MillaMia Linnea Capelet Knitting Pattern

MillaMia Linnea Capelet

What is Being Made

The MillaMia Linnea Capelet is a knitted shoulder cape designed as a one-size garment with an approximate circumference of 80cm (31½ inches) and a depth of 40cm (15¾ inches) when the collar is unfolded. This piece is intended to be worn as a lightweight layering garment, perfect for adding warmth during mild autumn weather without the bulk of a full sweater or jacket.

Techniques Used

This capelet is worked flat on straight needles, meaning the piece is constructed in rows rather than in the round. The design incorporates cable techniques as a primary decorative element, creating textured visual interest throughout the garment. The pattern combines ribbing with honeycomb stitch, which together create a beautiful dimensional fabric that is both structurally sound and visually appealing.

The cable work in this pattern uses specific crossing abbreviations: Cr3F (cross 3 front) involves slipping one stitch onto a cable needle and holding it at the front of the work while purling the next two stitches, then knitting the stitch from the cable needle. Cr3B (cross 3 back) reverses this process by slipping two stitches onto a cable needle, holding them at the back, knitting one stitch, and then purling the two stitches from the cable needle. These cable crosses create the honeycomb texture that defines the capelet's aesthetic.

Stitches Used

The Linnea Capelet employs several fundamental knitting stitches in combination:

• Stockinette stitch (stocking stitch) – the foundational smooth fabric created by alternating knit and purl rows
• Ribbing – elastic vertical columns created by alternating knit and purl stitches in the same row, providing structure and shaping to the garment
• Honeycomb stitch – a textured pattern created through the cable crossing techniques described above, forming a distinctive three-dimensional surface
• Cable stitches – created through the Cr3F and Cr3B abbreviations, which twist and cross stitches over each other to form raised rope-like textures

Additional stitch techniques referenced in the pattern include standard decreases (k2tog and p2tog for knit and purl two stitches together) and increases (m1 and m1p for make one stitches), which are used to shape the capelet during construction.

Materials

The Linnea Capelet is designed to be knitted using MillaMia Naturally Soft Aran yarn, which is exclusively available at Love Knitting. The pattern requires six 50-gram balls (totaling 300 grams or 10½ ounces) of yarn in the colorway Dusk (220). The yarn is an Aran weight, which is a medium-heavy yarn suitable for creating fabric with good drape and warmth.

The pattern calls for two pairs of needles: one pair of 4.5mm (US size 7) needles and one pair of 5mm (US size 8) needles. The smaller needles are typically used for ribbed sections where a tighter gauge is desired, while the larger needles are used for the main pattern sections. A cable needle is also required to hold stitches while performing the cable crosses that create the honeycomb texture.

The tension or gauge for this project is 18 stitches and 25 rows to a 10cm (4-inch) square over stockinette stitch using the 5mm needles, and 24 stitches and 25 rows to a 10cm square over the cable pattern using the same needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the capelet to reach its intended finished measurements.

Difficulty Level

The Linnea Capelet is rated as an Improving skill level project, indicating it is suitable for knitters with intermediate experience. While the cable techniques and pattern work require understanding of more advanced stitches than basic knitting, the flat construction and straightforward shaping make it accessible to knitters who have mastered fundamental techniques and are ready to develop their cable-working skills.

Design Features

This capelet is described as having a wonderful combination of ribbing and honeycomb stitch that creates an extremely soft and easy-to-wear garment. The design is versatile enough to layer over various outfits, making it a practical addition to