Rachel "Ivy" Clarke

Sherblet, a fully-fashioned "capecho" hand knitting pattern, appeared in the Spring/Summer 2008 issue of the online publication MetaPostModernKnitting.

SHERBLET
by Rachel “Ivy” Clarke

Difficulty: Advanced Beginner. This pattern involves short rows, picking up stitches, and working in the round.

Based on a sketch from Fashion Box, a women’s knitwear trend forecast, this “capecho” (poncho + cape) is the perfect accessory for spring, when you want to start wearing short sleeves, but a chill still lingers in the air. It’s easy to throw on over almost any garment and still allows flexibility of movement without succumbing to traditional poncho frumpiness.

The self-striping yarn worked vertically adds just the right touch of visual interest to prevent this piece from becoming humdrum. This pattern does include several intermediate techniques, like short rows and picking up stitches, but the use of these techniques is quite straightforward and would be a good introduction for the beginning knitter looking to move forward and try something new. The worsted weight yarn knits up quickly on US 9 needles, so you can be at the forefront of the season’s fashion.

SIZE
XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] (shown in size M)
Sizing information from yarnstandards.com.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Width at Shoulder: 14 [15, 16, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5]”
Width at Hem/Lower Edge: 16.25 [17.5, 18.5, 20, 20.75, 21.25, 22]”
Length: 14 [15.5, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20]”

MATERIALS
[MC] Trendsetter Tonalita [52% wool/48% acrylic; 100 yd per 50g skein]; color: Desert Valley 2374; 4 [4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6] skeins.
The key to the Tonalita is the self-striping pattern, which adds visual interest to the capelet. If substituting another yarn, it is recommended that you use a self-striping or variegated yarn to take advantage of the stockinette being worked sideways.
[CC] Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted [85% wool/15% mohair; 190 yd per 113g skein]; color: Crème M10; 1 [1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] skein.

1 US Size 9/5.5 mm straight needles
1 US Size 7 /4.5 mm 24” circular needle
stitch markers

GAUGE
16 sts x 24 rows = 4" in St st with MC on larger ndls

PATTERN NOTES
MPMK's list of abbreviations.

For the short rows, I used a technique I learned from making Leethal’s Short Rows Wavy Hat, where she cleverly places a marker to indicate the upcoming short row. This trick is very useful and reduces the amount of stitch counts and numbers to hold in your brain. Her pattern also includes some good links to a short rows tutorial.

PATTERN
Front
With larger ndls and MC, CO 56 [62, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80] sts.
Row 1 (RS): Knit. Row 2: Purl to last 6 sts, K6.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 until piece meas 2.5 [2.5, 3, 3.5, 3.5, 3.5, 3.75]”, ending on a RS row.
Next row (WS): K3, purl to last 6 sts, K6. Knit 1 row.
Next row (WS): K3, purl to last 6 sts, K6.
Rep these 2 rows until piece meas 11.5 [12.5, 13, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 14.75]” from CO, ending on a RS row.
Next row (WS): Purl to last 6 sts, K6. Knit 1 row.
Rep these 2 rows until piece meas 14 [15, 16, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5]” from CO, ending on a RS row.
Next row (WS): Purl to last 6 sts, K6.

Begin Short Rows
Row 1 (RS): Knit to last 6 sts, w&t.
Row 2: P6, pm, purl to last 6 sts, K6.
Row 3: Knit to marker, remove marker, w&t.
Row 4: P6, pm, purl to last 6 sts, K6.
Rep Rows 3 & 4, 5 [6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9) more times.
Next row (RS): Knit all sts, removing marker.
Next row: Purl to last 6 sts, K6. BO all sts.

Back
With larger ndls and MC, CO 56 [62, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80] sts.
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2: K6, purl to end.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 until piece meas 2.5 [2.5, 3, 3.5, 3.5, 3.5, 3.75]”, ending on a RS row.
Next row (WS): K6, purl to last 3 sts, K3. Knit 1 row.
Rep these 2 rows until piece meas 11.5 [12.5, 13, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 14.75]” from CO, ending on a RS row.
Next row (WS): K6, purl to end. Knit 1 row.
Rep these 2 rows until piece meas 14 [15, 16, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5]” from CO, ending on a RS row.

Begin Short Rows
Row 1 (WS): K6, purl to last 6 sts, w&t.
Row 2: K6, pm, knit to end.
Row 3: K6, purl to marker, remove marker, w&t.
Rep Rows 2 & 3, 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9) more times.
Next row (RS): Knit.
Next row (WS): K6, purl to end. Knit 1 row.
Next row (WS): K6, p to end. BO all sts.

FINISHING
Sew Left Shoulder and Left Side seams. Sew Right Shoulder. Sew Right Underarm (garter-stitch portion only).

Armband
With CC and circular ndl, with RS facing and beg at Right Back Underarm, pick up and knit 50 (56, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74) sts to Right Shoulder seam, and pick up and knit 50 (56, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74) sts to Right Front Underarm. Place marker and Join. Rnd 1: *K1, P1; rep from * to end. Rep Rnd 1 until band meas 1.5” from pick up. BO all sts in patt. Weave in ends. Wear!

Photographer: Robin Dodge
Model: Rachel Clarke
Illustration: Caroline Bautista.