Winter Berry Hooded Cape Free Crochet Pattern

I have a serious soft spot for anything that gives off storybook vibes, and a child in a hooded cape is instant fairytale energy! This Winter Berry cape gives us all that cozy, whimsical charm without complicated construction. We work simple half double crochet in pretty colour blocks, and the hood attaches with basic seaming.

We will make the body from the top down in joined rounds, increasing at four evenly spaced points so the cape flares into that beautiful A-line shape all on its own. The hood is just a flat rectangle that we fold and seam across the top, and a braided tie with tassels finishes the front.

The colour blocking happens in four sections: deep burgundy for the neckline band, hood and trim, dusty rose for the upper cape, cream for the middle, and forest green for the lower section. This pattern is sized for children approximately ages 4 to 8 and hits at mid-thigh.

Materials

• Worsted weight (size 4) yarn in Burgundy (Color A), approximately 220 yards
• Worsted weight (size 4) yarn in Dusty Rose (Color B), approximately 280 yards
• Worsted weight (size 4) yarn in Cream / Off-White (Color C), approximately 220 yards
• Worsted weight (size 4) yarn in Forest Green (Color D), approximately 280 yards
• US size J / 6.0 mm crochet hook
• Stitch markers (at least 4)
• Yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends
• Scissors
• Blocking mat and pins (optional but recommended)

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• hdc2tog: half double crochet 2 together (decrease)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rnd: round
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• t-ch: turning chain
• pm: place marker

Special Stitches

• Picot Edging: Work 1 sc into the first stitch, chain 3, slip stitch into the first chain made to form a small picot knot, then work 1 sc into each of the next 2 stitches. Repeat across the edge.
• Braided Tie: Cut 12 strands of Color A, each 36 inches long. Divide into 3 groups of 4 strands. Align all ends evenly and tie an overhand knot at the top, leaving a 1 inch tail above the knot. Braid the three groups together firmly for approximately 10 inches. Tie an overhand knot at the end of the braid to secure. Trim the tail ends below the bottom knot to 2.5 inches to form a tassel. Separate and fluff the tassel strands. Make 2 identical braided ties.

Gauge & Size

• Finished size: ages 4 to 8; neckline circumference 22 inches; cape length (shoulder to hem at center back) 18 inches; hood 10 inches tall and 9 inches deep; hem circumference approximately 62 inches
• Gauge: 14 hdc x 10 rows = 4 inches, worked in rows with a J / 6.0 mm hook, blocked
• Construction: body worked top-down in joined rounds with increases at 4 marked points; hood worked flat, folded and seamed, then attached to the neckline
• Skill level: Intermediate

Pattern notes: the cape body is worked in joined rounds from the top down, with the right side facing out throughout. All colour changes are made on the last yarn over of the final stitch of a round before the new colour is needed. The ch-2 at the start of each round counts as the first hdc, and the last stitch of each round is worked into the top of the ch-2 from the previous round. The cape has a split at the center front, forming two open front panels, and the tie closes the cape at the neckline. Markers are placed at the 4 increase points; move markers up each round, working 2 hdc into each marked stitch on increase rounds (this adds 4 stitches per increase round), and move each marker into the first of the 2 hdc worked into the old marked stitch.

Cape Body Pattern

Setup: Using Color A and a J / 6.0 mm hook, chain 80. Being careful not to twist the chain, slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring.

Foundation Round: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc). Hdc in each of next 77 ch around. Join with sl st to top of ch-2. (78 hdc)

Place markers at the following positions to mark increase points: Marker 1: stitch 1 (left front edge). Marker 2: stitch 20 (left side). Marker 3: stitch 40 (right side, across back center). Marker 4: stitch 59 (right front edge).

Round 1: Ch 2, work even in hdc, no increases. Join with sl st to top of ch-2. (78 hdc)

Round 2: Ch 2, work even in hdc, no increases. Join with sl st to top of ch-2. (78 hdc)

Round 3: Ch 2, work even in hdc, no increases. Join with sl st to top of ch-2. (78 hdc)

At the end of Round 3, fasten off Color A. The hood will be seamed here after the body is complete. Switch to Color B (Dusty Rose).

Round 4: Join Color B with sl st to top of ch-2 of previous round. Ch 2, work 2 hdc into same st (increase at marker 1 position). Hdc across to marker 2, 2 hdc into marker 2 st. Hdc across to marker 3, 2 hdc into marker 3 st. Hdc across to marker 4, 2 hdc into marker 4 st. Hdc to end of round. Join with sl st to top of ch-2. (82 hdc)

Round 5: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (86 hdc)

Round 6: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (90 hdc)

Round 7: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (94 hdc)

Round 8: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (98 hdc)

Round 9: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (102 hdc)

Round 10: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (106 hdc)

Round 11: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (110 hdc)

Round 12: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (114 hdc)

Round 13: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (118 hdc)

Round 14: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (122 hdc)

Round 15: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (126 hdc)

At the end of Round 15, fasten off Color B. After completing Round 15, the cape body should measure approximately 7.5 inches from the neckline foundation. Switch to Color C (Cream / Off-White).

