"Flora Cape" - Cape Knitting Pattern For Girls in Willow & Lark Nest

Flora Cape – Fair Isle Knitting Pattern for Girls by Willow & Lark

The Flora Cape is a charming Fair Isle cape knitting pattern for girls, designed by Willow & Lark as part of their Fledgling Collection. Worked in the brand's luxurious Nest DK yarn, this colorful stranded colorwork cape is described as the perfect throw-on for active children who need warmth and freedom of movement. It shares a design language with the Flora Cardigan from the same collection, using a similar Fair Isle motif arrangement but with a slightly simplified color palette — making it an excellent companion piece for coordinated knitting projects.

Sizing and Fit

The Flora Cape is available in four sizes to fit ages 2–3, 4–5, 6–7, and 8–9 years, with chest measurements of 56, 61, 66, and 71 cm (22, 24, 26, and 28 inches) respectively. The actual lower edge measurement is generously sized at 76, 81, 87, and 95 cm (30, 32, 34¼, and 37½ inches), giving the cape its characteristic sweep and ease of wear. The length to back neck ranges from 25 cm to 34 cm (9¾ to 13½ inches) depending on the size chosen, making it a practical layering piece across a wide range of children's ages.

Techniques and Construction

This pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and employs several key knitting techniques that make it both a rewarding project and a skill-builder for knitters ready to move beyond the basics:

• Stranded colorwork (Fair Isle): The defining feature of the Flora Cape is its Fair Isle patterning, worked by carrying multiple yarn colors across the row. This traditional technique creates the characteristic geometric and floral motifs associated with Fair Isle knitting, and requires the knitter to manage yarn tension carefully to keep the fabric smooth and even.
• Worked flat: The cape is constructed by working flat on straight or circular needles rather than in the round, meaning the knitter works back and forth in rows. This approach is common for shaped garments like capes and allows for straightforward shaping.
• Seamed construction: Pieces are joined using seaming, giving the finished garment structure and a neat, professional finish.
• Buttonhole technique: The pattern includes worked buttonholes, adding a functional and decorative closure detail typical of children's outerwear.

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The Flora Cape is designed specifically for Willow & Lark Nest DK yarn, a premium blend of 69% Wool, 11% Cashmere, and 20% Tencel, sold in 50g / 1¾oz balls. This fiber combination gives the yarn a beautifully soft handle — the cashmere adds luxurious softness next to a child's skin, the wool provides warmth and elasticity, and the Tencel contributes a subtle sheen and drape that makes the Fair Isle motifs pop visually. The DK weight strikes a balance between speed of knitting and fine stitch definition, ideal for showcasing colorwork detail.

Yarn Requirements by Color

The pattern uses a main color (M) and six contrast colors (A through G). The primary colorway features:

• Milk 201 (M) – 3, 3, 4, or 5 balls depending on size (the dominant background color)
• Garnet 229 (A) – 1 ball
• Baby Pink 222 (B) – 1 ball
• Seedling Green 212 (C) – 1 ball
• Rhubarb Pink 223 (D) – 1 ball
• Peashoot Green 211 (E) – 1 ball
• Buttercup 210 (F) – 1 ball
• Baby Blue 216 (G) – 1 ball