Addilyn Capelet Knitting Pattern

Addilyn Capelet in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Chunky Tonal

What Is Being Made

The Addilyn Capelet is a versatile women's knit capelet designed by Elizabeth Smith that can be styled multiple ways. This garment is worked in one piece from the neck down and features a distinctive garter drop stitch pattern. The capelet can be worn traditionally around the shoulders or drawn up on the neck and worn as a cowl. The neck features an asymmetrical, buttoned design where the elongated stitches created by the drop stitch pattern serve as functional buttonholes. The neck can be buttoned all the way up for a snug fit or left partially unbuttoned and folded over like a collar for a different aesthetic.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The Addilyn Capelet is available in five size ranges to fit various bust measurements:

• X-Small/Small: To fit bust 30–36", finished bottom circumference 42", length 16¼"
• Medium/Large: To fit bust 38–44", finished bottom circumference 48", length 17½"
• 1X/2X: To fit bust 46–52", finished bottom circumference 54", length 18¼"
• 3X/4X: To fit bust 54–60", finished bottom circumference 60", length 19½"

Knitting Techniques

The Addilyn Capelet employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its finished design. The garment is worked in one piece from the neck down, beginning with flat knitting on a circular needle for the neck section, then transitioning to working in the round for the body. This construction method allows for seamless shaping and the creation of the distinctive asymmetrical buttoned cowl neck. Strategic increases are made throughout the body section to shape the shoulders and create the proper drape and circumference at the bottom edge. The drop stitch pattern creates elongated stitches that naturally form buttonholes, eliminating the need for traditional buttonhole construction.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used throughout the Addilyn Capelet is the Garter Drop Stitch Pattern. Garter stitch—created by knitting every row when working flat or alternating knit and purl rounds when working in the round—forms the foundation of this design. The drop stitch technique involves intentionally dropping stitches to create elongated loops and openings. These dropped stitches serve a dual purpose: they add visual interest and texture to the capelet while simultaneously creating the buttonholes for the cowl neck closure. This combination of garter stitch and drop stitch creates a fabric with distinctive texture and functional design elements.

Materials and Yarn

The Addilyn Capelet is designed to be knit with Berroco Ultra Alpaca Chunky Tonal, a bulky-weight yarn. The yardage requirements vary by size, with the X-Small/Small, Medium/Large, and 1X/2X sizes each requiring 3 hanks of yarn (100 grams per hank), while the 3X/4X size requires 4 hanks. The pattern calls for the colorway #72300 Goose Bay. Berroco Ultra Alpaca Chunky Tonal is a premium yarn choice that provides warmth and softness suitable for a shoulder-worn capelet.

Needles and Notions

The pattern requires a 24" circular knitting needle in size 10½ (6.50 mm), which is used for both the flat knitting of the neck and the circular knitting of the body. Knitters should select the needle size that allows them to achieve the specified gauge. Additionally, the pattern calls for one stitch marker to mark the beginning of rounds when working in the round, and one double-pointed needle (dpn) in size 10½ or smaller to hold stitches. The capelet is finished with two 1" buttons that fasten through the drop stitch buttonholes on the asymmetrical cowl neck.

Gauge

The specified gauge for the Addilyn Capelet is 12 stitches and 20 rows equals 4 inches in the Garter Drop Stitch Pattern. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and overall fit of the capelet. Knitters are strongly encouraged to knit a gauge swatch and measure it carefully before beginning the project