# Winter Berry Hooded Cape Free Crochet Pattern
Oh my, I have such a soft spot for anything that gives off storybook vibes. A little one in a hooded cape? Instant fairytale energy — I just want to hand her a basket and send her off down a forest path (don’t worry, I’ll walk with her).
This cape works up in simple half double crochet with the prettiest color-blocked stripes: deep burgundy for the hood and trim, dusty rose on top, cream through the middle, and forest green at the hem with a dainty picot edge. The construction is honestly simpler than it looks — you work the body top-down in joined rounds with four increase points, make the hood as a flat rectangle, fold and seam it, then finish with braided ties and tassels. Looks designer, works up easy. My favorite kind of project!
What You’ll Need
- Worsted weight (size 4) yarn:
- Color A (Burgundy): 220 yards (201 m)
- Color B (Dusty Rose): 280 yards (256 m)
- Color C (Cream/Off-White): 220 yards (201 m)
- Color D (Forest Green): 280 yards (256 m)
- Total: approximately 1000 yards (914 m)
- US J / 6.0 mm crochet hook
- 4 stitch markers
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Blocking mat and pins (optional but recommended)
Finished size:
- Neckline 22 inches (56 cm) around
- Cape length 18 inches (46 cm) from shoulder to hem at center back
- Hood 10 inches (25.5 cm) tall and 9 inches (23 cm) deep
- Hem approximately 62 inches (157.5 cm) around. Sized for children approximately ages 4 to 8, hitting at mid-thigh on a child of average height
The Pattern
Cape Body
Worked from the neckline down in joined rounds, right side facing out. The ch-2 at the start of each round counts as the first hdc; join each round with a slip stitch to the top of the ch-2. Work color changes on the last yarn-over of the final stitch of a round.
Setup: With Color A, chain 80. Being careful not to twist, slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring.
Foundation round: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc in each of the next 77 chains around. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the ch-2. (78 hdc)
Place markers at stitch 1, stitch 20, stitch 40, and stitch 59. These are your four increase points — work 2 hdc into each marked stitch on increase rounds (adding 4 stitches per round) and move each marker into the first of the two hdc.
Rounds 1–3 (Color A, neckline band): Hdc in each stitch around, no increases. Join each round. (78 hdc each round) At the end of Round 3, fasten off Color A.
Rounds 4–15 (Color B, dusty rose upper cape): Join Color B. Work even in hdc, increasing at all 4 marked stitches every round: Round 4 (82 hdc), Round 5 (86), Round 6 (90), Round 7 (94), Round 8 (98), Round 9 (102), Round 10 (106), Round 11 (110), Round 12 (114), Round 13 (118), Round 14 (122), Round 15 (126 hdc).
Checkpoint: the body should measure about 7.5 inches (19 cm) from the neckline. Fasten off Color B.
Rounds 16–25 (Color C, cream middle section): Join Color C. Continue increasing 4 stitches per round: Round 16 (130 hdc) through Round 25 (166 hdc).
Checkpoint: about 12.5 inches (32 cm) from the neckline. Fasten off Color C.
Rounds 26–37 (Color D, forest green lower section): Join Color D. Continue increasing 4 stitches per round: Round 26 (170 hdc) through Round 37 (214 hdc). Do not fasten off yet.
Checkpoint: about 17.5 inches (44.5 cm) from the neckline.
Picot Hem Edging
Cut Color D with a 6-inch tail to weave in later. Join Color A with a slip stitch in the last stitch of Round 37.
Edging round: Sc in the first stitch, chain 3, slip stitch into the first chain made (this forms the picot), then sc in each of the next 2 stitches; repeat this all the way around the hem. Three stitches are used per picot repeat, so 213 stitches make 71 complete picots — work the final stitch as a plain sc to close the round cleanly. Join with a slip stitch to the first sc, fasten off, and weave in ends.
The Hood
Worked flat in rows with Color A, then folded and seamed.
Foundation: Chain 64.
Row 1 (RS): Hdc in the 3rd chain from the hook (the skipped 2 chains count as the first hdc), hdc in each chain across. Turn. (63 hdc)
Rows 2–25: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc in each stitch across to the last stitch, hdc in the top of the turning chain. Turn. (63 hdc each row)
Checkpoint: the hood panel should measure about 9 inches (23 cm) wide and 10 inches (25.5 cm) tall. Do not turn after Row 25 and do not fasten off.
Top seam: Fold the panel in half so Row 25 lines up with the foundation chain edge, right side facing out. Whipstitch along the folded top edge across the full 63-stitch width. Fasten off and turn right side out.
Face opening edging: Working around the front opening edge with Color A, work 1 round of sc evenly all the way around. Join with a slip stitch, fasten off, and weave in ends.
Braided Ties (Make 2)
Cut 12 strands of Color A, each 36 inches (91.5 cm) long. Divide into 3 groups of 4 strands, line up the ends, and tie an overhand knot at the top, leaving a 1-inch (2.5 cm) tail above the knot. Braid firmly for about 10 inches (25.5 cm), then tie an overhand knot at the end to secure. Trim the tails below the bottom knot to 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) to form a tassel, then separate and fluff the strands. Make two identical ties and attach one at each front neckline edge.
Finishing
Lightly block the hood and body before seaming. Fold the hood so the back seam sits centered at the back, then pin the hood’s base edge evenly around the neckline foundation edge and seam with a whipstitch or slip stitch join. Attach the braided ties at the front. Weave in every end — and go admire your work on a tiny storybook hero!
Sophie’s Tips
- Swatch first! If your gauge is off, the neckline may end up too snug to slip over a little head or too loose to sit on the shoulders — and gauge is everything here.
- Keep your color changes crisp by switching colors on the final yarn-over of the last stitch of a round, and carry tails neatly so the stripe lines look sharp.
- Want to size up or down? Add or remove a few rounds in each color section — the four-point increase math stays exactly the same, so the flare just grows or shrinks with the length.
Go make some fairytale magic — this cape is pure storybook joy!
