Princeton Capelet in Blue Sky Fibers Eco-Cashmere - 201829 - Downloadable PDF

Princeton Capelet by Sylvia Hager in Blue Sky Fibers Eco-Cashmere – Pattern Summary

What You Are Making

The Princeton Capelet is a beautifully versatile knitted accessory designed by Sylvia Hager exclusively for Blue Sky Fibers Eco-Cashmere. It can be worn as a classic capelet draped over the shoulders or styled as a generous, enveloping cowl, making it a truly multi-functional piece for any wardrobe. The design achieves a sophisticated, polished look through clean, simple construction, making it an ideal project for knitters who are ready to move just beyond the basics. The finished capelet has a graceful, tapered silhouette created by strategic decreases that shape the piece from a wide, flowing hem up to a neat neckline.

The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF (Pattern No. 201829) and is rated Advanced Beginner in difficulty, making it an excellent confidence-building project that still yields a luxurious, heirloom-quality result.

Sizes and Finished Measurements

The Princeton Capelet is worked in three sizes to suit a range of figures:

• Women's XS/S: Bottom circumference 54", top circumference 30", depth 22¼"
• Women's M/L: Bottom circumference 65", top circumference 31", depth 23¼"
• Women's XL/XXL: Bottom circumference 74½", top circumference 32", depth 24¼"

The generous bottom circumference ensures a graceful drape, while the reduced top circumference creates the characteristic capelet shape that sits elegantly around the neck and shoulders.

Techniques Used

The Princeton Capelet is worked entirely in the round from the bottom hem upward, which means there are no seams to sew and the construction remains smooth and continuous throughout. Key techniques include:

• Circular knitting: The capelet begins on a longer 24" circular needle to accommodate the large cast-on, then transitions to a 16" circular needle as stitches are decreased toward the neckline.
• Shaping with paired decreases: Four stitch markers divide the work into panels, and strategic paired decreases — ssk (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit two together) — are worked on either side of these markers to create the tapered silhouette. Each decrease round removes four stitches at a time.
• Ribbed edging: The first five rounds of the capelet are worked in a twisted rib pattern using p1, k1tbl (purl one, knit one through the back loop), which gives the hem a neat, slightly elasticized finish with added visual texture.
• Stitch marker placement: Markers are placed at specific intervals to define the decrease columns, keeping the shaping symmetrical and easy to track across all rounds.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (knit every round when working in the round) — forms the smooth, classic fabric of the main body
• Twisted rib (p1, k1tbl) — used for the decorative and functional hem border
• SSK (slip, slip, knit) — a left-leaning decrease used for shaping
• K2tog (knit two together) — a right-leaning decrease used for shaping, paired with ssk to create a mirrored, tidy decrease line

Gauge

The recommended gauge is 17 stitches and 23 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is important for ensuring the finished capelet matches the intended measurements, particularly the circumference dimensions that determine how the piece drapes.

Materials – Yarn

This pattern is specifically designed for Blue Sky Fibers Eco-Cashmere, a DK weight yarn with a truly exceptional fiber composition: 50% Recycled Cashmere and 50% Virgin Cashmere. Each hank contains approximately 164 yards (50g), and the project