Originally published in the Holla Knits Winter 2013 Collection, Plaidscape is now newly re-formatted and available from my Ravelry and Payhip stores, in my usual style indie pdf layout, with expanded instructions and added links to my non-stranded plaid, applied I-cord, and grafting tutorials.

Capes are the new coats for fall, and Plaidscape features a topography of colors knit seamlessly from the top down in bulky weight wool. Choose classic colors, or indulge your rainbow fantasies, and learn a new skill for making plaid without stranding. The horizontal colors are knit as stripes using one color at a time per row in a wide rib, then the vertical stripes are added at the end with a crochet hook in the purl columns; no crochet skills are needed – it’s as simple as picking up dropped stitches.

Construction: Plaidscape is cast on at the garter stitch collar, then the body is worked in the horizontal plaid pattern with raglan increases to the end of the wide elbow-length sleeves. The sleeves are divided from the body, which continues to grow in an A-line shape to the curved hem. The body and sleeve hems are worked in garter stitch, and applied I-cord neatly finishes the front edges; the double-breasted front closes with I-cord frogs and knots.

Sizing Notes: The large scale plaid pattern repeat and oversized nature of the cape allow two sizes to fit many bodies; the only difference between the sizes is that the L/XL begins with additional stitches cast on for a larger back and front, and has a longer lower body below the sleeves, with a wider sweep. The sleeves and raglan depth for both sizes are identical but the larger size has 2” of extra room in back, and 4” in front; plenty of positive ease is guaranteed, without creating a shapeless fit!

Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, cable CO, provisional CO, raglan construction, knit/purl, increasing, applied and regular I-cord; Plaidscape is both written and charted, and includes tutorials for the applied I-cord, non-stranded plaid, and grafting.

Size: S/M (L/XL); 54.5 (60.5)”; sample shown in size S/M, worn with 20” positive ease.

Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Bulky (100% Merino wool; 137 yards/125m/100g), shown in Silver (MC), Stormy (CC1) and Rouge (CC2); 5 (7) skeins MC, 2 (3) skeins CC1 and 1 (2) skeins CC2, or approximately 625 (875) yards MC, 270 (375) yards CC1 and 115 (155) yards CC2 of bulky weight wool yarn.

Other Materials: US 10 (6.5mm) 60” circular needle, or size to match gauge; US 8 (5mm) 24” circular needle and dpns for I-cord; Stitch markers (8); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle; 4 3/4” sew-on snap (1), optional; US 10.5 (6.5mm) crochet hook for plaid; Matching sewing thread and needle.

Gauge: 12 st and 18 rows/4” in stockinette stitch on larger needle; 12 st and 22 rows/4” in garter stitch, after blocking. One plaid repeat is 4” wide and 4 7/8” tall.

Thank you to Allyson and Holla Knits!