that fall gracefully over the shoulders. Don’t be intimidated by the changing stitches—each one is clearly explained. The increases that shape the capelet are worked as an integral part of each stitch pattern, so the circumference grows with each pattern band. A row of picots around the neck and lower edgings, and a showy vintage button, add the finishing touches.
54½" (138.5 cm) circumference at lower edge, 26" (66 cm) circumference at neck, and 12" (30.5 cm) long, including edging picots.
About 412 yd (377 m) of worsted-weight (Medium #4) yarn.
We used: Tahki New Tweed (70% merino wool, 15% silk, 11% cotton, 4% viscose; 103 yd [94 m]/50 g): #018 blue tweed, 4 balls.
Size J/10 (6 mm). Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Tapestry needle; one 1" (2.5-cm) button.
13 sc = 4" (10 cm) in single crochet.
Dc2tog: Work 1 dc, but do not draw yarn through last 2 loops on hook—2 loops on hook. Work the next dc until 1 loop rem, yo, and draw through all 3 loops on hook—1 dc dec’d.
Puff Stitch: All in same st: [yo, insert hook into st and draw up a loop] 4 times, yo and draw through all 9 loops on hook, work a tight ch 1 to close puff st.
Cluster-2: All in same st: [yo over hook twice, insert hook in st, yo hook and draw through a loop, yo hook, draw through 2 loops, yo hook, draw through 2 loops] 2 times, yo hook, draw through all 3 loops on hook.
Row 1 should be a WS row, and Row 2 should be a RS row. For Rows 3 - 22, odd-numbered rows are WS, and even-numbered rows are RS.
Cluster-3: All in same st: [yo hook twice, insert hook in st, yo hook and draw through a loop, yo hook, draw through 2 loops, yo hook, draw through 2 loops] 3 times, yo hook, draw through 4 loops on hook.
Double Cluster-3: All in same st: cluster-3 (see above), ch 3, cluster-3.
Ch 86—chain should measure about 26½" (67.5 cm) long. Work scallop patt as foll:
Row 1: (RS) Work 1 sc in second ch from hook, then in each ch to end—85 sc. Turn on this and all foll rows.
Row 2: (WS) Ch 1, 1 sc in first sc, ch 2, skip 2 sc, 1 sc in next sc, *skip 2 sc, 6 dc all in next sc, skip 2 sc, 1 sc in next sc, ch 2, skip 2 sc, 1 sc in next sc; rep from * 8 more times.
Row 3: Ch 1, 1 sc in first sc, ch 2, *1 dc in next dc, [ch 1, 1 dc in next dc] 5 times, 1 sc in next ch-2 space; rep from * 8 more times, ending last rep by omitting the 1 sc in next ch-2 space, and working (ch 2, 1 sc) in last sc instead.
Row 4: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), [1 dc in next dc, ch 2] 5 times, *dc2tog (see Stitch Guide, page 39), ch 2, [1 dc in next dc, ch 2] 4 times, rep from * 7 more times to last dc, 1 dc in next dc until 2 loops rem on hook, 1 dc in last sc until 3 loops rem on hook, yo and draw through all 3 loops.
Row 5: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, *[2 sc in ch-2 space, 1 sc in dc] 4 times, 2 sc in ch-2 space, 2 sc in top of dc2tog; rep from * 8 more times, ending last rep with 2 sc in last st—146 sc.
Row 6: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), skip first sc, 1 dc in each sc to end—146 dc.
Cont in puff st patt as foll:
Row 7: Ch 1, 1 sc in each of first 2 dc, *ch 3, skip 2 dc, 1 puff st (see Stitch Guide) in next dc, ch 3, skip 2 dc, 1 sc in next dc; rep from * to last dc, 1 sc in last dc and 1 sc in third ch of ch-3 at end of row.
Row 8: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 2), work 3 sc into the closing ch of first puff st, *ch 3, 3 sc into closing ch of next puff st; rep from * 22 more times to last ch-3 and 2 sc, ch 2, skip ch-3 and 1 sc, 1 dc in last sc.
Row 9: Ch 1, 1 sc in first dc, 2 sc in first ch-2 space, *1 sc in each of next 3 sc, 3 sc into next ch-3 sp; rep from * 22 more times, ending 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, 1 sc in 3rd ch of ch-5 from previous row.
Cont in eyelet strip patt as foll:
Row 10: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), skip first sc, 1 dc in each sc to end.
Row 11: (eyelet row) Ch 3 (counts as 1 hdc and ch 1), skip 1 dc, *1 hdc in next dc, ch 1, skip 1 dc; rep from *, end 1 hdc in last dc—73 ch-1 spaces.
Row 12: (inc row) Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), [1 dc in ch-1 space, 1 dc in next hdc] 2 times, 2 dc in ch-1 space (for inc), *[1 dc in hdc, 1 dc in ch-1 space] 4 times, 1 dc in hdc, 2 dc in ch-1 space; rep from * rep from * 12 more times until 6 more hdc and 5 more ch-1 sp remain, [1 dc in hdc, 1 dc in ch-1 sp] 4 times, 1 dc in hdc, 1 dc in ch-1 sp, 1 dc in top ch of ch-3 from previous row.
