Embers Batwing

Embers Batwing Cape by Brigitte Reydams

What Is Being Made

The Embers Batwing is a luxurious knitted cape designed by Brigitte Reydams. This garment features a dramatic batwing silhouette with generous proportions, measuring 24 inches in length from the upper finished back neck. The cape offers a chest area width of approximately 60 inches around the body, expanding to a full 70 inches at the bottom back and front, creating an elegant, flowing drape ideal for layering or statement wear.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to achieve its distinctive shape and luxurious texture. The construction begins with a two-part back panel system, with decreasing rows strategically placed to create the tapered fit through the chest area before the fabric widens dramatically toward the hem. The pattern utilizes stockinette stitch as the foundation, combined with strategic decreasing using slip stitch decreases and knit-two-together reductions to shape the garment. Optional finishing techniques include adding bands and cuffs at the front, neck, and cuff areas for a polished, magazine-quality appearance.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – the primary stitch forming the smooth stockinette surface
• Purl (P) – used in pattern construction
• Slip stitch (Sl) – used in decrease sequences
• Pass slip stitch over (Psso) – a left-leaning decrease technique for shaping
• Knit two together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease for structured shaping
• Stockinette stitch – the primary fabric structure creating the smooth, elegant drape

Materials and Gauge

This cape is designed to be worked with a combination of luxurious yarns in coordinating warm tones. The project requires 6 skeins of Prism Kid Mohair in the Embers colorway (125 yards per skein) paired with 3 skeins of Mia 2 in Chroma color copper (350 yards per skein). These two yarns are worked together as a single strand throughout the main construction. An additional 3 skeins of Plume in Embers are included for optional finishing bands, neck edging, and cuffs, creating a coordinated, professional finish as featured in Vogue magazine.

The pattern calls for US size 13-15 needles to achieve the specified gauge of 11 stitches and 12 rows per 4 inches. The yarn weight combination of 4-ply, varied, and worsted creates a rich, textured fabric with excellent drape suitable for a dramatic cape silhouette. The mohair component adds softness and a subtle halo effect, while the complementary yarns provide structure and color depth in warm ember tones.