Berroco Cinca Cape Knitting Pattern

Berroco Cinca Capelet: Seamless Knit Lace Pattern

What Is Being Made

The Cinca is a sophisticated capelet designed by Amy Christoffers, featured in Berroco Booklet #404. This intermediate-level knitting project creates an elegant shoulder piece that transitions from a fitted neckline to a dramatically wider lower edge. The capelet is available in three sizes with finished measurements of 20", 22", or 23" at the neck edge, expanding to 45¾", 49", or 52¼" at the lower edge, with a consistent length of 14" across all sizes.

Construction Technique

The Cinca capelet is worked seamlessly from the bottom up in the round, eliminating the need for seaming. This construction method ensures a smooth, professional finish and allows for continuous circular knitting throughout the project. The garment begins with a cast-on at the lower edge and progresses upward toward the neckline, with strategic decreases shaping the piece as it narrows toward the neck opening.

Stitch Pattern and Lace Details

The capelet features a beautiful lace pattern that creates visual interest and helps achieve the dramatic shaping from lower to upper edge. The lace motif is worked using fundamental lace techniques including yarn overs (yo) for creating openwork, knit two together (k2tog) decreases, and slip-slip-knit (SSK) decreases. The pattern alternates between lace rounds and stockinette stitch rounds, with the lace section beginning after 4½" of stockinette stitch from the cast-on edge.

The written pattern instructions indicate a 16-stitch repeat that is worked 14, 15, or 16 times around depending on size. The lace pattern spans rounds 1 through 60 and features a structured repeat of purl stitches that frame the lace motifs, creating vertical lines of definition. The pattern combines decreases (k2tog and SSK worked three times consecutively) with yarn overs and knit stitches to form the characteristic openwork design.

Materials Required

This project uses Berroco Mantra yarn in the colorway Willow (#4406). The pattern requires only 3 balls of yarn (50 grams each) regardless of size, making it an economical project. Berroco Mantra is a smooth, versatile yarn well-suited to displaying lace patterns.

Needles required include a 29" circular needle in size 6 (4.00 mm) for the initial cast-on and lower sections, and 16" circular needles in both sizes 4 (3.50 mm) and size 6 (4.00 mm). The pattern specifies changing to the larger 16" circular needle when stitches no longer slide comfortably on the longer needle, accommodating the decrease in stitch count as the capelet narrows. One stitch marker is needed to denote the beginning of rounds. The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 32 rounds over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger needle.

Pattern Features

• Intermediate skill level suitable for knitters with experience in circular knitting and lace techniques
• Seamless construction worked continuously in the round from cast-on to bind-off
• Bottom-up construction allowing for easy try-on and length adjustments
• Elegant lace pattern that creates openwork and visual dimension
• Three size options accommodating different neck measurements
• Minimal yardage requirement (150 grams total) making it an efficient project
• Includes both written pattern instructions and charted pattern for lace rounds

Finishing Details

The capelet begins with a ribbed edge created by alternating purl and knit rounds at the cast-on edge, providing structure and preventing rolling. This transitional edging is followed by stockinette stitch before the lace pattern begins, creating a balanced visual progression from the lower edge upward.