Sous-Sous Cape in Berroco Pirouette - Downloadable PDF

Sous-Sous Cape by Amy Christoffers in Berroco Pirouette – Pattern Summary

What You'll Be Making

The Sous-Sous Cape is an elegant, wearable wrap designed by Amy Christoffers and published as part of Berroco Book #410. This is a full-length cape with a structured, closeable front, making it a sophisticated layering piece suitable for a wide range of occasions. The design is offered in five sizes with a finished bust measurement (closed) ranging from 46 to 71 inches, including side edging, and a finished length ranging from 28¼ to 32¼ inches, including lower edging. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in size 52", giving a generous, sweeping silhouette. The closed front is fastened with four buttons measuring 1⅛" in diameter, adding a polished, tailored detail to what is otherwise a flowing, relaxed garment.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is specifically designed for Berroco Pirouette, a heavy worsted weight yarn sold in 50-gram balls. The colorway featured in the pattern is #2368 Charcoal, a rich, versatile neutral that suits the cape's refined aesthetic. Depending on the size being knitted, the project requires 7 to 13 balls of Berroco Pirouette, with larger sizes naturally calling for more yardage. Berroco strongly recommends using the specified yarn to ensure accurate results, as the pattern's stitch counts, gauge, and drape are all calibrated to this particular fiber.

Needles and Notions

Two circular needles are required for this project. A 29-inch circular needle in size 8 (5.00 mm) is used as the primary needle, while a 40-inch or longer circular needle, also size 8 (5.00 mm), is used specifically for working the back and side edging — a common technique when picking up a large number of stitches around the perimeter of a garment. Additional notions include a tapestry needle for finishing and seaming, removable markers or safety pins for stitch placement, and waste yarn to hold stitches temporarily during construction.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 15 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette stitch on the larger needle. As with any fitted or sized garment, achieving the correct gauge is essential to ensuring the cape knits up to the intended dimensions. Knitters are encouraged to swatch carefully and adjust needle size as needed before casting on.

Techniques and Construction

The Sous-Sous Cape is rated as an intermediate skill level project, making it well-suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping, working in the round on circular needles, and picking up stitches along garment edges. Key construction techniques include:

• Circular needle knitting – used throughout to manage the wide stitch counts typical of a cape silhouette
• Stitch holding with waste yarn – a technique used to set aside live stitches temporarily, often employed at underarms or when joining sections
• Edging pickup – a longer circular needle is used to pick up and work stitches along the back and sides, creating a neat, finished border around the cape's perimeter
• Button band construction – the front closure is finished with a button band accommodating four buttons, requiring careful stitch pickup and even spacing
• Removable marker placement – markers and safety pins are used to track shaping points and stitch sections during construction

Stitches Used

The primary fabric of the cape is worked in Stockinette stitch, which is the basis for the gauge swatch and the main body of the garment. The edging details — worked along the lower hem, sides, and front bands — introduce textural contrast and a tidy finish, which is characteristic of Amy Christoffers' clean, wearable design aesthetic. The combination of smooth Stockinette with carefully worked edgings gives the Sous-Sous Cape its polished, ready-to-wear appearance.

Design Details and Wearability

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