Noro Arna Cape Crochet Pattern

Noro Arna Crochet Cape

What is Being Made

The Noro Arna is a crocheted cape designed as a lightweight, wearable garment with generous dimensions. This piece features a triangular shawl construction that drapes elegantly, with finished measurements of approximately 56 inches (142 centimeters) across the top edge and 28 inches (71 centimeters) in depth. The design is rated as easy difficulty, making it accessible to crocheters with basic to intermediate skills.

Construction Techniques

This cape is constructed using several key crochet techniques that create both visual interest and functional drape:

• Top-Down Construction: The piece is worked from the top edge downward, beginning with a foundation chain and building outward and downward in rows.
• Worked in the Round: The shaping is achieved through increases worked symmetrically around a center marked stitch, creating a balanced triangular silhouette.
• Seamless Construction: The garment is created as a single piece without seaming, resulting in a smooth, continuous fabric.
• Lace Patterning: An open mesh pattern creates the primary visual texture and allows for breathable, lightweight fabric suitable for layering.

Stitches and Pattern Details

The Noro Arna employs a simple yet elegant mesh pattern as its foundation stitch. The pattern is based on a repeating sequence of double crochet stitches separated by chain spaces, creating an open, lacy fabric. The foundation row is worked in double crochet with chain-1 spaces, establishing the base for the mesh pattern. Subsequent rows repeat this mesh pattern while incorporating strategic increases to shape the cape.

Shaping is accomplished through increases worked in the center stitch and at the edges. The pattern instructions specify working multiple stitches (double crochet and chain-1 combinations) into single stitches to add width. A removable stitch marker is used to track the center stitch throughout construction, ensuring even increases on both sides. The pattern notes that four stitches are added in each row throughout the piece, creating the gradual expansion from the narrow top edge to the full width at the bottom.

The mesh pattern repeat is straightforward: chain 4 (which counts as one double crochet and one chain-1 space), skip the first double crochet, then work double crochet in the next stitch followed by chain-1 space, repeating this sequence to the end of the row before turning. This creates a consistent, open texture throughout the garment.

Materials and Tools

The Noro Arna is designed to be worked with a single skein of yarn and minimal tools. The pattern calls for one 200-gram ball of Noro Kakigori in colorway #01. A size US G-6/4mm crochet hook is recommended to achieve the specified gauge, or a hook size adjusted to obtain the correct gauge. Additionally, a removable stitch marker is required to track the center stitch throughout the construction process.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 11 stitches and 8 rows measuring 4 inches (10 centimeters) over the mesh pattern when worked with the size US G-6/4mm hook. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements. The shawl begins with a foundation chain of 35 stitches, which produces 17 double crochet stitches in the foundation row, with 8 stitches on each side of the center marked stitch. The piece is worked until it measures 26 inches (66 centimeters) from the foundation chain, resulting in the final depth of 28 inches (71 centimeters).