9 Capelet Free Knitting Patterns
What is a capelet?
A capelet is what you call a short cape.
When wondering about cape vs capelet, capes are usually hip-length or longer. Although, in current knitting or crochet terms, most capelets end above the elbows and capes end below the elbows.
In addition, capes often have slit openings for arms to slip through while capelets do not.
What is the difference between a shawl and a cape?
Both garments are meant to cover the shoulders for warmth and do not have sleeves.
However, a shawl is a long piece of fabric that is either rectangular, triangular, or semi-circular in shape.
Shawls do not have fit-shaping.
Capes are designed to fit around the shoulders to stay in place.
They may be created in-the-round to slip over the head or they may be worked back and forth with an opening in front.
How do you wear a capelet?
Capelets may be worn in a variety of ways. Depending on the fabric, capelets look great over formal wear and casual wear.
Light, airy, and open capelets look great over evening wear and wedding gowns. They can be just the layering piece you need for a polished look and a tad of warmth. Select fibers such as silk, angora, bamboo, or cashmere for layering over more formal garments.
For a more casual look, including jeans, opt for thicker and chunkier yarns and use fibers such as wool, alpaca, and wool blends.
Capelets look great over fitted tops and tees. Pair them with fitted pants, skinny jeans, or leggings to balance the look. Baggy pants with a capelet may look frumpy.
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9 Free Capelet Knitting Patterns
#1. Braided Cable Hug Free Knitting Pattern
Wrap your shoulders in cozy cables!
Originally inspired by a design featured in Real Simple magazine. Unlike a later version that appeared on the cover of Knit.Wear magazine, this pattern does not include any short-row shaping. Ribbing at the neck edge provides a narrower fit at the top opening. Uses bulky weight yarn.
Designed by Jami Brynildson
Get Braided Capelet Free Pattern on Ravelry
Get Knit Picks Wonderfluff Yarn for this project
#2. Northern Lights Capelet Free Knitting Pattern
Northern Lights Capelet was created in the spirit of the earliest knitters, to bring light and warmth into the darker, colder months. Wear this cropped little cape under or over your coat, a streamlined layer that blocks arctic air from necks and shoulders and looks very pretty doing it!
Designed by Purl Soho
Get Purl Soho Flax Down Yarn for this project
#3. Always Beautiful Caplet Free Knitting Pattern
This button-front capelet is knitted from side-to-side. Uses sport weight yarn held doubled.
Get Knit Picks Andean Treasure Yarn for this project
#4. Shoulder Shrug Capelet Free Knitting Pattern
This gorgeous piece achieves its look by combining 3 different scales of the same braided cable. Stitch a true hallmark of style using Patons Shetland Chunky in Oxford Gray, or make more of a color statement using a shade that has meaning to you. It's a fabulous and flattering fit for this fashionable fave. Uses chunky weight yarn.
Get Patons Shetland Chunky Yarn for this project
#5. Cabled Capelet Free Knitting Pattern
This capelet is a beautiful transitional piece for spring-time. Pair it with a long necklace for a stylish outfit
to wear to the office.
Get Lion Brand Homespun Yarn for this project
#6. Caught in the Rigging Capelet Free Knitting Pattern
Caught in the Rigging cape + cowl are the perfect combination of pattern and shape. The cowl, while keeping your neck warm, also serves as your swatch. The cape sits nicely on your shoulders thanks to its raglan shaping. Separated increases and decreases in the body portion cause the fabric flanking the cables to bias, adding textural interest. Worked from the top, down, you are free to make this cape as long as you like. Just don’t get caught in the rigging! Uses worsted weight yarn.
Designed by Kathleen Dames
Get KnitPicks Swish Worsted Yarn for this project
#7. Hug Capelet Free Knitting Pattern
This pattern for a knitted short cape or shoulder cosy is suitable for confident beginners / intermediate knitters, and the instructions and guidance in this pattern have been written with them in mind. Uses aran weight yarn.
Get KnitPicks Simply Alpaca Yarn for this project
#8. Worsted Capelet Free Knitting Pattern
This capelet features a wide ribbed neckline and cable detail on the body. It’s a seamless project that is knitted in-the-round. Uses worsted weight yarn.
Get Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Yarn for this project
#9. Mountain Capelet Free Knitting Pattern
There’s nothing fancy or fussy about knitting this Capelet, but luckily, there’s also no rule that requires a prolonged battle with your knitting needles in order to make something beautiful and special.
Get Purl Soho Gentle Giant Yarn for this project
