Cubist Poncho

Free Poncho Knitting Pattern

The poncho is worked top down, in the round, in stockinette st and has no seams. I used self-striping yarn, which creates the Cubist-like visual effect. You can work it in solid or self-striping yarn, or in a combination of several solid-colored yarns.

Skills Required/Techniques Used:
-Knit & purl, cast on & bind off
-Increasing: make 1 (m1)
-Working in the round on circular needles

Sizes: S (M, L, XL, 2X, 3X)

For chest measurements: 36 [40, 44, 48, 52, 56] inches (90 [100, 110, 120, 130, 140] cm)

Materials: Garnstudio Drops Verdi bulky weight yarn (48% Acrylic, 20% Wool, 17% Polyester, 15% Mohair) 1340 yards (1225 m) / 350 grams, color Black-Grey – 1 (1, 1, 1, 1.2, 1.5) ball

Needles: circular US # 8 (5.0 mm) OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Gauge: 14 sts x 20 rows = 4" x 4" (10 x 10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Notions:
yarn needle, 4 stitch markers

Abbreviations:
k - knit
p - purl
m1 - make 1 increase - make a backward loop over the right-hand needle and in the next row/round purl/knit as a regular stitch.
sm - slip marker
pm - place marker
rm - remove marker

Pattern Notes:

1x1 Rib in rounds:
Even number of stitches
All rounds: k1, p1

Stockinette in rounds: all rounds knit

Garter stitch in rounds
Round 1: knit
Round 2: purl
Repeat 2 rounds


Short Overview of the Pattern:

The poncho is worked top-down, seamlessly, in rounds. It starts with the turtleneck collar, which is worked in 1x1 rib. The body of the poncho is worked in stokinette st, the increases are made at 4 points marked with stitch markers, after several rounds the increases are made at 2 points. The hem of the poncho is worked in garter stitch.

Poncho

Loosely cast on 64 (64, 64, 68, 68, 68) sts, close into round, place a marker to mark the beginning of the round, this is the first marker, slip marker while working.

Work 1x1 rib until measures 9” (23 cm).

The next round: knit. While working this round, place markers: slip the first marker (the beg. of the round and left shoulder marker), k 16 (16, 16, 17, 17, 17) sts and place the second marker (the center of the back marker), k 16 (16, 16, 17, 17, 17) sts and place the third marker (the right shoulder marker), k 16 (16, 16, 17, 17, 17) sts and place the fourth marker (the center of the front marker), k 16 (16, 16, 17, 17, 17).

(The rounds for the body of the poncho are counted from 1)

Round 1 and all odd numbered rounds (1st increase round): sm, k1, m1, *knit all sts till one st remains before the next marker, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1 - repeat from * 2 more times, knit all sts till 1 st remains in the round , m1, k1. The number of sts in each odd numbered round will increase by 8. 72 (72, 72, 76, 76, 76) sts

Round 2 and all even numbered rounds: knit all sts, slip markers while working.

Repeat rounds 1-2 14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24) more times.

Number of stitches after last increase round: 180 (196, 216, 236, 252, 268).

Remove the third marker (the right shoulder marker). Now you have only 3 markers remaining: the beginning of the rounds (1st marker), the center of the back (2nd marker), the center of the front (4th marker).

Round 31 (35, 39, 43, 47, 51) (2nd increase round): sm, *knit all sts till one st remains before the next marker, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, -repeat from * once more, knit till the end of the round.

The number of stitches in the 2nd increase round will increase by 4.

Round 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52): knit all sts, sm while working.

Repeat the last 2 rounds until the poncho measures at the center back line of increases 29 (30, 31, 32, 33, 34) inches [74 (76, 78, 81, 83, 85) cm] or to desired length.

Work 8 rounds in garter stitch: Odd rounds purl around, even rounds knit around.

Bind off.


Finishing:

Weave in yarn ends. Block if needed.

Have fun!