Cont in flower patt as foll:
Row 13: Ch 1, *1 sc in next st, ch 5, skip 4 sts, 1 dc in next st, ch 3, skip 4 sts, double cluster-3 (see Stitch Guide) in next st, ch 3, skip 4 sts, 1 dc in next st, ch 5, skip 4 sts; rep from *,.
Row 14: Ch 3, cluster-2 in second ch of ch-3 just worked, *ch 3, cluster-2 in the top of the cluster just completed, 1 dc in dc, ch 3, 1 sc in ch-3 space at center of double cluster-3 in row below, ch 3, 1 dc in dc, ch 3, cluster-2 in first ch of ch-3 just worked, skip 3 ch of the ch-5 in row below, cluster-3 in next ch, skip the next [1 ch, 1 sc, 1 ch] group of sts, cluster-3 in next ch; rep from * 6 more times, ending ch 3, cluster-2 in the top of the cluster just completed, 1 dc in dc, ch 3, 1 sc in ch-3 space at center of double cluster-3 in row below, ch 3, 1 dc in dc, ch 3, cluster-2 in first ch of ch-3 just worked, cluster-3 in last sc.
Row 15: Ch 3, cluster-2 in top of cluster-3 at end of previous row, *ch 3, 1 dc in dc, ch 5, 1 sc in sc, ch 5, 1 dc in dc, ch 3, double cluster-3 in center of paired cluster-3 in row below; rep from * 6 more times, ch 3, 1 dc in dc, ch 5, 1 sc in sc, ch 5, 1 dc in dc, ch 3, cluster-3 in top of beg cluster-2 from Row 14.
Row 16: *Ch 3, 1 dc in dc, ch 3, cluster-2 in first ch of ch-3 just completed, skip 3 ch, cluster-3 in next ch, skip [1 ch, 1 sc, 1 ch], cluster-3 in next ch, ch 3, cluster-2 in first ch of ch-3 just completed, 1 dc in dc, ch 3, 1 sc in ch-3 space at center of double cluster-3 in row below, rep from * 7 more times, ending last rep with 1 sc in top of cluster-2 from previous row.
Row 17: Ch 1, 1 sc in first sc, *ch 5, 1 dc in dc, ch 3, double cluster-3 in center of paired cluster-3 of Row 16, ch 3, 1 dc in dc, ch 5, 1 sc in sc; rep from * 7 more times, ending last rep by working sc into the top of the cluster at end of Row 15.
Row 18: Ch 6, 1 sc in dc, *[ch 3, sc in top of cluster-3] 2 times, ch 3, 1 sc in dc, [ch 5, sc in next st] 2 times; rep from * 6 more times, [ch 3, sc in top of cluster-3] 2 times, ch 3, 1 sc in dc, ch 5, sc in last st.
Row 19: Ch 1, work 1 sc in each st, 3 sc in ch-3, and 5 sc in each ch-5 across.
Row 20: Ch 2, *skip 1 st, 1 hdc in next st, ch 1; rep from *, end 1 hdc in last st.
Row 21: Ch 1, skipping all hdc, work 2 sc in each ch-1 space.
Row 22: (picot row) Ch 3, sl st in first st, *sl st in each of next 3 sts, ch 3, sl st in same st as last sl st; rep from * to end. Fasten off.
Neck trim: Rejoin yarn to top of left front opening, WS facing
Row 1: (WS) Working along opposite side of beg ch, work 1 sc in each st across until 3 sts rem, ch 2, skip 2 sts (forms buttonhole), 1 sc in last st--85 sts, counting the ch-2 as 2 sts. Turn.
Row 2: (RS) Ch 2, working in back loops only, work 1 hdc in each of next 6 sts, *skip 1 st, work 1 hdc in each of next 8 sts; rep from * until 7 sts rem, end skip 1 st, 1 hdc in each of the last 6 sts. Turn.
Row 3: (slightly shapes front neck) Ch 1, sl st over the first 5 sts, sc in front loops of next 7 sts, hdc in front loops of next 3 sts, dc in front loops to last 15 sts, hdc in front loops of next 3 sts, sc in front loops of next 7 sts, sl st to end. Turn.
Row 4: (picot row) Ch 3, sl st in first st, *sl st in each of next 3 sts, ch 3, sl st in same st as last sl st; rep from * to end. Fasten off.
Right front edging: To straighten the front edges, join with sl st to lower right front corner and work as foll:
Row 1: Work 1 sc in first sc, [ch 2, skip a ½" (1.3-cm) space, sc in edge of piece] 16 times. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 2, work 2 hdc in each ch-2 space, end 1 hdc in last sc. Fasten off. Left front edging: Work as for right front edging.
Weave in loose ends. Block lightly to measurements. Sew button opposite buttonhole.
