Deschutes Knit Capelet & Cowl — Free Two-Part Pattern for Adventurous Beginners

The Deschutes Knit Capelet & Cowl is a free two-part knit pattern designed by Marly Bird, available in three inclusive sizes from XS–M through 3XL–5XL. The capelet is knit in the round from the top down using raglan shaping and a simple A–B–C stripe sequence in bulky superwash merino. The matching Separate Cowl is worked flat in rows and seamed into a cozy loop.

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Why You'll Love This Pattern 💖

🧶 Two pieces, one cohesive set. The capelet and cowl are designed to be worn together or completely separately. Make both for a stunning coordinated look, or just grab whichever one calls to you first.

🌈 Colorwork without the complexity. This is NOT stranding or intarsia — it's a simple cut-and-join stripe sequence, four rounds per color. If you've been curious about colorwork but scared of it, this is your on-ramp. I designed it that way on purpose.

📐 Top-down raglan shaping you can try on as you go. Starting at the neck and working outward means you can thread a lifeline and put the capelet over your shoulders mid-knit to check the fit. No surprises at the finish line.

This is your pattern if you have the knit and purl stitches solid and you're ready to add knitting in the round, yarn-overs, and color changes all in one project. It's structured enough to teach you something real, relaxed enough that you'll actually enjoy every round.

You'll come away from this set knowing how to work jogless stripes, raglan shaping from the top down, 1×1 ribbing in the round, and flat stockinette with garter edges. That's a complete skills toolkit in one cozy make. 🙌

Quick Pattern Overview

📏 The Capelet is worked in the round from the neck down. You cast on at the neckline, work a few setup rounds in Color A, then begin raglan shaping that fans the piece outward with yarn-over increases at four raglan points. The body grows in colorful A–B–C stripes (4 rounds per color), then you knit straight to length and finish with a 3-inch 1×1 ribbed border. A neck edging in Color C finishes the top.

🪢 The Cowl is worked flat in rows — a reverse stockinette center panel flanked by garter stitch edges. The same stripe sequence runs through it. When it reaches 40 inches, you seam the cast-on to the bind-off edge with mattress stitch to form a cozy loop.

✂️ Cut your yarn at every color change. Don't carry unused colors up the inside — with bulky yarn, those floats create tension issues. The weaving-in goes quickly with chunky merino, I promise.

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Which Size Should You Make?

The Deschutes Capelet comes in three size ranges. Here's how they measure at the finished bottom edge and from neck to hem:

A capelet is a draped shoulder layer, not a body-hugging garment — you're choosing size based on how much coverage and drape you want over your shoulders and torso. If you're between sizes and want a fuller, more dramatic look, size up. The top-down construction means you can try the piece on mid-knit and add extra width before starting the ribbed border.

What Is a Capelet? 🤔

A capelet is a short, circular shoulder cape — it drapes over your shoulders and upper body but has no sleeves or armholes. Think of it as the cozy, stylish little sibling of a full cape. It rests at your neckline and falls anywhere from your upper back to your hips, adding warmth without restricting your arms at all.

Capelets are incredibly wearable layering pieces. They work over sweaters, tanks, turtlenecks… basically everything. They're that piece that makes even a plain outfit look intentional and put-together. And because this one is knit in bulky merino with bold stripes? It's going to be a statement every time you wear it.

Mastering Jogless Stripes 🌈

When you knit stripes in the round, you get a tiny “jog” — a stair-step interruption where the colors meet — because knitting in the round is actually a continuous spiral, not neatly stacked rings. The jogless stripes technique hides that jog so your color changes look perfectly clean and professional.

