The Sidequest Capelet
A recent trip to Emerald City Comic Con inspired a last minute Owl House cosplay complete with cape. I couldn’t find a cape crochet pattern for free that I really liked, so I made my own! This quick and cute capelet design is surprisingly easy and oh-so-cozy. All you need to know is how to half double crochet, double crochet, and decrease. There are a couple of tricky parts in the pattern but I’ve included photos to help you navigate them!
This cape crochet pattern is free and fast. I call it the Sidequest Capelet because it can turn a trip to the grocery store into an epic journey for ingredients. Life is just more satisfying when you reimagine your chores as side quests. It makes a fashion statement any day of the week and it also makes a fantastic addition to a crochet fantasy cosplay or costume.
You can purchase the printable PDF crochet hooded capelet pattern in my Ravelry shop or my Etsy shop. I’d love to see your versions of this cape crochet pattern so feel free to tag me if you make one! Use #sidequestcapelet and tag @nineinspired on IG & Tiktok and @nineinspiredblog on Pinterest and Facebook
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Materials
- Worsted #4 or Bulky #5 Yarn (Sample shown in Caron Crystal Cakes which is a heavier worsted weight)
- 8 mm crochet hook (or whatever size is needed to obtain gauge)
- 22 mm button
Finished Measurements & Yardage Estimates
The capelet is 21” across at the widest point and it measures 12” from top to bottom. I used just under 450 yards of yarn. Instructions are given throughout the pattern to adjust the size to fit. Keep in mind that your yardage will change if you deviate from the pattern.
Abbreviations – US Terminology
- ch = chain
- st = stitch
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
Gauge
8 rows x 10 stitches = 4 x 4 inches
Pattern for Gauge
Row 1: ch 13, hdc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, turn. (12)
Rows 2-10: ch 1, hdc in the first st and in each st across, turn. (10)
Measuring Gauge
Use a ruler or tape measure to measure 4 inches of stitches in the middle of your swatch – do not include your first or last stitches as those stitches can be inconsistently sized. Count the number of stitches you can measure in those 4 inches. Then measure 4 inches of rows in the middle of your swatch – do not include your first or last rows. Count the number of rows you can measure in those 4 inches.
Troubleshooting Gauge
- If your swatch ends up too small, try again with a larger hook size – 1 half or full size up.
- If your swatch ends up too big, try again with a smaller hook size – 1 half or full size down.
- If your number of rows is right but your number of stitches is off, then you will need to try again with a different size hook. It is much more important to match the number of stitches! If your gauge is even 1 or 2 stitches off, it can add up to a big size difference in the end.
- If your number of stitches is right, but your number of rows is off, that’s ok. I have given measurements as well as row counts to make things easier. Just keep a tape measure handy!
Good to go? Let’s get started!
Cape Crochet Pattern Free
Starting Chain: Ch 79
You can add more chain stitches here or take some away to adjust the width of your capelet. If you wrap the starting chain around your back so that the two ends go around your biceps, they should almost but not quite touch in the middle. I’ve awkwardly demonstrated it with a piece of yarn in the photo. Please enjoy the glimpse of my cat’s butt in the window. You can adjust the starting chain to fit you better by adding or removing quantities of 13. So, for instance, you could chain 66 or 53 for a smaller size, or you could chain 92 or 105 for a larger size.
Row 1: hdc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, turn. (78)
Rows 2-7: ch 1, 2 hdc in the first st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in each st across to the last 2 sts, 2 hdc in the 2nd to last st, 2 hdc in the last st, turn.
Row 8: Repeat row 2, but do not turn at the end.
Each row adds 4 sts, so your total st count should now be 106 if you’re following along with the pattern as written. You should see that your work has begun to bow out at either end. We are now going to rotate the project 180 degrees.
Row 9: ch 2, evenly space 10 dc sts along the sides of rows 1-8, hdc across the bottom of the starting chain (you’ll have the same number of sts that you had in row 1). Then evenly space 10 dc sts along the sides of rows 1-8 at the other end, turn. (98) your stitch count here should be the stitch count of your first row plus 20
Rows 10-16: ch 1, hdc in the first st and in each st across, turn. (98)
You can add additional rows here if you would like your capelet to be longer
Row 17: ch 1, hdc in the first 12 sts, decrease over the next 2 sts, *hdc in the next 12 sts, decrease over the next 2 sts, repeat from * across, turn. (91) your stitch count should be 7 fewer than the previous row
Row 18: ch 1, hdc in the first 11 sts, decrease over the next 2 sts, *hdc in the next 11 sts, decrease over the next 2 sts, repeat from * across, turn. (84) your stitch count should be 7 fewer than the previous row
Row 19: ch 1, hdc in the first 5 sts, decrease over the next 2 sts, *hdc in the next 5 sts, decrease over the next 2 sts, repeat from * across, turn. (70) your stitch count should be 14 fewer than the previous row
Row 20: ch 1, hdc in the first 4 sts, decrease over the next 2 sts, *hdc in the next 4 sts, decrease over the next 2 sts, repeat from * across, turn. (56) your stitch count should be 14 fewer than the previous row
Row 21: ch 1, hdc in the first 3 sts, decrease over the next 2 sts, *hdc in the next 3 sts, decrease over the next 2 sts, repeat from * across, turn. (42) your stitch count should be 14 fewer than the previous row
Rows 22-49: ch 1, hdc in the first st and in each st across, turn. (42)
Row 50: repeat row 22, but do not turn at the end. (42)
Rotate the work one quarter turn clockwise.
Evenly make hdc sts around the entire project. Then fold the entire project in half and use slip stitches worked through both layers to seam the hood along the top. Weave in ends and block as desired. Attach the button a couple rows down from where the hood starts and just a couple sts in from the edge. There’s no need for a button hole, the button should easily fit between any two sts on the opposite edge.
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Love the fact that this Cape Crochet Pattern is Free? You might like these other fantasy inspired crochet patterns:
Mountain Reflection Fingerless Gloves
Copyright © 2019-2024 Nine Inspired. All rights reserved. Please do not redistribute this pattern as your own, but feel free to sell finished items made from this pattern. I would appreciate it if you would credit Nine Inspired as the designer.