Just like last year, I was frantically trying to finish Stella’s Christmas present! I finished with 3 days to spare!!! She had requested a poncho for her birthday, but time was not on my side – so the request was pushed to Christmas. I searched and searched for a pattern, but I never did find one that felt “right” for Stella – so I came up with my own pattern (yikes! and would it come out right?!). Wasn’t sure how to end it, but I think the 1 view worked out nicely and she can always tell what side is the front!
Young Woman’s Knitted Poncho
Items Needed
Size 11 double pointed and circular (size 24 or 32″)
2 skeins chunky – solid color
3 skeins chunky – accent scheme (I used a yarn that went from small to fuller texture)
Darning needle
3 markers
1. With 2 strands of the solid color, on double pointed needles CO (cast on) 62 stitches. Divide stitches evenly on 4 needles and join in a round being careful not to twist. Place marker at beginning of round.
Round 1: knit
Round 2: Purl
Round 3: Switch to 1 strand solid and one strand accent. K15, place marker, K31, place marker, K16
Round 4: Knit to first marker, M1 (make 1), slip marker, K1, M1, knit to next marker, M1, slip marker, K1, M1, knit to end of round
Round 5: Knit
Rounds 6 -9: Repeat rounds 4 & 5, twice
Round 10: *K1, YO (yarn over)*, repeat to end of round
Round 11: *K1, drop all YO*, repeat to end of round
Round 12: Knit to first marker, M1 (make 1), slip marker, K1, M1, knit to next marker, M1, slip marker, K1, M1, knit to end of round
Round 13: Knit
Round 14: Knit to first marker, M1 (make 1), slip marker, K1, M1, knit to next marker, M1, slip marker, K1, M1, knit to end of round
Round 15: Knit
Repeat Round 10 – 15 until piece measures approximately 14 inches from neck to bottom. I made a pattern with the yarn – using 1 strand solid and 1 strand accent, for several rows, then switching to 2 strand solid – and did that pattern twice.
When piece measures 14″, BO (bind off) all stitches EXCEPT 20 stitches before and 20 stitches after 1 increase marker.
Row 1: start with 2 strand of solid yarn. K1, K2tog (knit 2 together), K10, K2tog, K5, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, K10, K2tog, K1
Row 2 and all even rows, P2tog, Purl to last 2 stitches, P2tog
Row 3: K1, K2tog (knit 2 together), K9, K2tog, K4, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, K9, K2tog, K1.
Row 5: K1, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K3, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K2, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K1.
Row 7: K1, K2tog, K7, K2tog, K2, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K1, K2tog, K7, K2tog, K1.
Row 9: K1, K2tog, K5, K2tog, K2, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K1, K2tog, K5, K2tog, K1.
Row 11: K1, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K2, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K1, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K1.
Row 13: K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1.
Row 15: K1, K2tog (twice),K1, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K1, K2tog (twice), K1.
Row 17: K1, K2tog, K1, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K2tog, K1.
Row 19: K2tog, K1, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K2tog.
Row 21: K2tog (twice).
Row 22: P2tog
Cut your yarn and pull through last stitch, weave in ends. Weave in all ends and block.
I had thought that I would do fringe all around the edge of the poncho, but lucky me – I was at my aunt’s and she offered to do a crochet border!! It came out wonderfully.
I finished a few days before Christmas and on Christmas morning Stella opened her gift and loved it!! It has been worn often since.
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Stella looks lovely ,,, a very nice handmade gift Pamela . 🙂
Pamela, you should consider taking additional pictures of the finished project and set up a shop over at Craftsy for your ‘indie patterns’. Your designs are quite nice, Craftsy is free; you’d certainly have nothing to loose !
Thanks for the suggestion – I will look into it!
Wow. The poncho looks great on Stella!! : ) You came up with a good pattern.
That is darling!
The poncho was even prettier than the pictures show. The color really suits Stella!