Skip to main content

I'm A Poncho Person Now

I admit it: I used to think ponchos were stupid, and couldn't envision a single scenario in which I would spend time knitting one, much less wearing it. And I probably would have never changed that opinion if it hadn't been for a request to knit one as a sample for Knit Picks. Believe me when I tell you that the entire time I was working on it, I still had an unfavorable opinion about ponchos. But I said yes because I wanted to make a little extra money to help with the move, and it ended up being the last sample I knit before we left Chicago. 

Although this pattern is officially named  the Aspen Mantle, we all know it's really a poncho! 

So when I tried it on to snap a few FO photos before shipping it off to the catalog, something surprising happened: I enjoyed wearing it! It was an epiphany to just toss it on and have it immediately look good - all of the styling issues I have with shawls (which I love to knit) weren't even a thing. Ever so ironically, that poncho ended up being one of the hardest samples to send back.

Once the dust settled from the move, I found that I kept thinking about that poncho. Although I enjoyed knitting it the first time, the yarn I wanted to use wasn't the right weight to sub in (not to mention, I wasn't sure that I wanted to knit it all over again!).

I searched Ravelry hoping to find a similarly constructed poncho that I could make with 4 skeins of 100% yak sport weight yarn I've been hoarding from Bijou Basin Ranch. Honestly, there weren't many viable options, especially considering that I wanted to make something pretty simple that didn't require a lot of brain power. Ultimately I chose the complete opposite of that: an ultra-patterned design (Ravelry link: Marigold Poncho by Sandi Rosner) that combined various textured stitch panels with cables. It was slow going at first, but after a few repeats I started to get the hang of it. Would you believe me if I claimed that it (eventually) became easy and somewhat brainless?!

I wasn't sure if I would have enough yarn to make the collar, but decided to risk a little yarn chicken to see if I could eke it out without making any modifications. That bet paid off, and as you can see, I am pretty excited about my new poncho (my husband excels at capturing all the goofy faces I apparently need to make before we get a decent "normal" photo).


 The yak yarn is so soft and warm, and all of the stitches look a-MA-zing. I really wish this yarn was still made, because I would love to knit more things out of it. 

Click here to view more photos of this project in my Ravelry notebook!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my  taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b
Post a Comment
Read more

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends,  so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with  this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks).  The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a
1 comment
Read more

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels?  I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n
3 comments
Read more