Poncho With Pizzazz

Easy Fashion Knitting Project

By Sylvia Braden

The poncho is a simple, classic design with endless possibilities. These instructions are for a specific type of poncho based on the traditional Mexican woman’s upper garment called a quesquimitl.

It consists of two rectangles, both the same size: for a 16” fashion doll, the dimensions of each rectangle should be approximately 3” x 6-1/2”. My “poncho with pizzazz” is handknit in garter stitch using five colors of yarn in various textures, for a handwoven look. But it could be knit with finer yarns and smaller needles for a softer, drapier look, or crocheted, or sewn from a woven fabric such as silk, with a ruffle or beaded fringe (if using a non-stretchy fabric, make the neck opening larger by cutting the rectangles a little narrower, say 2-3/4” instead of 3”). While the two rectangles must be the same size, they can be made in contrasting colors and stitches. I made my two rectangles different by varying slightly the colors and the stripe sequence, as you’ll see below:

Materials

Small amounts of yarn in five colors (less than 1 ball total). I used yarns of roughly worsted weight (and thinner yarns held together as one) with U.S. #7 needles. The specific colors and yarns I used were:

Lavender—Mission Falls 1824 Cotton
Light Avocado—GGH Merino Soft
Hot Pink—Schachemayr Nomatta Catania cotton
Purple Heather—Plymouth Encore Worsted
Blue/purple/black “railroad” novelty yarn—Plymouth Eros

You don’t need to use these exact yarns (I happened to have them all on hand). Use yarns you already have, or treat yourself to one or two new balls in gorgeous colors and textures, or to make the project even easier, just use one ball of a beautiful variegated yarn.

Rectangle #1:

Cast on 30 stitches in purple.  Work even in garter stitch (knit every row, no purling):

*Work 3 rows in purple, 3 rows in lavender, 3 rows in “railroad” and light avocado held together*  Repeat from * to *. Work 3 rows in purple, 3 rows in lavender. Cast off.

Rectangle #2:

Cast on 30 stitches in lavender. Work even in garter stitch:

Work 2 rows lavender, 2 rows pink, 2 rows purple, 2 rows lavender, 4 rows pink and “railroad” held together, 2 rows purple, 2 rows lavender, 2 rows light avocado and “railroad” held together, 2 purple, 2 lavender. Cast off.

Join rectangles: Weave in loose yarn ends (from color changes) on wrong side. Sew side A to side B. Fold on dotted lines. Sew side C to side D.

Add Fringe: Cut about forty-five 6” long pieces of purple and railroad yarns (90 pieces total). The easy way to do this is to wrap yarn around a 6” long piece of cardboard or other similar object (I used my husband’s checkbook!) Hold wrapped yarn together and cut at both ends.

Hold 1 strand of purple and 1 strand of railroad together, then fold them in half. Hold folded strands in front of poncho at lower edge. Insert crochet hook from back through to front at edge. Grab fringe and pull through fabric to back.. Using hook, draw loose ends of fringe through folded end, making a loose knot. Pull knot tight, and so that it lies right against fabric edge.

Repeat at every other stitch (stitch 1, stitch 3, stitch 5 etc.etc.) continuing around all four bottom edges.

Drawstring (optional): With tapestry or other large-eyed needle, weave single strand of yarn around neck edge of poncho. Leave two tails of loose yarn; untwist the bottom ½” or so of each strand and shape into fringe, separating and flattening with your fingers.

References:

Weaver’s Wearables by Virginia West, 1979
Glorious Knits by Kaffe Fassett, 1985
“American Girl Doll Poncho,” by Janice Helge,  
http://knitting.miningco.com/library/bldollponcho.htm

© 2003 Sylvia Braden.

Questions? Comments? Photos to share? Write me at sylviafbra@hotmail.com.