Knitting by the Pool Ponchette by Carla Hanson of Purple Lamb

Knitting by the Pool Ponchette

Knitting
June 2023
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
12 stitches and 16 rows = 2 inches
in stockinette
US 5 - 3.75 mm
400 - 650 yards (366 - 594 m)
One Size Fits Most
English
This pattern is available for $7.00 USD buy it now

I love to sit by the pool and knit while my family enjoys the water. I named this ponchette with that in mind, but there’s also a double meaning because I created this pattern to work beautifully with an assigned pooling colorway.

There’s also a non-assigned-pooling option as well, and they are both lovely. I include complete pattern instructions for both options.

This is a small ponchette that’s fun and easy to make and versatile enough to wear all year long. I love shawls too, but as a mom, small ponchos like this are my go-to cozy accessory because they stay put so nicely. They are great for air-conditioned offices in summer, cool evenings in fall and spring, and as an extra layer of warmth in winter.

Except for the 16 rows of lace edge, this is a very interruptible pattern—great for knitting while chatting or watching a movie.

Skill Level
Advanced Beginner

Needles and Notions
o US Size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in 24 inch length
o Also US Size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in approximately 40 inch length
o 2 different stitch markers
o A ruler

Yarn
There will be slightly different requirements depending on whether you opt for the assigned-pooling version (Option A) or the non-assigned-pooling version (Option B).

Option A – Assigned-Pooling Version
For the assigned pooling version, you’ll need two different colorways in a smooth sock-weight yarn base.

Colorway 1 should be a semi-solid or variegated colorway. You’ll need 350 yards of this skein, and it should match the assigned pooling colorway. It can either be a semi-solid colorway that is a good match for the assigned pooling portion of Colorway 2 or a splashed and speckled variegated colorway that shares some of the colorways in Colorway 2. I would not recommend using a second assigned pooling colorway or a block variegated colorway.

Colorway 2 should be an assigned pooling colorway, which means that about ¼ of the skein is dyed differently than the rest. You’ll also need 300 yards of this colorway.

Option B – Non-Assigned-Pooling Version
For the non-assigned pooling version, you’ll need 400 yards of a sock-weight yarn base. I would recommend using a variegated colorway for this one. You could also opt to use a contrasting semi-solid colorway for the lace edge if you like. If you do, you’ll need to allow 150 yards for the contrasting colorway.