Karakul Cape Knitting Pattern

Karakul Cape in Rowan Moordale

What Is Being Made

The Karakul Cape is a knitted wrap designed by Anna Hull, created using Rowan Moordale yarn. This project produces a square wrap measuring approximately 114 cm (45 inches) across when laid flat. The cape features a sophisticated construction built from a small cast-on that expands through strategic increases, creating a geometric, symmetrical garment suitable for layering or wearing as a wrap.

Techniques Used

This advanced beginner knitting project employs several key techniques to achieve its final structure:

• Lace increases: The pattern uses yarn forward (yfwd) increases placed symmetrically across the work to create expansion and subtle texture
• Marker placement: Stitch markers are strategically positioned to help maintain pattern repeat accuracy and track increase points throughout the 216 rows
• Circular needle transition: The project begins on straight needles and transitions to a circular needle as stitch count increases, a necessary technique for managing the growing number of stitches
• Stranded color work: Multiple yarn colors are carried and managed throughout the piece, with guidance to catch carried yarns to prevent long floats
• Pressing and finishing: Professional finishing techniques are applied to complete the wrap

Stitches Used

The Karakul Cape is worked primarily in garter stitch, which creates a reversible, textured fabric with horizontal ridges. The pattern incorporates yarn forward increases (yfwd) positioned within the garter stitch base to create the expanding geometric structure. These increases are worked in a repeating 30-row stripe sequence that cycles through different yarn colors while maintaining the fundamental garter stitch texture throughout.

Materials

This project uses Rowan Moordale yarn, a 100-gram skein weight. The color palette includes four coordinating shades: Feather (001), Blue Moor (008), Pepper (002), and Ash (010). Knitting needles required are 4mm (US 6) straight needles for the initial cast-on and early rows, with a transition to a 4mm (US 6) circular needle measuring at least 120 cm long to accommodate the expanding stitch count. The recommended tension is 22 stitches and 38 rows to 10 cm measured over garter stitch using 4mm needles.

Pattern Structure

The construction begins with a modest 9-stitch cast-on and increases 8 stitches across each right-side row, reaching 873 stitches by completion. The 30-row stripe sequence repeats seven times in full, followed by a partial repeat of rows 1 through 6, totaling 216 rows from cast-on to cast-off. The stripe sequence systematically alternates between yarn colors: 6 rows in yarn A, 4 rows in yarn B, 6 rows in yarn A, 4 rows in yarn C, 6 rows in yarn A, and 4 rows in yarn D, creating a balanced color distribution throughout the finished wrap.