Misty Hollow Hooded Cape: A Free Knitting Pattern for a Textured Wilderness Wrap

Wrap yourself in the quiet mystery of the forest with the Misty Hollow Hooded Cape. This stunning knitting pattern combines the plush, cloud-like texture of brioche stitch with the crisp, sculptural elegance of twisted cables. Knit in a rich blend of heathery moss, deep pine, and fog grey, this cape feels both ancient and utterly modern—like something a woodland wanderer would wear. Whether you're curling up by the fire or stepping out into a misty morning, this hooded cape is the ultimate cozy statement piece. Best of all, it's a free pattern designed to be accessible for confident beginners ready to try something new.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through every step, from gathering your materials to binding off that final stitch. Let's dive into the magic of the Misty Hollow!

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather your supplies. This pattern uses worsted weight yarn and circular needles to create a seamless, top-down garment. Here's your complete shopping list:

Yarn

• Color A (Moss Heather): 800g of worsted weight wool blend (e.g., Cascade 220) – This is your main color for the body.
• Color B (Deep Pine): 400g of the same worsted weight yarn – Used for the ribbed hem and hood edging.
• Color C (Fog Grey): 200g of the same worsted weight yarn – Used for the hood's initial ribbing.

Needles & Notions

• US 8 (5mm) circular needles – You'll need both a 32-inch and a 16-inch length.
• Stitch markers – At least 10, plus one unique marker for the beginning of the round.
• Cable needle
• Tapestry needle – For weaving in ends and finishing.

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch (blocked). Always knit a gauge swatch to ensure your cape fits as intended.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This pattern is worked top-down in one piece, starting with the hood and then expanding outward for the body. Follow along carefully, and you'll have a beautiful cape in no time.

Abbreviations

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• St st: Stockinette stitch (knit every round)
• C4F: Slip 2 stitches to cable needle, hold in front, K2, K2 from cable needle
• C4B: Slip 2 stitches to cable needle, hold in back, K2, K2 from cable needle
• BrK: Brioche knit (knit the stitch together with its yarnover)
• BrP: Brioche purl (purl the stitch together with its yarnover)
• yo: Yarnover
• k2tog: Knit two together
• kfb: Knit front and back (increase)
• pm: Place marker
• sm: Slip marker

Knitting the Hood

We'll start with the hood, which is worked in the round from the bottom up and then closed at the crown.

1. Cast On: With Color C (Fog Grey) and your 16-inch circular needle, CO 80 stitches. Join in the round, being careful not to twist, and place a marker for the beginning of the round.
2. Ribbing: Rounds 1-2: *K1, P1* around. This creates a neat, stretchy edge for the face opening.
3. Switch Colors: Round 3: Switch to Color A (Moss Heather). Knit 2 rounds in St st (knit all stitches).
4. Begin Brioche: Round 5: *yo, slip 1 purlwise, K1* repeat around. You will have 80 stitches plus 40 yarnovers on your needle.
5. Brioche Round: Round 6: *BrP, BrK* around. This works the yarnovers together with their paired stitches to create the brioche fabric.
6. Continue Brioche: Repeat Round 6 for 10 more rounds (a total of 12 rounds of brioche stitch). The fabric will look thick, squishy, and cloud-like.
7. Shape the Crown (Decreases): Now we'll shape the top of the hood.
   • Next Round: *K2tog, K6* repeat around (70 stitches).
   • Work 2 rounds St st.
   • Next Round: *K2tog, K5* repeat around (60 stitches).
   • Work 2 rounds St st.
   • Next Round: *K2tog, K4* repeat around (50 stitches).
   • Work 2 rounds St st.
   • Next Round: *K2tog, K3* repeat around (40 stitches).
   • Work 1 round St st.
   • Next Round: *K2tog, K2* repeat around (30 stitches).
8. Close the Hood: Cut your yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through a tapestry needle and pass it through the remaining 30 stitches. Pull tight to gather the top of the hood closed, and secure the yarn firmly. The hood is now complete.

Knitting the Body

Now we'll pick up stitches along the bottom of the hood and work the cape downward, adding increases to create a flattering flare.

