"Tiana Cape" - Cape Knitting Pattern in MillaMia Naturally Soft Aran

Tiana Cape Knitting Pattern by MillaMia – Detailed Summary

The Tiana Cape is a charming children's knitting pattern by MillaMia, designed to create a cosy and playful cape featuring a cat motif worked in stranded colourwork. Rated as suitable for Beginner / Improving knitters, this pattern is an excellent introduction to colourwork knitting for those looking to build their skills beyond basic stocking stitch. The finished cape is a stylish and wearable accessory for children, fastening with a single button at the neckline.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a children's cape worked in MillaMia Naturally Soft Aran yarn. The cape is designed in four sizes to fit children aged 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8 years. The finished garment measurements are as follows:

• Lower edge circumference: 75 cm (29½ in) for ages 1–2 and 3–4; 88 cm (34½ in) for ages 5–6 and 7–8
• Length to centre back: 22 cm (8¾ in) for age 1–2; 25 cm (10 in) for age 3–4; 28 cm (11 in) for age 5–6; 31 cm (12¼ in) for age 7–8

The cape is a practical yet decorative piece, and the playful cat motif makes it suitable for everyday wear as well as special occasions. MillaMia notes that the motif can be knitted in a variety of colour combinations to suit different seasons and styles.

Techniques Used

The Tiana Cape uses a combination of techniques that make it a rewarding project for improving knitters:

• Stranded colourwork: The cat motif is created using the stranded colourwork technique, where two or more yarn colours are carried across the same row. The yarn not currently in use is stranded loosely across the wrong side of the work. This technique creates a double-layered fabric that adds warmth and structure to the finished cape.
• Worked flat: The cape is knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, meaning knit and purl rows are worked alternately. When working from the colourwork chart, odd-numbered rows are knit rows read from right to left, and even-numbered rows are purl rows read from left to right.
• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch): The main body of the cape is worked in stocking stitch, which forms the smooth fabric ground for the colourwork motif.
• Garter stitch: Garter stitch is referenced in the abbreviations, suggesting it is used for borders or edging details.
• Shaping techniques: The pattern incorporates increases and decreases, including k2tog (knit two stitches together) and m1 (make one stitch), to shape the cape.
• Button fastening: The cape fastens at the neckline with a single button, adding a neat and practical finishing detail.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) – the primary stitch used throughout the body of the cape
• Garter stitch – used for edging or border sections
• k2tog – a right-leaning decrease worked by knitting two stitches together
• m1 – a make-one increase worked by picking up the loop lying before the next stitch and knitting into the back of it
• m1p – a make-one purl increase variation

Materials Required

The Tiana Cape is designed specifically for MillaMia Naturally Soft Aran, which is exclusively available at loveknitting.com. The yarn is used in three colours:

• Main colour (M): Paradise Orange (shade 245) – 2 balls for age 1–2, 3 balls for ages 3–4 and 5–6, and 4 balls for age 7–8, each ball