Collared Capelet - Free Knitting Wrap Pattern

The Collared Capelet is a cozy, elegant knit that truly warms like a hug. Designed in beautiful self-striping KnitPal Ombré Encore bulky yarn, this easy-level capelet features a softly rolled collar, gentle shaping, and a graceful drape that sits comfortably between the shoulders and elbows. Worked flat on circular needles and finished with a clever collar join, it’s a relaxing, satisfying project that delivers maximum warmth and style with minimal effort—perfect for layering on chilly days or gifting to someone special.

Download a printable pattern PDF

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What You’ll Need

• Yarn: KnitPal Ombre Encore (weight #5 - 100% acrylic, 169 yards per 140 grams)

  Approximately 1 (2, 2) skeins
  Small sample shown in colorways Red Apple, Checkerboard Red, and Black Jade (uses approximately 1/3 skein of each)
  Large sample shown in colorway White Grey

• Needles: US 11 / 8 mm 32" /81 cm circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge

• Notions:
  Tapestry needle
  Measuring tape
  
  

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Details

• Skill Level: Easy
  
  
• Gauge: 4x4 inches / 10x10cm = 11 stitches x 16 rows knit flat in stockinette st
  
  
• Sizes: SMALL (MEDIUM, LARGE)
  Collar Width: 18 (21 24) inches / 45 (52.5, 60) cm

  Bottom Width: 53.5 (57.75, 62) inches / 134 (144.5, 155) cm
  Length (center back including collar): 10.25 (12, 14) inches / 25.5 (30, 35) cm

Abreviations

• CO: cast on
• inc: increase
• K: knit
  
• P: purl
  
• rep: repeat
• RS: right side of work
  
• st(s): stitch(es)
• WS: wrong side
  
• wyib: with yarn in back
• wyif: with yarn in front
  
• yb: bring yarn to back (not yarn over)
• yf: bring yarn to front (not yarn over)
  
  

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Skills

• You will need to know how to cast on using the Long Tail method (or other similar method that creates a sturdy edge to allow for the joining to roll the collar), knit, purl, work an increase by knitting under the bar between sts, and bind off. Optional: how to create i-cord for the drawstring.
  

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Special Stitches

KNIT UNDER BAR BETWEEN STS

The increases made as Knit under bar between sts is NOT a Make 1 increase, as the bar is NOT picked up and twisted onto the needle prior to knitting the stitch. You simply knit in the space below the bar that is between the stitch just completed and the next stitch that has not yet been knitted. This will create a tiny gap, which is intended as part of the edging design. The gap is smaller and lower than a yarn over gap.

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Notes

• The capelet is intended to reach about halfway between the shoulders and elbows, with the collar wrapping around the neck. If a longer capelet is desired, work even in stockinette after the final increase row of the size chosen, continuing to slip the first stitch as described, to your desired length, and then complete the edge rows as indicated. Remember that more yarn will be required than stated in pattern, and that the additional length will not have the “curve” of the main section.

  The collar is rolled by folding the working edge to the cast on edge with wrong sides touching, and then knitting the working stitch together with the corresponding loop of the cast-on edge (insert needle tip into live stitch as well as corresponding loop of cast-on edge, wrap and pull through both layers = 1 knit stitch).

  If desired, an I-Cord can be laced through the collar space, to tie the capelet in place around the neck. Suggested lengths are 60 (63, 66) inches / 152 (160,168) cm. As noted in Yarn Requirements, this will take 20 - 25 additional yards of yarn, if creating a 4-stitch cord with same US 11 / 8mm needles used for the capelet.

  After the joining row for the collar, the first stitch of every row is slipped purlwise. If the next stitch is a Knit (RS), the yarn is held in front for the slipstitch and then returned to the back. If the next stitch is a Purl (WS), the yarn is held in back for the slip stitch, and then returned to the front.

  For multi-colored versions, change color on the last stitch of your row, as each new row’s 1st stitch is slipped, so this will carry the color “in line” with the row. For the pictured Small version, the colors were combined as Color A for the cast-on, collar (including joining and set up rows) and the first 6 rows of the Body, and then completing 13 more rows in Color B, and switching to Color C to finish the capelet.

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Pattern 

Download a printable pattern PDF

Worked flat in rows, on circular needles to accommodate the number of sts as the rows increase.

COLLAR

Cast on 50 (58, 66) sts.

Row 1 (RS): K2, *P2, K2; rep from * to end.

Row 2 (WS): P2, *K2, P2; rep from * to end.

Repeat Row 1 - 2 for a total of 14 (18, 22) rows.

All Sizes

Row 1 (Joining Row) (RS): With WS facing inward, fold cast on edge to meet working edge, and join the edges by knitting each stitch on needle together with the corresponding loop of the cast on edge.

Row 2 (WS): Sl1 purlwise wyib, yf, purl to end.

Row 3: Sl1 purlwise wyif, yb, *K under bar between sts, K1; rep from * to end. 99(115, 131) sts.

BODY - SMALL

Row 1 (WS): Sl1 purlwise wyib, yf, P to end.

Row 2 (RS): Sl1 purlwise wyif, yb, K to end.

Row 3: Sl1 purlwise wyib, yf, P to end.

Row 4: Sl1 purlwise wyif, yb, (Knit under bar between sts, K1) 3 times, K to last 3sts, (Knit under bar between sts, K1) 3 times (6 sts increased).

Repeat Row 1 - 4 for a total of 8 times (147 sts).

Proceed to EDGE section.

BODY - MEDIUM

Row 1 (WS): Sl1 purlwise wyib, yf, P to end.

Row 2 (RS): Sl1 purlwise wyif, yb, K to end.

Row 3: Sl1 purlwise wyib, yf, P to end.

Row 4: Sl1 purlwise wyif, yb, (Knit under bar between sts, K1) 2 times, K to last 2sts, (Knit under bar between sts, K1) 2 times (4 sts increased).

Row 5: Sl1 purlwise wyib, yf, P to end.

Row 6: Sl1 purlwise wyif, yb, K to end.

Row 7: Sl1 purlwise wyib, yf, P to end.

Row 8: Sl1 purlwise wyif, yb, (Knit under bar between sts, K1) 3 times, K to last 3sts, (Knit under bar between sts, K1) 3 times (6 sts increased).

Repeat Row 1 - 8 for a total of 4 times and then repeat Row 1 - 4 once more(159 sts).

Proceed to EDGE section.

BODY - LARGE

Row 1 (WS): Sl1 purlwise wyib, yf, P to end.

Row 2 (RS): Sl1 purlwise wyif, yb, K to end.

Row 3: Sl1 purlwise wyib, yf, P to end.

Row 4: Sl1 purlwise wyif, yb, (Knit under bar between sts, K1) 2 times, K to last 2sts, (Knit under bar between sts, K1) 2 times (4 sts increased).

Repeat Row 1 - 4 for a total of 10 times (171 sts).

Proceed to EDGE section.

EDGE – ALL SIZES

Row 1 (WS): Sl1 purlwise wyif, yb, K to end.

Row 2 (RS): Sl1 purlwise wyif, yb, K to end.

Row 3 (WS): Bind off in Knit (do not slip first st).

Break yarn and weave in ends.

FINISHING

Wash and dry flat.

Optional I-Cord: Cast on 4 sts and work an I-Cord to length of 60 (63, 66) inches/ 152 (160, 168) cm. Thread through the inside of the rolled collar.