Berroco Sous Sous Cape Knitting Pattern

Berroco Sous Sous Cape and Poncho

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Sous Sous is a sophisticated knitted cape and poncho designed by Amy Christoffers. This intermediate-level garment features a structured silhouette with finished bust measurements ranging from 46 to 71 inches and lengths between 28¼ and 32¼ inches. The design includes button closures and shaped shoulders, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions and body sizes.

Construction Techniques

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its tailored fit and seamless appearance:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is worked from the lower edge upward, allowing knitters to try on the piece as it progresses and easily adjust length if needed.
• Seamless construction: The design minimizes seaming, resulting in a more polished, comfortable finished garment with no bulky seams along the sides or back.
• Worked flat: Despite being seamless in appearance, the piece is worked on straight needles rather than in the round, making it accessible to knitters who prefer flat construction methods.
• Short-row shaping: Shoulders are shaped using short rows with wrap-and-turn (w&t) techniques, creating a custom fit at the shoulder area. This shaping is then joined using a three-needle bind-off, which creates a strong, invisible seam.
• Increases: Strategic increases worked at the beginning and end of rows create the cape's gradual widening from the lower back edge.

Stitches Used

The Berroco Sous Sous is primarily constructed using stockinette stitch (St st), the most fundamental and versatile stitch in knitting. Stockinette stitch creates a smooth, classic fabric with a distinctive V-pattern on the right side and horizontal bumps on the wrong side. This stitch is worked by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. The pattern also incorporates knit-front-and-back (kfb) increases to shape the garment, and a three-needle bind-off technique for joining the shoulders securely.

Materials

The Berroco Sous Sous pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended drape and finished measurements:

• Yarn: Berroco Pirouette, a 50-gram ball weight yarn, in colorway #2368 Charcoal. Yardage requirements range from 7 to 13 balls depending on the finished size selected.
• Needles: Two circular needles in size 8 (5.00 mm)—a 29-inch needle for the main body and a 40-inch or longer needle for the back and side edging. Circular needles are used here for their ability to hold a large number of stitches comfortably, even though the piece is worked flat rather than in the round.
• Notions: Four buttons measuring 1⅛ inches in diameter, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, removable markers or safety pins for tracking stitch placement, and waste yarn for holding stitches temporarily during construction.

Gauge and Fit

The pattern specifies a gauge of 15 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger needle. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining accurate finished measurements and ensuring the garment fits as designed. The pattern is available in five sizes to accommodate a range of body measurements and preferences.