The pattern is from a Japanese crochet book (I'll share the book details later in this post). I've been wanting to make this cape for over a year (it was the reason I bought the book), but somehow I never found the right yarn. Something woolly, I wanted, but I never use real wool. Enter: Stone Washed XL by the Dutch brand Scheepjeswol, a new yarn. Judging from what I see from fellow-bloggers it has quickly has become quite popular here in The Netherlands. It's made of cotton with a special acrylic coating. The offwhite ('moonstone') fitted the bill perfectly. (Mmm, I realise I sound like an ad here, but it's not.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCQzHeS7UJ593bszZoYCZtgRa2lqXBLZvdBMDxn8loUTVOxw4d3w0Tz74AS7dipotL5lCi5fintOq_vRAAxOoSuwLE9ehFRwCxs544UtWmEtkc3jx-QYm1D8dhSKs489e7RLznLJFfnLJ/s1600/IMG_20140922_224044.jpg)
It was such a delight to whip up this pattern, which I followed except for the collar. The pattern called for a knitted collar, but I can't knit... And even if I could I wouldn't have understood the Japanese directions at that point. So, I came up with this simple alternative: A crocheted rectangular of single crochet rows, using back loops only, hence the ribs. I later single crocheted the collar to the cape. Piece of cake! And, if I may say so myself..., I quite like how it turned out, the ribs make it elastic and wearable. Okay, here's a close up. ;-)
![ByHaafner, Japanese crochet pattern, crochet cape ByHaafner, Japanese crochet pattern, crochet cape](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fjVJoud_a0cX-Vi5E2_uK1W_dFXTzl_T1FQYkySsVYkn0R5ElW-HMFS6W9LTfwu-6prnEwrURXr3Qo55_IqmRi95fuvnx9vV96JVmlN9G3U6hMP74g1MUIwV_ZhVLfGyN5Wzd4cWafW_/s1600/IMG_20140922_224012.jpg)
All practicalities in short...
♦ Pattern: from Crochet & Cape (2008), more details below♦ Collar: Rectangular made of single crochets, back loops only to create a rib
♦ Crochet hook: 5,5 mm
♦ Yarn: nine balls of Stone Washed XL (colour moonstone), by Scheepjeswol
♦ Light blocking (a night between wet towels with something heavy on top - not me)
Okay, let's do one more close up of the collar. ;-)
The pattern is from this fabulous Japanese crochet & knitting book from the Let's knit series. Published in 2008 by Nihon Vogue pubishers. This particular book is out of print, but I think there are still some copies available. I bought mine in the Etsy shop Pomadour24 which has loads of pattern books.
So... I guess this really is all there is to tell about the making of one cape. The wearing of it is a whole new chapter of course. ;-)
Have lots of fun with all your creative adventures.
♦♦♦