Tahki Yarns Silver Fir Capelet & Hat Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Silver Fir Capelet & Hat

Overview

The Silver Fir Capelet & Hat is a coordinating two-piece knitted set designed by Teresa Chorzepa. This pattern features a luxurious capelet with optional sizing and a matching one-size hat, both showcasing elegant cable work and sophisticated colorwork using premium natural fibers.

Capelet Construction

The capelet is worked flat on circular needles and seamed, with finished circumference options of 56 inches (142 cm) for Small/Medium or 66 inches (167.5 cm) for Large/XL, and a length of 20 inches (51 cm). This garment is designed to drape beautifully around the shoulders, providing elegant layering for various occasions.

Hat Construction

The matching hat features a one-size construction with a circumference of 19 inches (48.5 cm) at the lower edge. Like the capelet, the hat is worked flat and seamed, creating a cohesive design aesthetic across both pieces.

Knitting Techniques

Both pieces employ cable knitting as the primary decorative technique. The pattern features a specialized stitch called the 3/3 Mock Cable, which creates the appearance of traditional cables through a clever manipulation of stitches. In this technique, stitches are slipped purlwise while dropping extra yarn wraps, then passed over one another using the left-hand needle to create the characteristic twisted cable effect. This mock cable approach allows for easier stitch manipulation while achieving striking visual results.

The pieces are worked flat on needles rather than in the round (except for the edgings), and are seamed together after completion. A circular needle is used for the capelet to accommodate the large number of stitches required for the wider circumference, even though the work itself is done back and forth in rows.

Stitches and Pattern Elements

The primary stitch pattern is a repeating motif worked over 8 stitches and 10 rows, creating a consistent texture throughout the main body of both garments. The pattern instructions specify careful attention to row repeats, with specific directions for manipulating wraps on mock cable rows to allow easier stitch work.

Both the capelet and hat include edging details. The capelet features a bottom edging worked in the round using the smaller needles, where stitches are picked up along the cast-on edge, worked in purl rounds, and finished with a loose purlwise bind-off. The hat similarly includes a top edging worked in the round, creating a refined finished appearance.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

For the Capelet:

• 5 (6) hanks of Tahki Yarns BIG MONTANA, 100% pure wool, in color #204 stone grey (designated as yarn A). Each hank contains 3.5 ounces (100 grams) and yields 71 yards (65 meters).
• 2 (3) skeins of Tahki Yarns GLACIER, 100% superfine alpaca, in color #05 charcoal (designated as yarn B). Each skein contains 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and yields 35 yards (32.5 meters).

For the Hat:

• 1 hank of BIG MONTANA in color #204 stone grey (yarn A)
• 1 skein of GLACIER in color #05 charcoal (yarn B)

The combination of pure wool and superfine alpaca creates a luxurious blend with excellent drape and warmth. The two-yarn combination allows for subtle color variation and textural interest in the finished pieces.

Needles and Tools

For the Capelet:

• One size 17 (12.75mm) circular needle, 24 inches (60 cm) long, or size as needed to obtain gauge
• One size 15 (10mm) circular needle, 24 inches (60 cm) long

For the Hat:

• One pair of size 17 (12.75mm) needles, or size as needed to obtain gauge
• One size 15 (10mm) circular needle, 16 inches (40 cm) long

Additional supplies for both pieces include a st