If you like the idea of a garment that functions like a shawl or stole you wrap over one shoulder, but without the fuss of constantly having to adjust it or secure it with a brooch, this pattern is for you. The flattering asymmetrical design features lace knitting and eyelet stitch work. Each row is spelled out for you for ease and accuracy in working the pattern. Gauge is 6 sts = 1” in light sport weight or fingering yarn on a size 6 needle.

Perhaps you’re thinking that it looks more like a shawl than a poncho. This was my intent. I wanted something a little different, dressy yet with the ability to work as easily with a T-shirt and a pair of jeans as it does with a dress. I think I’ve achieved my goal with The Take-It-To-The-Next-Level Lace Poncho.

You will need to be familiar with the long-tail cast-on, knitting, purling, working yarn overs and decreases, picking up stitches, short-rowing, and knitting wrapped stitches at the turning of the short rows (wraps are worked together with the stitch they wrap on wrong-side rows through the back loop). Follow the stitch-by-stitch, row-by-row instructions, and you should have no problem.

Some notes about the yarn overs in several rows of the pattern: a double yarn over forms two stitches. Each time you do a double yarn over, you will knit the first part, and purl the second part through the back loop on the following row. This is another “landmark” for you in keeping your place, in that if you come to a P1B (P a stitch through the back loop) and you’re not on that second loop of the yarn over from the previous row, you’ll know that something is amiss, and you should backtrack. Also, you will notice several P2tog’s written in boldface italics. When working these, you need to first manually remove the YO from the LHN and realign it (so it faces the other way) when placing it back onto the LHN before working the P2tog with the next stitch. Failure to do this will result in that particular hole getting “lost” visually.

This poncho, with its roomy scoop neck, is written in one size, and is designed to fit most. I hope you enjoy making it and wearing it as much as I did designing it! Here is what you will need:

Materials: approximately 875 yds light sport-weight or fingering yarn
Needles: size 6 straight for long lace panel (LP); size 8 24” circular for upper section (US);
size 3 24” circular for neckband (N)
2 stitch markers (M)