by Kristi Porter

Call it a capelet
or a mini-poncho,
an ironically retro
scarf alternative
or even a big
dickey.

Call it ridiculous;
call it sublime.

Whatever you call it, this garment is quick fun to knit and is the perfect antidote to the cold shoulder.

Unlike a real poncho though, this one won't mess up your hairdo! Wear it buttoned up the front, side or back, or unbutton it and fold down the collar. If you're really feeling bold, you can even wear it as a skirt!

A Capella is knit side to side in one piece and uses garter-stitched short rows for shaping. I did not wrap my short rows and there are no visible holes. Depending on the yarn you use however, you may wish to wrap the turning stitches.

If you have never used short rows before, don't worry. Simply knit the number of stitches called for, turn your work and knit back as if you had reached the end of the row. After all the short rows are worked, you will knit back and pick up all the orphaned stitches.

model: Kristi Porter [above] Tracey Sang [below]     photo: Leo Bleicher [above] Kristi Porter [below]

S/M [L/XL]

MATERIALS

Mondial Asia [60% wool, 9% Alpaca, 5% Nylon, 26% Acrylic. 72 yds/100 grams]; color: #147; 4[5]skeins/260[320]yards.

Sm/Med kit @ Yarn Xpress

Lg/XL kit @ Yarn Xpress

Note: The wine-colored sample is knitted in a super-bulky wool boucle purchased on Ebay and hand-dyed with Kool-Aid.

The crocheted edging takes slightly less yarn than the fringed version.

1 set US #10/6mm straight needles
large crochet hook
5 buttons

12 sts = 4" in stockinette stitch on US #10/6mm needles

Since this is not a fitted garment, gauge need only be approximate. Bear in mind that a larger gauge will yield a slightly larger finished garment.

Button Band
CO 27[30] stitches.
Rows 1-6: Knit [3 garter ridges].

First Half Wedge
Row 1: [RS] K 18[20], turn.
Row 2 and all even [WS] rows in Wedge: Knit.
Row 3: K 16[18], turn.
Continue working in this fashion, knitting 2 fewer sts each RS row, turning and knitting back until you have used up all your sts (9[10] garter ridges).

You've now completed the first half wedge of shaping.

Stockinette Section
[if you want to alter the sizing further, add or subtract a garter ridge or two from this section]

Next row: Knit full row [27[30] stitches].
Next row:: K7 [for collar], purl to end of row.
Repeat these 2 rows for 22[26] rows. [It may be easiest to count 11[13] garter ridges on the collar].

Full Wedge
You are now ready for the shoulder shaping.

Row 1: K2, turn.
Row 2 and all even rows: Knit.
Row 3: K4, turn.
Continue in this manner, knitting 2 more stitches on each odd [RS] row for 8[9] garter ridges until you have knit 18[20] stitches on your short row. Turn.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: Knit full row
Next row: Knit full row.
Next row: K18[20], turn.
Next row: Knit.
Continue working short rows, knitting 2 fewer stitches on each RS row until you have worked the last [2 stitch] row, turned and knit back.
Repeat the Stockinette and the Full Wedge sections 2 times. Knit a final Stockinette section [for a total of 4].
Now you will knit the final front shaped section.

Final Half Wedge
Row 1: K2, turn.
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: K4, turn.
Row 4: Knit.
Continue as for other wedges, knitting 2 more stitches on each RS row until you have knit 18[20] stitches, turned, and knit back.

Final Button Band
Rows 1 and 2: Knit.
Row 3: Make 5 buttonholes evenly spaced along row:
[size S/M: *K4, BO1* 5 times, K2]
[size L/XL: K6, *BO1, K4* 4 times, BO1, K3]
Row 4: Knit row, casting on stitches above BO stitches.
Knit 2 more rows.
BO all stitches.

Weave in ends. Sew on buttons opposite buttonholes.

For fringe: Cut approximately 240[260] pieces of yarn into 8-inch lengths. You will need about 55[60] yards of yarn to do this. Taking 2 pieces of yarn together, double them over and pull through bottom edge stitch. Pull loose ends through loop and pull to secure.

Alternatively, for crocheted edging: Attach yarn at one button band, chain stitch 8 stitches, crochet through bottom edge of capelet 4 rows over [approximately 1 inch], chain another 8 stitches and crochet through bottom edge of capelet another 4 rows over. Continue working in this manner all the way to opposite button band. Attach yarn.

Weave in ends.

Attach 5 buttons opposite buttonholes.

Kristi promises not to design anything that is knit side to side in garter stitch for the next issue of Knitty.

She lives with her husband and two daughters in San Diego, California.