Watch this before you cast on. Seriously, five minutes now saves you from tinking or frogging later:

Yarn & Materials

Yarn

The sample uses Rebel Woolworks, Camp (100% superwash merino, 109 yds / 100 m per skein, CYCA #5 bulky). You'll need four coordinating colorways:

• Color A: Hiking the Cascades (#103782.18) — 2 skeins
• Color B: Into the Forest (#103782.6) — 2 skeins
• Color C: Custom Colors: More Lakes (#103782.19) — 2 skeins
• Color D: Fir (#103782.5) — 1 skein (neck edging + cowl base)

Yarn Substitutes

Look for a CYCA #5 bulky weight superwash merino in a palette of four coordinating colors. Superwash matters here — it blocks beautifully and the stripes will look crisp after a soak. Check gauge: approximately 10 sts per 4 inches on a US size 13 needle.

Swish Bulky

Berroco Ultra Alpaca Chunky Yarn

Malabrigo Mecha Yarn

Sirdar Jewelspun with Wool Chunky Yarn

Needles

• US Size 13 (9mm) circular needle, 24″ and longer — capelet body & cowl
• US Size 11 (8mm) circular needle, 24″ and longer — neck edging only

Have a longer needle (32″ or more) ready for when your stitch count grows through the raglan increases — the stitches get very snug on a 24″ needle once the capelet fans out.

Notions

• Stitch markers — several, with one noticeably different to mark the start of round
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Tape measure
• Notions bag
• Leather tags & rivets (optional finishing detail)
• Blocking squares
• Blocking pins
• Wool wash + soaking basin

Video Tutorials

Every skill you need for this pattern has a video. Bookmark this section before you cast on!

• Long-Tail Cast-On >> Click Here for Video Help <<
• Knit Stitch (continental style) >> Click Here for Video Help <<
• Purl Stitch (continental style) >> Click Here for Video Help <<
• How to Tink >> Click Here for Video Help <<

How to Add a Lifeline (use this before the try-on step in the raglan shaping!):

How to Weave & Bury Ends — for all those color-change tails:

Deschutes Knit Capelet & Cowl || Pattern Details

Skill Level

Adventurous Beginner

Measurements

To Fit Size: XS-M (L-2XL, 3XL-5XL)

Finished Measurements — Capelet:
55¼ (66½, 77½)” [140 (168.5, 197) cm] around bottom edge
15 (16, 17)” [38 (40.5, 43) cm] in length from neck edge to bottom bind off

Finished Measurements — Cowl:
Approximately 40″ [101.5 cm] circumference when seamed

Gauge

10 sts and 14 rounds = 4″ [10 cm] in Stockinette stitch on larger needles

Always swatch! Gauge is what determines your finished measurements. Check yours on the larger (9mm) needle before casting on.

Materials

Yarn: Rebel Woolworks, Camp (100% superwash merino, 109 yds / 100 m, CYCA #5 bulky)
2 skeins #103782.18 Hiking the Cascades (A) • 2 skeins #103782.6 Into the Forest (B)
2 skeins #103782.19 Custom Colors: More Lakes (C) • 1 skein #103782.5 Fir (D)

Needles: Size 11 (8mm), 24″ and longer circular • Size 13 (9mm), 24″ and longer circular

Abbreviations

Notes

• Directions are for size XS-M; changes for sizes L-2XL and 3XL-5XL are in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.
• Make sure the start-of-round marker is noticeably different from the raglan markers.
• Slip all markers as you come to them, even when not specifically instructed.
• Change to longer needles when stitches become uncomfortably snug on shorter needles.
• Color sequence for body is A, B, C. Change colors every 4 rounds. Use the jogless stripes technique for best results.
• Cut old color after each change and weave in ends; do not carry unused colors.

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Part 1 — Deschutes Knit Capelet || Pattern Instructions

Neck

With A and larger needle, cast on 58 (62, 66) sts using long-tail cast-on.

Join round and mark first st.

Rounds 1–4 (RS): Knit.

Cut A; continue with B.

Ribbed Border

Round 1: *K1, p1; repeat from * around.

Repeat Round 1 until ribbed border measures 3″ [7.5 cm].