Round 16: Join Color C. Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (130 hdc)

Round 17: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (134 hdc)

Round 18: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (138 hdc)

Round 19: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (142 hdc)

Round 20: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (146 hdc)

Round 21: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (150 hdc)

Round 22: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (154 hdc)

Round 23: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (158 hdc)

Round 24: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (162 hdc)

Round 25: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (166 hdc)

At the end of Round 25, fasten off Color C. After completing Round 25, the cape body should measure approximately 12.5 inches from the neckline foundation. Switch to Color D (Forest Green).

Round 26: Join Color D. Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (170 hdc)

Round 27: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (174 hdc)

Round 28: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (178 hdc)

Round 29: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (182 hdc)

Round 30: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (186 hdc)

Round 31: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (190 hdc)

Round 32: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (194 hdc)

Round 33: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (198 hdc)

Round 34: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (202 hdc)

Round 35: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (206 hdc)

Round 36: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (210 hdc)

Round 37: Ch 2, hdc into each st around, working 2 hdc into each of the 4 marked sts. Join. (214 hdc)

At the end of Round 37, do not fasten off Color D yet. After completing Round 37, the cape body should measure approximately 17.5 inches from the neckline foundation.

Hem Picot Edging

Drop Color D (cut with a 6 inch tail and weave in later). Join Color A with sl st to the last st of Round 37.

Edging Round: Work picot edging across all 214 sts of the hem edge. Work the picot repeat as: sc in first st, ch 3, sl st in first ch, sc in next 2 sts, repeat. This uses 3 sts per repeat. 213 sts accommodate 71 complete picot repeats. Work the final stitch as a plain sc to close the round cleanly. Join final sc to first sc with a sl st. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Hood Pattern

The hood is worked flat in rows, then folded in half and seamed across the top. Using Color A and the J / 6.0 mm hook.

Foundation Chain: Chain 64.

Row 1 (RS): Hdc in 3rd ch from hook (the skipped 2 chs count as first hdc), hdc in each ch across. Turn. (63 hdc)

Rows 2 through 25: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc in each st across to last st, hdc in top of t-ch. Turn. (63 hdc each row)

After Row 25, do not turn. Do not fasten off. The hood panel should measure approximately 9 inches wide and 10 inches tall at this point.

Finishing & Assembly

Hood top seam: Fold the hood panel in half so that Row 25 aligns with the foundation chain edge, with RS facing out. Thread a yarn needle with Color A. Using a whipstitch seam along the top folded edge across the full 63-stitch width. Fasten off. Turn RS out.

Hood face opening edging: Working around the front face opening edge of the hood with Color A, work 1 row of sc evenly around the entire face opening edge. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Attaching the hood to the cape: Block the hood and cape body lightly before seaming. Fold the hood so that the back seam sits centered at the back, with the face opening facing forward. With the cape neckline edge facing up, pin the bottom open edge of the hood to the neckline, distributing the hood’s 63 stitches evenly around the 78-stitch neckline. Leave approximately 7 to 8 stitches at each front opening edge with no hood attached. Using Color A and a yarn needle, seam the hood to the neckline with a whipstitch from the WS. Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Tie attachments: Make 2 braided ties as described in Special Stitches. Thread one braided tie through the neckline fabric at each front edge, approximately 1 inch in from the front opening at the level of Round 2 on the neckline band. Secure the end of each braided tie by tying a knot against the fabric on the WS.

Cape front edge finishing: Working along each front edge of the cape with Color A, work 1 row of sc evenly down each front edge from neckline to hem, working approximately 1 sc per row end. Fasten off.

Blocking: Weave in all ends securely, hiding colour-change tails on the WS. For wet blocking, submerge the finished cape in lukewarm water with a small amount of wool wash. Gently squeeze out excess water without wringing. Roll in a clean towel to remove moisture. Lay flat on a blocking mat, shape the neckline into a smooth circle and pin lightly, stretch the hem gently outward to encourage the A-line flare, and shape the hood over a rounded form like a balloon or large ball. Allow to dry completely before removing pins.

Tips

For a smaller size (ages 2 to 4): begin with a foundation chain of 68 (67 hdc at neckline), work the same increase schedule but stop the body at Round 32 instead of Round 37, reduce the hood foundation chain to 56 and work only 20 rows, and adjust yarn quantities down by approximately 15 percent.

For a larger size (ages 8 to 12): begin with a foundation chain of 92 (91 hdc at neckline), work the same increase schedule adding an additional 6 increase rounds in the green section through Round 43, increase the hood foundation chain to 72 and work 28 rows, and adjust yarn quantities up by approximately 20 percent.

For adult sizing: begin with a foundation chain of 120 (119 hdc at neckline), work increases through approximately Round 55 for a hip-length capelet, use a hood foundation chain of 90 stitches worked for 34 rows, and expect yarn quantities to approximately double.

Gauge matters for this pattern. If your gauge is off, the neckline might be too small to fit over a child’s head or too large to sit properly on the shoulders, so take time to swatch before you begin. For acrylic yarn, machine wash cold on a gentle cycle and tumble dry low or lay flat to dry; for superwash wool, hand wash in cool water with gentle soap and lay flat to dry.