Dovecote Capelet - Knitting Pattern for Women in Tahki Yarns Alden

Dovecote Capelet – Knitting Pattern for Women by Irina Poludnenko in Tahki Yarns Alden

The Dovecote Capelet is a beautifully elegant knitted capelet designed by Irina Poludnenko and published by Tahki Stacy Charles Inc. This women's cape-style accessory is worked seamlessly in the round from the bottom up, creating a graceful, flowing silhouette that drapes from the neck over the shoulders. Available as a downloadable PDF pattern, it is rated as a beginner-friendly project, making it an excellent choice for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore a slightly more structured garment construction.

Sizes and Finished Measurements

The Dovecote Capelet is offered in three sizes to accommodate a range of figures:

• Small/Medium: Bottom Circumference 47¼"/120 cm, Neck Circumference 19"/48.5 cm, Height 17"/43 cm
• Large/XL: Bottom Circumference 51"/129.5 cm, Neck Circumference 20¼"/51.5 cm, Height 18"/45.5 cm
• 2X/3X: Bottom Circumference 54½"/138.5 cm, Neck Circumference 21¾"/55 cm, Height 19"/48.5 cm

The generous bottom circumference and tapered neck opening give the capelet its characteristic bell-like shape, while the height ensures comfortable coverage over the shoulders and upper body.

What Is Being Made

The Dovecote Capelet is a women's knitted cape — a versatile, pull-on accessory that sits over the shoulders without sleeves or closures. Capelets like this one are popular layering pieces, ideal for transitional seasons or as a stylish complement to both casual and dressy outfits. The seamless, in-the-round construction means there are no side seams to sew, resulting in a polished, professional finish straight off the needles.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques that make it both accessible and satisfying to knit:

• Bottom-up construction: The capelet begins at the widest point — the hem — and is worked upward toward the neck, allowing the knitter to shape the piece through strategic decreases as the work progresses.
• Seamless, worked in the round: Using circular needles throughout, the capelet is knitted as a continuous tube, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, uninterrupted fabric.
• Shaping with decreases: The pattern uses K2tog (Knit 2 Together), a right-leaning decrease worked through the front loops, to taper the circumference from the hem toward the neck opening.
• K1-b (Knit into stitch 1 row below): This special technique creates a subtle textural detail by knitting into the stitch in the row below the current one, adding visual interest to the fabric without complexity.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure of the Dovecote Capelet is Stockinette stitch, the classic knit-every-round fabric when worked in the round. Stockinette produces a smooth, V-shaped knit surface on the right side, which beautifully showcases the soft sheen and drape of the yarn. The gauge for this pattern is 22 stitches and 28 rows over 4"/10 cm in Stockinette stitch. The inclusion of the K1-b special stitch adds a subtle, woven-like texture that elevates the design beyond a plain stockinette fabric.

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The pattern is specifically written for Tahki Yarns Alden, a luxurious DK weight yarn with a sophisticated fiber blend of 50% fine merino wool, 25% super-fine alpaca, and 25% acrylic. Each ball weighs 1.75 oz/50 g and yields approximately 250 yards/230 m. The colorway used in the sample is #14 silver, a soft, neutral tone that enhances the capelet's elegant character. Depending on size, the pattern requires