Cosy Cape CAL

Hello, long time no see! I won't go into any detail, other than to say, lock down, we all know about that, a sick cat, water damaged laptop, awaiting on a hip replacement and a period of hibernation....good to be back but its been a very odd 2 years don't you think? 

BE KIND, I'M HAVING TO COMPLETELY RELEARN HOW MY NEW COMPUTER WORKS!

Hope everyone out there is ok and you've got through this epic journey in one piece?

I'm returning with the promise of a new book, a self published pdf file instruction manual all about a new stitch I've created. it will be added to Ravelry for Christmas, sometime in November.

Kicking off my return to bogland with a Free Mini CAL. Starts at around midday today on my Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/415936375263228

 COSY CAPE CAL: 24th Sept. 2021

The complete pattern will be on this post by Monday morning for those not on Facebook to follow, but join the group if you want to join the mini cal over the weekend.

 I've tried several versions this CAL will be the basic pattern used

FRONT MEET, WITH  A BUTTON FASTENING

YARN USED IN SAMPLE: HAYFIELD BONUS CHUNKY TWEED AND A 12MM CLOVER HOOK. 

https://sirdar.com/en/products/hayfield-bonus-chunky-tweed-100g?taxon_id=791

This was a perfect weight chunky yarn with and interesting fleck. A beautiful set of colours to choose from, I picked the Indigo for this project. 

It Crocheted really nicely with the large hook to give a light, cosy little cape. Big, chunky, hand made buttons to keep it in place, no worries about it falling off like wraps and shawls.....just keeps your shoulders and back snug and warm.

I've tried several chunky yarns, some work better than others [slight differences in thickness] and I've also tried a sample using 2 strands of dk, this works perfectly if you don't want to buy any chunky or don't have any in your stash. 

An elbow length Cosy Cape for those cooler evenings or colder days when you just need something over your shoulders. At the office, sitting in bed, outside on a cooler evening that won't slip off, you can forget about it and just stay warm.

Several people have seen it in real life and thought of lots of times it would be very useful. 

My Facebook group requested the pattern.

PART 1: YARN, HOOKS AND BASIC PATTERN, today around midday, with me around in the group for any questions this afternoon from midday to 3 o'clock, back again after 5 to see if anyone needs any more help.

EQUIPEMENT:

12mm hook, scissors, wool needle for sewing off and sewing on the buttons

Stitch markers for beginners or those unsure of the increase stitches

STITCHES USED: US TERMS as always. 

chain, Hdc, dc, 

Row start chains are aways 1ch for hdc, and 2ch for dc. 

You mostly work into the space between the top 2 strands of a stitch and the 3rd strand at the top of a stitch.

First stitch is worked into the same space and the ch start and counted

Last stitches are into the spaces. This gives a lovely straight edge to work the edging round into.

YARN:

This Cosy Cape is made with chunky yarn and a very large hook, I wanted something that was quick to make, light weigh and with great drape.

I'm only 5' tall so the pattern is to fit me and my elbow length, hence the 3-4 100g balls needed. It will depends on your size, for me 3 balls was enough but if you are tall or need an extra inch or two in width you might need 4balls.

I've tried several chunky yarns, all slightly different so the results are slightly different too. I've also tried 2strands of dk, this works really well with a 12mm hook

Ive also done a 3strands of dk sample with a 15mm hook sample with less increases but basically the same pattern.

HOOK: 

It does seem like its loose and the hook size is too big, but out of all the hook sizes I tried it gave the best result. 

An 8mm and even a 10mm hook was just too tight, firm and started to become heavy. Was also 2 inches smaller so more stitches were needed.

The one I have worn every day since I made it is the light and cosy 12mm version

Pick your yarn, grab your hook and I will cya at midday with the basic pattern.

PART 2: QUESTION TIME, on Saturday.

 I will pop in for any questions through the day, but this time will be for you too make 

the body of the Cosy Cape then...

PART 3: FINAL PART OF THE PATTERN, MAKING THE FASTENING, AND FINISHING OFF.

This will be on Sunday morning the complete pattern will be added to this post for Monday morning.

Welcome to the Cosy Cape Mini Cal 

Good to be back

PATTERN AT MIDDAY UK TIME 

 COSY CAPE CAL

Lots more pictures to come, Google not uploaded them yet. 

