All Decked Out Cape

All Decked Out Cape by Allison Bostrom

Project Overview

The All Decked Out Cape is an intermediate-level crochet design created by independent designer Allison Bostrom of Clair de Lune Fiber Art. This pattern produces a luxurious cape garment worked in bulky-weight velvet or chenille yarn, offering a sophisticated layering piece with textured visual interest.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a wearable crochet cape—a draped garment designed to be worn over the shoulders. The cape construction allows for comfortable layering and movement, making it suitable for various occasions and seasons depending on yarn fiber choice.

Crochet Techniques Used

The All Decked Out Cape employs several fundamental and decorative crochet techniques to achieve its finished appearance. The pattern incorporates drop puff stitches, a specialty stitch that creates dimensional texture and visual depth throughout the garment. This textured stitch is combined with standard crochet construction methods to build the cape structure.

The design utilizes stitch gauge as a critical measurement tool, with the pattern noting that stitch gauge takes priority over row gauge. This flexibility allows crocheters to adjust the number of rows to customize the cape's length while maintaining proper width and drape. The pattern is worked to a gauge of 13 half double crochet stitches across 10 rows measuring 5 inches.

Stitches Used

• Half double crochet (hdc) – the primary stitch forming the foundation of the cape
• Single crochet (sc) – used for finishing and structural elements
• Drop puff stitch – a specialty decorative stitch created by yarning over, inserting the hook into the indicated stitch, pulling up loops to half double crochet height three times, then pulling yarn through all seven loops for textured embellishment
• Half double crochet 2 together (hdc2tog) – used for shaping and decreasing
• Fhdc – front half double crochet, likely used for directional texture or edge finishing
• Chain stitch (ch) – foundational stitch for beginning rows and creating openwork elements

Materials and Tools

The All Decked Out Cape is designed to be worked in bulky-weight (5) velvet or chenille yarn. The sample shown uses Bernat Velvet in Cabernet, a luxurious yarn choice that showcases the textured stitches beautifully. Three size options are provided:

• Size 1: 905 grams / 950 yards
• Size 2: 950 grams / 1000 yards
• Size 3: 1160 grams / 1215 yards

The pattern requires a J/6 mm crochet hook, or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge. Additional materials include a tape measure, scissors, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and finishing the garment.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate difficulty, this pattern is suitable for crocheters with foundational skills who are ready to work with specialty stitches and manage garment construction. The drop puff stitch adds visual complexity while remaining achievable for experienced beginners.