January 23, 2019

First I did a swatch and I need a 4.5 mm to get gauge. Quite a bit smaller than Bonnie is using.

I did rows 1-18 on the Celtic Diamond Wrap pattern (with a stitch count of 110), then rows 12-17 of the Inishmann (the Celtic Weave).

Next is to do rows 3-8 again, the low front ridge/cable/low front ridge, then I’ll be at the end of the video for the first panel.

Note: After that is Shadow Box which is a multiple of 10 stitches for the repeat, so I’d have to start in the middle of the first repeat:

sk next 2 sts, tr in next 2 sts, working in front of last 2 sts, tr in 2 sk sts, etc.

Or I could do the Large Honeycomb from the Inishmann pattern.

Fabric is really stiff with this small hook. I should have focused less on gauge and more on drape. Hopefully I can soften it up with steam blocking or maybe I’ll frog it and start again.

January 26, 2019

I’ve now also finished the second panel up to the third cable section, which was the part Bonnie stopped on in her first video for the CAL (though I’ve replaced the diamond pattern with the Celtic Weave on both of them).

I used a 5.5mm hook and this one is softer as well as 2” longer. I guess I will go up to just a 5mm hook to finish the first panel but I will try to consciously loosen up my tension (and block it aggressively when I’m done). Because it’s a poncho I’m pretty sure it won’t really matter if they’re slightly different in size.

It’s only Saturday and I don’t have to wait until next Wednesday for the second part to come out in order to proceed, but I will anyway. (Otherwise it’s wouldn’t really be an “Along” and I’ve got the Yule Tree Throw that I “should” be working on.)

February 4, 2019

I finished the first panel and draped it over my shoulder to get a feel for the size and I think I won’t need any border at all on the bottom. I may do a few rows of fpdc/bpdc rib like in yet another Bonnie Barker pattern I have -- the Branaugh Barley Poncho from her Cable Crochet Made Easy book. I also like the look of the neck edge in that pattern.

February 8, 2019

All sewn up! The poncho ended up being quite long and the neck wasn’t very big, so I didn’t add any neckline or border ribbing at all. I did add a round of slip stitches just to neaten up the edges.

I’ve never made a poncho before, so when I got to the origami part, I was convinced my modifications would make it not work, but then I followed the instructions / excellent photos in the pattern and it all made sense. I used a crochet slip stitch join because I hate sewing and it looks fine (as opposed to doing a mattress stitch with a yarn needle).

My conclusion after trying this on is that I’m probably not a poncho person. I think it will be my “porch poncho” since I love to work on the farmer’s porch and deck on my home as soon as it gets even slightly warm enough, and this will be like wearing a blanket. I had thought it would be a dog walking poncho but in the woods where I walk the branches and twigs would make it covered with pulls the first time I wore it. That said, I do still plan to make Bonnie’s Branaugh Barley Poncho at some point but I want to make it with wool (and a appropriately large hook). Since I’m on a yarn diet, that will have to wait.