Tahki Yarns Alder Capelet Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Alder Capelet

What Is Being Made

The Alder Capelet is a sophisticated knitted shoulder garment designed as a top-down, seamless construction. This capelet features a fitted shoulder area that widens toward the lower edge, creating an elegant draped silhouette. The finished circumference at the lower edge measures 45¼ (48½, 53¾, 57)" across four size options, with a vertical length of 15¼ (17¾, 20½, 23¼)". The capelet is accented with a buttoned collar detail at the neckline and incorporates decorative cable work at the center front.

Techniques Used

This capelet employs several advanced knitting techniques to achieve its polished construction:

• Top-down construction: The capelet is worked from the shoulder area downward, allowing for easy fitting adjustments and seamless shaping.
• Worked in the round: The body is knitted circularly using a 24" circular needle, creating a seamless garment with no side seams.
• Seamless shoulder shaping: Strategic increases at the shoulders use the Double M1 Inc technique, which creates decorative horizontal bars across the base of new stitches, adding visual interest while expanding the garment.
• Cable work: A charted cable pattern (Chart A) is worked at the center front, spanning 48 stitches and measuring 6½" wide, providing textural contrast to the stockinette stitch background.
• Flat knitting for collar: After completing the circular body, stitches are picked up along the neck edge and worked flat to create the buttoned collar detail.

Stitches Used

The Alder Capelet utilizes fundamental and decorative stitches to create its structure and embellishment:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): Forms the primary fabric of the capelet, worked in the round for a smooth, refined appearance.
• Cable stitches: Worked according to Chart A at the center front, these cables add dimensional texture and visual sophistication.
• Double M1 Inc (Make One Increase): A specialized increase technique that lifts strands between stitches from both front and back loops, creating a decorative bar effect while adding stitches for shoulder shaping.
• Knit stitches: Used throughout for basic fabric construction and shaping sections.

Materials and Tools

The Alder Capelet is knitted using Tahki Yarns Vermont, a premium blend yarn combining 50% merino wool and 50% alpaca. This fiber composition provides warmth, breathability, and a luxurious drape. The yarn is available in the color stone heather and requires 7 (8, 10, 12) balls depending on size, with each ball containing 93 yards at a weight of 1¾ ounces.

Construction requires US 8 (5 mm) circular needles measuring 24" in length, which accommodate the circumferential knitting required for the top-down, in-the-round method. Additional notions include stitch markers (with a different-colored marker recommended for marking the beginning of each round), a cable needle for manipulating cable stitches, a tapestry needle for finishing, and three ¾" buttons for the collar closure. The recommended gauge is 19 stitches and 24 rounds per 4" in stockinette stitch.