Knit a Cozy Poncho with a Pretty Lace Panel

I’m not really a fan of what we would traditionally call a poncho, that big triangular fabric with a hole at the tops that’s straight out of the 1970s. They never seen to fit well or look flattering and it feels like a lot of work for a project I’d probably never wear. I made one for my daughter when she was a toddler and it was super cute on her, but I added more shaping than is traditionally done on a poncho, too.

The good news is there are more refined versions of garments we might still call a poncho but that don’t really look like their ’70s sisters.

Like Ashmont. This free pattern from Berroco is a rectangular poncho (maybe slightly more accurately called a ruana, but they call it a poncho so let’s go with it) with a pretty lace panel running down the front and back. And instead of that big hole at the top commonly found on a poncho, this one has a turtleneck, which helps it to stay on the body.

The project calls for Berroco Mercado, a bulky Peruvian wool, but any bulky yarn with good stitch definition would do.

Designed by Åsa Buchta, this pattern comes in four sizes, ranging in width (across the front) from 28 to 40 inches (that’s about 71 to 101.6 cm) so you can choose the amount of ease you would like in the garment.

The armhole edges are worked in ribbing and left open, though you could sew them together, leaving an armhole opening, if you’d like this more as a vest or sweater style than a poncho. The pretty lace pattern is both written and charted in the pattern, but it’s pretty easy to knit either way. And if you’ve never knit lace in a bulky yarn before, that difference in scale is a lot of fun.

Learn more about the pattern and grab a free copy if you want to make it from Berroco.

[Photo: Berroco]

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The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical.

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique.

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead.

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit.

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern.

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like.

[Photo: Maymade Knits]

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