1930s Three Piece Knitting Pattern – Cape, Skirt & Blouse

A rather smart three-piece knitted suit from the 1930s, comprising a short, loose-fitting cape, a straight skirt and a fitted blouse with an attractive textured stitch pattern. Worn together, the three pieces make a lovely coordinated outfit, but each would work equally well with other pieces in your wardrobe.

The cape and skirt were originally knitted in Fleisher’s Bretton Tweed, while the blouse used French Zephyr wool. I’ve been unable to find reliable information about Bretton Tweed, but judging by the needle sizes, it may have been approximately a 4–5 ply yarn, with French Zephyr possibly closer to a 3–4 ply.

These are only estimates, so please use the original tension as your guide and experiment with different yarns to find a suitable match.

The cape is knitted on 3.75mm (US No. 4) needles, and the skirt on a 3.75mm (US No. 4) circular needle. The blouse uses 3.5mm (US No. 3) needles. Some crochet work is also required for finishing.

Tension: 6 stitches to 1 inch, with 10 rows specified for the cape and skirt.

Size: Vintage US size 16, to fit a 34-inch bust.

Choose How You Receive Your Pattern!
You can either: Order the printed version and have it mailed right to your door, perfect
for adding to your knitting collection. or opt for the PDF download if you’d like to get
started right away! The choice is yours, happy knitting!