Shibui Knits Post Cape Knitting Pattern

Shibui Knits Post Fully-Fashioned Popover

What is Being Made

The Post is a fully-fashioned popover cape designed as a comfortable, oversized layering piece. This knitted garment features an open-sided construction with a collar, making it an ideal popover-style top that drapes elegantly over the shoulders. The design accommodates a range of bust sizes from 30 to 62 inches, with finished shoulder girths ranging from 38¼ to 54¾ inches, offering versatile sizing for various body types.

Construction Method

The Post popover is constructed using a bottom-up, worked-flat approach. The garment is knitted in separate pieces using circular needles to manage the large stitch counts required for the oversized silhouette. After all pieces are completed and blocked, they are seamed together at the shoulders, with the sides intentionally left open to create the characteristic popover fit. The collar is then worked circularly from live stitches following the shoulder seaming, completing the garment construction.

Stitch Patterns and Techniques

The Post incorporates fully-fashioned shaping, a technique that creates decorative, visible decreases and increases that serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. The pattern features two distinct selvedge options to accommodate different preferences:

• 7-Stitch Slipped Selvedge {SS7}: Worked at each side edge from the hem through the beginning of shaping. On right-side rows, this selvedge consists of knit 1, [slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front, knit 1] twice, purl 2. On wrong-side rows, the sequence reverses to slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front, [knit 1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front] twice, knit 2.
• 5-Stitch Selvedge {S5}: Used for the remainder of the piece after shaping begins. On right-side rows, this consists of knit 3, purl 2. On wrong-side rows, knit 1, purl 2, knit 2.

The main fabric is worked in stockinette stitch, the fundamental knit stitch pattern that creates a smooth, classic appearance. The slipped selvedge stitches create neat, finished edges that are easier to seam and provide a professional appearance to the finished garment.

Yarn and Materials

The Post is designed to be knitted with Shibui Knits Nest, a premium yarn blend composed of 75% Fine Highland Wool and 25% Alpaca. This combination provides warmth, softness, and a subtle sheen characteristic of alpaca fiber. The yarn is available in 50-gram skeins, each containing 175 yards (160 meters). Depending on the chosen size, the project requires between 6 and 9 skeins, totaling approximately 895 to 1,535 yards of yarn. The pattern samples were photographed in the colorways Glacier and Vintage Rose, showcasing the yarn's rich color palette.

Needles and Gauge

The Post requires US 6 (4 mm) circular needles in two lengths to accommodate the construction method. A 16-inch (40 cm) circular needle is used for sections with fewer stitches, while a 24-inch (60 cm) circular needle manages the larger stitch counts of the main body pieces. Circular needles are essential even though the fabric is worked flat, as they provide the necessary capacity for the oversized garment dimensions.

The pattern is designed to achieve a gauge of 23 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch after blocking. Obtaining accurate gauge is critical for achieving the intended finished measurements and proper fit of this popover design.

Pattern Format

This pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF, allowing crafters to access the complete instructions digitally and print them as needed for reference during the knitting process.