Knitting a Capelet
/Just wanted to say ‘Thank You’ so much to everyone who takes the time to read my journal posts and I love that people from all over the world find their way to my little patch of cyberspace and read about all the things I am making (or at least attempting to). If you follow me on instagram, you will know that I finished this darling little project before Christmas, but it is such a lovely January type of project, and one that I have found so useful, that I decided to write about it post haste.
If you are wondering what a ‘Capelet’ is (and I didn’t know at first) it’s a small cape that usually just covers the shoulders. They seem to have been quite popular in the 1920s and 30s. Over the last few years, poncho’s have been very popular and they do make sense, keeping you warm but allowing your arms freedom of movement. A capelet is much the same, but shorter and sort of somewhere in between a cowl and a poncho. Living in an old stone house in Yorkshire, I confess it can get quite chilly in winter and these are the perfect solution and they have such a vintage vibe too.
The first capelet I got was a couple of years ago when a friend, and rather superior knitter, made this for me. It’s from a pattern called ‘The Royal Wave’ (link to pattern below). It is just divine. Soft wool with a touch of silk and a gentle wavy pattern that sweeps across in lacy ripples. It is useful all year round, being a pastel colour, it is perfect for summer evenings as well as a winter warmer. I am not sure my knitting skills would be up to knitting this, but I have loved it so much that I always planned to make this fair isle version in Loop’s 10 year anniversary book. This book is just so gorgeous that I keep in in my kitchen basket to meander through with a hot cup of tea on winter days. The wonderful photography makes everything in it just so tempting. This Capelet though has been on my wish list for a long time and partly, I confess, because I love the whole look of the outfit the model is wearing.
Anyhow, having begun to work on fair isle knitting, I felt the time was right to try a project knitted in the round. Although I had read that this is so much easier than knitting flat, I was a little anxious about whether I could do it, especially after investing in some quite expensive, but utterly gorgeous aran wool. I needn’t have worried. Of course, it is easier, just like everyone said it was. No purl rows and perfect for a project like this that means there is no seam. It is knitted from the bottom edge up, which suited me because I got everything flowing before I had to tackle the colour work.
The old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ is true too. I am now completely converted to the idea that better quality wool is absolutely worth the money. I bought these from two different sources on etsy (links below) and they feel utterly soft and warm the minute they are knitted up. I love the flecked look too and it is so perfect to go with jeans (my everyday attire).
As this is aran weight wool, it is easier to use than the normal 4 ply for fair isle and the pattern emerges quickly. I was a bit concerned about how the flecked wool would stand out as a colour contrast, but it had a lovely rustic feel to it that seems like a winner for me.
Once it was completed, I washed and blocked it and I have come to realise how important this step is with knitting. The woollen fibres relax and you can manipulate the garment into the correct shape and allow it to dry naturally.
It was just so much fun to make and really a lot quicker than I could have anticipated. As I knitted my thoughts turned to the chambray smock the model in the photo is wearing and plans for that started to hatch. Dressmaking endeavours for the future… I was also watching and reading ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’ a little obsessively. I just love Lily James’ costumes and it is such a charming film. The project started to take on these happy associations and it just raced away to the finish in no time.