Neck Edging

With RS facing and color C, and using smaller needles, beginning at center Sleeve st, pick up and knit 58 (62, 66) sts around neck edge. Join round and mark first st.

Rounds 1–3: *K1, p1; repeat from * around.

Bind off all sts in rib pattern.

Part 2 — Separate Cowl || Pattern Instructions

Instructions

With D and larger needle, cast on 31 sts, leaving a long tail for seaming later.

Row 1 (RS): Knit.

Row 2: K5, p21, k5.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 working in the following color sequence:

• 4 rows (total, including the two just worked) with D
• 4 rows with A
• 4 rows with B
• 4 rows with C

Continue in established pattern and sequence until piece measures 40″ [101.5 cm], or until you have run out of yarn, ending after a Color C segment.

Bind off all sts.

Finishing

Using mattress stitch and the color D yarn tail from the cast-on row, sew the cast-on row to the bind-off row of the Cowl to form a loop.

Weave in all loose ends.

Blocking Your Deschutes Capelet & Cowl

Because Rebel Woolworks Camp is 100% superwash merino, both finished pieces block beautifully — and blocking is what transforms hand-knit fabric from “charming” to “boutique-worthy.” Soak in lukewarm water with a drop of wool wash for 20 minutes, gently squeeze out the water (no wringing), roll in a towel, then pin to finished measurements on blocking squares. The merino will open up and the stripes will look extra crisp.

More Free Knit Patterns You'll Love

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a capelet in knitting?

So a capelet is basically a short, circular shoulder cape — it drapes over your shoulders and upper body but has no sleeves or armholes. Think of it as the cozy, stylish cousin of a cardigan! The Deschutes Capelet is worked in the round from the top down, fanning out naturally from your neck over your shoulders and torso. It's one of the most wearable pieces you can knit… you can throw it over literally anything.

Do the cowl and capelet attach to each other?

Nope! The cowl is a completely separate piece that you wear independently. It's designed to coordinate with the capelet in yarn colors and striping, so they look stunning together — but you can absolutely wear the cowl on its own or pair it with any other outfit. That's part of what makes this set so versatile.

What does Adventurous Beginner mean for this pattern?

Adventurous Beginner means you have knit and purl solid and you're ready to try something that introduces a new skill or two. This pattern teaches you knitting in the round, raglan shaping, jogless stripes, and flat-row construction — all in one project. The large needles and bulky yarn mean you progress fast and can really see what each stitch is doing, which is a huge confidence-builder.

Can I make the capelet without making the cowl?

Absolutely! The capelet stands beautifully on its own. If you skip the cowl you'll use less of Color D (Fir) — you still need some for the neck edging, but probably only a partial skein rather than the full skein.

Can I substitute a different yarn?

Yes! Look for a CYCA #5 bulky weight superwash merino or superwash wool blend. Superwash is important — it lets you wet-block the finished pieces without felting, and that blocking step is what makes the stripes look crisp and professional. Gauge check: approximately 10 sts per 4 inches on a US size 13 (9mm) needle. Since this pattern uses four colorways, look for a yarn that comes in a range of coordinating colors.

How do I get neat color changes with the stripes?

The key is the jogless stripes technique! When you knit stripes in the round, you naturally get a tiny jog — a stair-step where colors shift — because knitting in the round is a continuous spiral, not stacked rings. The jogless stripes technique hides that jog so your stripes look perfectly clean. Watch my in-post video in the Mastering Jogless Stripes section above before you cast on. 🌈

What size needles do I need?

You'll need two sizes of circular knitting needles: size 13 (9mm) for the capelet body and the cowl, and size 11 (8mm) for the neck edging only. Both are circular needles, 24 inches or longer. Plan to have a longer needle (32 inches or more) available — your stitch count grows quite a bit through the raglan increases and the stitches can get very snug on a shorter needle!

Final Thoughts 💛

❤️ Your BiCrafty Bestie,
Marly Bird