Herdwick Cape Knitting Pattern

Herdwick Cape by Lisa Richardson in Rowan Moordale

What Is Being Made

The Herdwick Cape is a knitted poncho-style cape designed to fit chest measurements ranging from 71-76 cm up to 152-157 cm. This garment features a distinctive construction method that begins from a center back marker and expands outward through strategic shaping, creating a flowing, layered silhouette. The cape is worked in the round using circular needles, making it a practical choice for creating seamless, continuous fabric.

Craft and Technique Overview

This is a knitting project classified as advanced beginner level difficulty. The construction employs circular knitting techniques, which are essential for creating garments worked in continuous rounds rather than flat pieces. The pattern uses marker placement to track shaping points around the circumference, a fundamental technique for managing increases and decreases in circular knitting. The garment incorporates striped colorwork, alternating between two yarn colors to create visual interest and texture throughout the piece.

Stitches and Shaping Techniques Used

• Stockinette stitch (st st) – the primary stitch pattern, created by knitting every round to produce a smooth, classic fabric texture
• Knit 2 together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease used strategically at four points around each round to shape the cape and control its expansion
• Slip, slip, knit (sl 1, K1, psso) – a left-leaning decrease that pairs with K2tog decreases to create symmetrical shaping
• Slip stitch (slip marker) – used to mark key shaping points around the circumference, allowing the knitter to track where decreases should occur
• Striped pattern – created by alternating yarn colors (Yarn A and Yarn B) on consecutive rounds, building visual pattern without complex colorwork techniques

Shaping and Construction Method

The cape uses a methodical shaping strategy based on marker placement. The pattern establishes four evenly-spaced markers around the garment, with consistent stitch counts between markers (ranging from 66 to 112 stitches depending on size). At each marker, paired decreases (K2tog and sl 1, K1, psso) reduce the stitch count, controlling how the cape expands. This creates a structured, geometric expansion that prevents the garment from becoming too voluminous while maintaining its intended drape and fit.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Herdwick Cape is designed to be worked in Rowan Moordale yarn, a 100-gram weight yarn available in multiple colorways. The pattern specifies two colors: Yarn A in Feather (001) and Yarn B in Blue Moor (008), with each color requiring 2 balls across all sizes.

Needle requirements include:

• 3¼mm (US 3) circular needle – at least 60-100 cm long depending on size, used for initial stitches and finer gauge work
• 4mm (US 6) circular needle – at least 60-100 cm long depending on size, used for the main body of the cape in stockinette stitch
• Set of 4 double-pointed 3¼mm (US 3) needles – for working small circumferences if needed
• Set of 4 double-pointed 4mm (US 6) needles – alternative for small circumference sections

The use of longer circular needles accommodates the expanding circumference as the cape grows from the center back outward, ensuring stitches remain manageable throughout the knitting process.

Size Range and Customization

The pattern provides eight different size options to fit chest measurements from 71-76 cm to 152-157 cm. However, the pattern notes that only specific sizes are available: 81-86 cm and 91-102 cm are the primary options, with additional sizes 107-112 cm and 137-147 cm also offered. The actual measurement of the garment around the lower edge varies from 115.5 cm for the smallest size to 196 cm for the largest, reflecting the cape's dramatic expansion. This range ensures the design can accommodate various body sizes while maintaining the intended proportions and silhouette.