Summer Rose Capelet

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I have a love of crocheted roses (our previous posts about Knitted Door Stops and a Button Rose Tea Cosy are testimony to that) so I thought I would give knitted roses a try.  

My parents recently skipped across the country to visit my sister Deb and deliver her long awaited, hand made knitting loom (you can read about it here), and they brought me back some beautiful 8ply bamboo/wool blend.

The minute I saw this gorgeous bamboo, I knew what I would make.  A summer capelet that sits comfortably on your shoulders that stops the chill in the evenings.

Not that we have had much chill.  We have been experiencing a heat wave that has seen the coolest temperature in the last week reach 37C.   Thank goodness for air conditioning.  Not only does it help keep everyone sane, but it allows me to knit when the outside temperature is making cinders of my garden.

I scouted about for a pattern but couldn't really find anything until I came across a pattern from China (I think) for a beautiful scalloped cast on.  There were no instructions .. I had to follow some pictures.  So I thought I would translate them here.  It looks a bit fiddly, and to be honest, it is to start with but once you get the hang of it, it's quite delightful.

Instructions for Scallop Cast On

One.   You will need your yarn, the appropriate knitting needles AND a crochet hook.

Two.  Holding both the knitting needle and the crochet hook together, cast on 10 stitches over both of them.

Three.  Wrap the yarn around the crochet hook.

Four.  Pull the hook loosely through the 10 stitches.  Don't pull too tightly at this point.

Five.  Using the end of the hook, place it through (pick up) the first of the 10 stitches.  The scallop will now be on the crochet hook, held in position by the first and last stitch.

Six.  Using your knitting needle, pick up the two stitches on the hook and transfer them to the needle.

Seven.  Using the first stitch on the needle as an anchor, cast on 10 stitches and continue the 'scallop' process.

Eight.  Continue the process until you have the desired amount of cast on stitches or scallops.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Even though each scallop has only 2 stitches at the moment, it becomes 4 after the first round of knitting.  The first row is K1, make 2 using the backwards loop cast on, K1.  Repeat to end of row.
So, for example, this capelet requires 144 stitches so you need to do a quarter of 144 (36 scallops).   Each scallop becomes 4 stitches.  This pattern is a small size.  I would do 42 scallops for a medium and 50 scallops for a large.

This capelet calls for 5 x 50g balls of bamboo for a small size.  Allow an extra ball for the larger sizes. This capelet is knitted in the round and requires a set of circular needles.

Capelet Instructions

Once you have completed your cast on and have 36 scallops (it's definitely easier to count scallops than stitches),  join your yarn being careful not to twist your stitches and begin row one.

As I have already mentioned, row one is an increase row.

Knit 1, (this stitch is the original stitch), *K first stitch of first scallop, make 2 stitches using the backwards loop cast on., K1*  Repeat from * to end of the row.  You should now have the required number of stitches and are ready to knit your capelet.

Knit 18 rows of plain stockinette stitch.

Purl 18 rows

Repeat the previous 36 rows a further 2 times and then loosely cast off.  If your cast off is too tight, it will be to too snug around your shoulders and you may not be able to move your arms freely.

Knitted Rose.

These roses are just lovely.  Nice and full and very, very easy to make.

• Firstly, cast on approximately 165 stitches.   I have used a circular needle as I use them all the time, even for non-circular patterns so standard needles are just fine.

• Without joining up , knit 12 rows in plain stockinette stitch finishing on a purl row.  The reason for this is that you want the cast on tail on one side of the knitting and the cast off tail on the other.

• Once you have the desired width of rose, thread a wool needle with the tail of your wool and thread it back through your stitches to cast off.

• Pull firmly and you will end up with a twisty, twirly piece of knitting.

• Starting at the end of the twist with the cast on tail, slowly ease it around and around and you end up with a lovely knitted rose.  

• Once you have the desired shape, thread the tail from the cast on through the centre and gently pull.  This makes the edge of your knitting sink into the rose and then you can't see the edge.  Tie this end to the cast off tail and the rose is finished. 

• Attach to your capelet and you are ready to go partying for the evening.

I must admit to being very happy with this capelet and I can't wait to wear it.  The bamboo has just enough stretch in it to keep is secure but it is so lovely and soft - perfect for bare shoulders in summer.

PRINTABLE INSTRUCTIONS

Happy Knitting,
Louise

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