1. Pick Up Stitches: With Color A (Moss Heather) and your 32-inch circular needle, pick up and knit 80 stitches along the cast-on edge of the hood. Place a marker to mark the beginning of the round.
2. Set Up Round: Round 1: Knit all stitches.
3. Place Markers: Round 2: *K8, pm* repeat around. You will have placed 10 markers, dividing the work into 10 sections of 8 stitches each.
4. Increase Round: *K to 2 stitches before marker, kfb, k1, sm, kfb* repeat around. This adds 2 stitches to each section, for a total of 20 stitches increased. You should now have 100 stitches.
5. Work Even: Knit 3 rounds in St st (no increases).
6. Repeat Increases: Repeat the Increase Round every 4th round 8 more times. This means you'll do the increase round, then knit 3 plain rounds, and repeat. After all 9 increase rounds, you will have 260 stitches on your needle.

Inserting the Cable Panels

This is where the magic happens! We'll add the twisted cables to the front panels for that sculptural, forest-inspired look.

1. Divide the Work: The cape is now divided into 5 sections: front left, front right, back, and two side panels. Place markers to divide the stitches as follows:
   • Front left: 52 stitches
   • Front right: 52 stitches
   • Back: 78 stitches
   • Each side panel: 39 stitches
2. Work the Cable Pattern: Continue working in St st, but on the front left and front right sections, work the following cable pattern over the center 12 stitches of each section. The side and back panels remain in plain St st.
   • Row 1: C4B, K4, C4F
   • Row 2: K all
   • Row 3: K2, C4B, C4F, K2
   • Row 4: K all
   Repeat Rows 1-4 for the cable pattern. The cables will twist in opposite directions, creating a beautiful, mirrored effect on the front of the cape.
3. Work Even: Continue working the body without any increases for 6 inches, maintaining the cable pattern on the front panels. The cape will begin to drape and take shape.

Shaping the Flare

Now we'll add more increases to create a dramatic, sweeping flare at the bottom of the cape.

1. Increase Round: *Kfb, K to 2 stitches before marker, kfb, k1, sm, kfb* repeat around. This adds 20 stitches (2 per section). You'll now have 280 stitches.
2. Work Even: Knit 5 rounds in St st, continuing the cable pattern on the front panels.
3. Repeat Increases: Repeat the Increase Round every 6th round 4 more times. After all 5 increase rounds, you will have 360 stitches on your needle.
4. Final Length: Work even (no increases) for 4 inches, or until the cape reaches your desired length. The cape should fall gracefully from your shoulders.

Knitting the Hem

Time to add a beautiful, sturdy edge in your contrasting color.

1. Switch Colors: Switch to Color B (Deep Pine).
2. Ribbing: Work 4 rounds of *K1, P1* ribbing. This creates a neat, stretchy hem that won't curl.
3. Bind Off: Bind off loosely in pattern (knit the knits and purl the purls as you bind off). A loose bind-off is crucial for a stretchy edge.

Hood Edging

Let's finish the face opening of the hood to match the hem.

1. Pick Up Stitches: With Color B (Deep Pine), pick up and knit 80 stitches around the face opening of the hood.
2. Ribbing: Work 3 rounds of *K1, P1* ribbing.
3. Bind Off: Bind off loosely in pattern.

Creating the Ties

These simple ties will keep your cape snug and stylish.

1. Make Twisted Cords: Make 2 twisted cords using Color B (Deep Pine), each about 12 inches long. To make a twisted cord, cut 3 strands of yarn about 3 times the desired length (36 inches). Hold them together, tie a knot at each end, and have a friend hold one end while you twist the other until it's tight. Fold the cord in half and let it twist onto itself. Knot the ends.
2. Attach Ties: Sew one tie securely to each front edge of the cape at chest level. Weave in the ends of the ties.

Finishing Touches

The final steps are what make your cape look professionally made.

1. Weave in Ends: Using your tapestry needle, carefully weave in all loose yarn ends on the wrong side of the fabric.
2. Blocking: This step is essential! Block the cape gently to shape. Pin the cape out on a blocking mat, paying special attention to opening up the cables and the brioche stitch. This will define the textures and even out the stitches. Let it dry completely before wearing.

And there you have it—your very own Misty Hollow Hooded Cape! This pattern is a joy to knit, and the result is a stunning, heirloom-quality garment that you'll treasure for years. The combination of brioche and cables is a true testament to the beauty of hand knitting. Happy knitting, and may your days be filled with cozy, misty hollows!