This is an almost exact copy of a cape that I found in Alentejo, made in the early 1980’s as a gift for a toddler. The winters in Alentejo are cold (for Portuguese standards, anyway) and before the age of fleece (and microplastic pollution) a knitted cape was an effective way of keeping a young child warm while playing outside, as It covers most of the body and doesn’t add bulk to the child’s arms and legs. Although so many comfortable options exist nowadays to keep our toddlers warm, I have found this to be a useful accessory for the long hours of backyard play. Wool is naturally dirt repellent and wonderfully insulating even when wet.

Pattern notes

The cape is constructed using the simplest form of short rows to form wedges.
Because I am Portuguese and I knit Portuguese style, most of the cape is purled, not knitted. If you prefer a different technique you can knit where I purl and purl where I knit and you should get the same result.
The original cape was knitted using only two colours. I have used 6 different colours for the sample shown on the photos but the pattern only mentions Colour 1 (main colour) and Colour 2 (wedges).
A Retrosaria Apresenta Kilcarra Tweed blooms and softens a lot when washed. Washing your swatch will give you a more realistic idea of what your cape will look and feel like.
If you use a different yarn for your cape i recommend opting for a lofty, single ply yarn to keep the cape as light as possible.

Size

48cm x 115cm

Yarn

A Retrosaria Apresenta Kilcarra Tweed (100% wool; 80m/87yd = 50g). 80g C1, 300g C2. Sample was knitted in Fossil 4731 (C1) and six different shades for the wedges (Skylight 4726, Ederny 4897, Dusty Pink 4735, Heiro 4802, Bundoran 4741 and Ballybofey 4596).

Needles and tools

5.5mm/US 9 circular needle
4.5mm/US 7 circular needle for collar
Tapestry needle
One button

Gauge

15 stitches and 14 ridges over 10cm of garter stitch using larger needle (after washing and light blocking)

Stitches and techniques

Garter stitch made by purling all rows and by knitting all rows.
Decreases (k2tog and ssk) and increases (m1) for the buttonhole.