Poncho fit for a princess!

I haven’t been able to knit much over the last couple of weeks as I have been away at my daughter’s. Before I went, though, I managed to finish a poncho for my two granddaughters, or ‘Princess Cape’ as the four year-old calls it.

I loved making the poncho. It was custom designed for both girls, and they had their own input. It shouldn’t be too close fitting around the neck, as neither girl likes that; it must have stripes; it shouldn’t use ‘scratchy’ yarn; and it should be quite long. Robyn, the younger girl, wanted it to reach the floor, but I managed to talk her out of that.  Armed with these instructions, and considerations, I did my best. I used an Aran or worsted weight yarn for the main color, and Noro Silk Garden self-striping yarn for the contrast garter stitch stripes, collar, and border. Suitable yarns for the main would be Debbie Bliss BFL Aran; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran; Rowan Wool Worsted: Sublime Aran; Juniper Moon Aran.

I decided to work the poncho from the top down. I enjoy working in this manner, and it’s easy to try the garment on while in progress ( or it would be, if the intended recipients didn’t live 250 miles away. ) I started with the collar, in Noro Silk Garden, and in garter stitch, and then joined the work into the round when the collar was long enough. The body of the poncho was then worked as if I was knitting a raglan sweater, working eight increases on every alternate round. When the ‘sleeve’ section was long enough, I ceased increasing in these sections, and just continued with four increases in the Body sections every alternate round. I then continued in this manner until the poncho was the desired length, minus the border. I decided to work some short rows on the Back and Front borders to give some extra detail, but it could equally well be worked as simple garter stitch. I used a stretchy cast-off, in this case, the Russian Cast-Off, to create a nice edge.

Yarn requirements
Child (10year old) size:
4 x 50g balls Noro Hanabatake
250g Aran weight yarn, so effectively 3 x 100g balls/skeins
Adult size:
5 x 50g Noro Hanabatake
300g Aran yarn
Tension: 18sts and 25 rows to 10cm/4ins. 

Pattern will be available soon.

 

As ever, knit on!
Lesley

Autumn Bonanza!!

Bonanza-BannerWe currently have a fantastic offer online and in the shop – we are calling it the Autumn Bonanza!!  There is a MASSIVE 50%off on the selected lines listed in the banner above.  But you must enter the code BONANZA at the online checkout to receive the discount.  Visit our website here.  And if you happen to visit us at the bricks and mortar shop, just mention the word BONANZA at the till and you will receive the same discount!   We have a few single balls of other yarns in our sale section which are also 50% off.  These are not on our website so come and visit us.  We have a large sale section too so plenty of bargains to be had.  

Anne has recently knitted Wave by Kim Hargreaves using Fyberspates Cumulus.  This yarn is 74% alpaca, 26% silk and is super soft and fluffy.

Wave5

Anne made the medium size and used 6 skeins of the Cumulus.  The cowl is also knitted in the same yarn

Wave7We hope to see you soon………..