Materials
Darlene’s original ponchos were knit with US Size 8 needles and 20 oz/560gm of US 4 ply yarn at a gauge of 16sts and rows per 10cm/4″
Gauge and Size
Note: I have made this at a gauge of 16sts and rows per 10cm/4″ and given it to teenagers and to grown (heavy) women, it just looks different on different sizes. If you are making it for a real tall person, add a few more rows before you start the shaping. This also works for a heavy person ~ Darlene
This pattern can be knit with any size yarn and suitable needles. The thinner the yarn, the smaller the resulting poncho.
The following list shows the gauge and resulting size for various thicknesses of yarn. Since row gauges vary from knitter to knitter and yarn to yarn, the length measurements are approximate.
At a gauge of 14sts to 10cm/4″
63cm around neck opening
274cm around bottom edge
39.5cm deep before adding edge treatment
At a gauge of 16sts to 10cm/4″
55cm around neck opening
243cm around bottom edge
35cm deep before adding edge treatment
At a gauge of 18sts to 10cm/4″
48cm around neck opening
213cm around bottom edge
31cm deep before adding edge treatment
At a gauge of 20sts to 10cm/4″
44cm around neck opening
192cm around bottom edge
28cm deep before adding edge treatment
At a gauge of 22sts to 10cm/4″
40cm around neck opening
174.5cm around bottom edge
27cm deep before adding edge treatment
At a gauge of 26sts to 10cm/4″
34cm around neck opening
147.5cm around bottom edge
21.5cm deep before adding edge treatment
At a gauge of 32sts to 10cm/4″
27.5cm around neck opening
120cm around bottom edge
17.5cm deep before adding edge treatment
Pattern
Knit Flat
Cast on 98 stitches
1st row: K1, slip 1, k1, psso, knit to last 3 stitches, k2 tog, k1
2nd row: p across
Continue these two pattern rows until there are 24 stitches on needles, bind off. This creates a panel. The bind off row is at the top of the poncho.
Make 4 panels.
Finishing
With the bound off edge at the top, sew the four pieces together down the sides.
Block.
Add a fringe, sew on decorative ribbon, or leave it as it is for a “rolled edge” look.
Alternatively you can crochet edgings, both top and bottom with contrasting yarn. Make pom poms on a string of single crochet and make loops on top to string it on to the poncho. You can also make all panels in a different color, joined with black.
Knit in the Round
Cast on 388sts and join for knitting in the round. Place markers on the the 97th, 194th, 291st and 388th stitches.
1st round: K2tog, *knit to within 2 stitches of the first marked stitch, ssk, knit the marked stitch**, k2tog; repeat from * to the end of the round, ending the last repeat at **
2nd round: Knit
Repeat these two rounds until 92 stitches remain. Bind off.
Finishing
Block.
Add a fringe, sew on decorative ribbon, or leave it as it is for a “rolled edge” look.
Alternatively you can crochet edgings, both top and bottom with contrasting yarn. Make pom poms on a string of single crochet and make loops on top to string it on to the poncho. You can also make all panels in a different color, joined with black.
This is an original pattern by Darlene and has been added to by other knitters.