Berroco Penrose Cape Knitting Pattern

Berroco Penrose Knit Cape and Poncho

What is Being Made

The Penrose is a sophisticated knit cape and poncho designed by Alison Green from Berroco Book #414. This intermediate-level garment is a versatile layering piece that measures approximately 29½ to 49¼ inches across the shoulders and 23½ inches in length, depending on the selected size. The design offers five different finished measurements to accommodate various body sizes, making it an adaptable accessory for different wearers.

Knitting Techniques

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques to create its elegant construction:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The cape is knitted from the bottom edge upward, beginning with a cast-on of 148 to 246 stitches depending on size, allowing knitters to try on the piece as it grows.
• Worked Flat: Rather than being worked in the round, this garment is constructed flat on circular needles and later seamed together, which provides greater control over shaping and pattern placement.
• Lace Patterning: Charted lace patterns (Chart 1 and Chart 2) are integrated into the design, creating decorative openwork sections that add visual interest and a refined aesthetic to the finished piece.
• Seamed Construction: The flat-worked pieces are seamed together to create the final garment shape, allowing for precise finishing and professional appearance.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Penrose combines multiple stitch techniques throughout its construction. Stockinette stitch (St st) forms the foundation fabric in the central body sections between the charted pattern areas. The design features charted lace patterns worked on both sides of the garment—Chart 1 and Chart 2 are established in the set-up rows and worked simultaneously as the piece grows. These charts are followed row-by-row, with the right-side rows and wrong-side rows worked according to the chart instructions. The lace sections measure 33 stitches wide on each side, while the center stockinette section varies from 82 to 180 stitches depending on the chosen size. Stitch markers are used throughout to clearly delineate the pattern sections and maintain accurate stitch placement.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Penrose pattern calls for Berroco Cambria yarn in colorway #7907 Beech. Cambria is a worsted-weight yarn sold in 50-gram hanks, with yardage requirements ranging from 7 hanks for the smallest size to 12 hanks for the largest size. The pattern specifies size 8 (5.00 mm) circular needles measuring 29 inches in length for the main body knitting, and size 7 (4.50 mm) circular needles measuring 16 inches for working smaller sections. Additional notions include 4 stitch markers to track pattern sections and waste yarn for holding stitches during construction. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 27 rows per 4 inches when working in stockinette stitch and the charted pattern, making accurate gauge swatching essential before beginning the project.