This is the Wool/alpaca one not blocked yet only finished it this morning 

Stitches: 

chain, [sl st, on hook, pull yarn through st.]

hdc, [yo, through base st, yo, pull back, yo, through all 3 loops on hook], 

dc, [yo, through base st, yo, pull back, yo pull through 2loops of hook, yo pull through 2 loops on hook] 

starting chain

1ch = hdc

2ch = dc

2 Row pattern, alternate hdc, dc

YARN: Hayfield Chunky Tweed col. Indigo

Or  thick Chunky or 2 strands of dk

THIS WAS A SAMPLE USING A 10MM HOOK: not as open and heavier and 2" smaller in length

HOOK: 12mm

PATTERN: US Terms

ch40 +1 turn

ROUND 1: Hdc in 2nd ch, from hook hdc in all base ch, [40 sts 5 sets of 8sts], turn ch2.

ROUND 2: dc in first 7sts, 2dc in next st, repeat to end, dc in last 8 sts, [45sts, 5 sets of 9 sts], turn ch1.

ALWAYS START IN FIRST ST, AND 2STS IN FIRST STITCH OF INCREASE ST EACH ROUND

ROUND 3: hdc in all sts, to first of the 2dc in one st, 2hdc in that first st, repeat to end, [2hdc in the first of each pair of sts], finish with a hdc in last sp. [50sts, 5 sets of 10sts]. turn ch2

ROUND 4: dc in every st, with 2dc in the first hdc of each pair, repeat to end, dc in last space. [55sts, 5 sets of 11sts]

ANOTHER YARN TRIED: wool alpaca mix, this one was in my stash and very old not sure you can still get it

REPEAT ROUNDS 3 AND 4 TO END OF INCREASE ROWS

ROUND 5: 60hdc, 5 sets of 12sts

ROUND 6: 65dc, 5 sets of 13sts

ROUND 7: 70hdc, 5 sets of 14sts

ROUND 8: 75dc, 5 sets of 15sts

ROUND 9: 80hdc, 5 sets of 16sts

ROUND 10: 85dc, 5 sets of 17sts

ROUND 11: 90hdc, 5 sets of 18sts

ROUND 12: 95dc, 5 sets od 19sts

ROUND 13: 100hdc, 5 sets of 20sts

NOTE: I am only 5' tall so anyone taller of wider than me might need a couple of extra rounds of increases.

For me 100sts was the perfect number of increases needed. Any more increases and it started to stick out when tried on, so I continued with several rows more, one stitch in each st, this will also give the bottom edge a rounder look with no angles. 

For me anything from 6 to 9 no increase row worked depending on the yarn..to reach just past my elbow.

ROUNDS 14-20: Always start in the first st, and finish in the last sp, so that the front points continue to increase.

Increase length if needed but finish on a dc row, don't cut off your yarn to be cont. in PART 3: SUNDAY

R14: DC

R15: HDC

R16: DC

R17: HDC

R18: DC

R19: HDC

R20: DC

By adding the no increase rounds it removes the angled edge

PART 2: SATURDAY CHAT on my Facebook group 

PART 3: Buttons and finishing off

R21: HCD, in reverse.

NOTE: Finishing with the last st, in the space, gives a very straight edge to work your last round of hdc, into.

This hdc round is worked on the right side, up the front first, around the neck down the second front and across the bottom, sl st, and weave in end.

Add more rows if you need to adjust the length.

ROUND 21: Should be a hdc, round so working on the right side, instead of working back across the bottom, go up the front, 1hdc in each side sp, for hdc rows, and 2hdc in the dc rows. 

Please be careful to count and get both fronts the same, there should be 40 neck sts, work 1hdc in each, ch2 at top neck corners, and ch1 at bottom front points, to turn, work 1hdc in every st across the bottom, Sl st to complete. weave in ends

MAKE BUTTONS:

Make 3 large buttons 

Finger wrap of 10wraps, 

sc into wrap circle 12times then sl st, into a circle, cont. with sc, over the first twelve sc, apex 34time. These buttons are quite big but don't need to be a little softer than my usual buttons as they will be pushed through the edge stitching.

I didn't feel it necessary to make loops as the stitches are quite loose and once I had closed the buttons I pull it over my head and don't undo the buttons. Although they can be undone required.

Leave a long end to sew them on about 2.5" -3" apart. 

Use the long end to sew to the middle of the button then attach to the cosy cape with 2 or 3 stitches.

I'm loving mine, worn it every day so far with the chillier nights drawing in.

I've fallen asleep in it a couple of times too, the yarn still looks great. 

It's just perfect for keeping those shoulders warm. 

The spacing on the Indigo cosy cape was better for me so the oatmeal wool version needs another button.

So space the buttons so they reach just about waist line

This is the basic pattern, but other stitches could be used and different lengths...the first one in the picture collage has a mesh row added and is going to be longer, just haven't completed it yet.

Wear and enjoy

copyright: This pattern belongs to Sue Pinner and is for your own personal use.