Pattern of the Week: Cadencia Poncho

As a small child I had little fashion guidance, and I was inexplicably drawn to ponchos. My mother let me wear both rain ponchos and “fancy” ponchos, neither of which was flattering (the photo evidence is long since destroyed). And unsurprisingly, as an adult I formed a special disdain for them—a disdain that washed away the day we received the Cadencia Poncho by Emily Wood for Interweave Knits Summer 2018.

The color, cables, dropped stitches, and fringe made me weak and started me on a tentative path to wearing ponchos again. My favorite part of this project is how wearable it is! The cables make it cold-weather appropriate, and the dropped stitches provide a breeze in warm weather. It looks great in any season and provides a lot of knitting intrigue.

You work this poncho back and forth from side to side in one piece, making it an easy pattern for some relaxing summer knitting by the pool or on the beach. I love the yarn, DK-weight Sugar Bush Yarns Crisp, because it comes in 32 colors and is made from 100% extrafine merino wool. It also has great stitch definition and knits a very soft, flowing fabric.

What are your thoughts on ponchos? I’m a convert, but I’d love to know: has this summer issue changed your mind on these controversial but very trendy accessories?

Pattern Details

DESIGNER Emily Wood

DIFFICULTY Easy

FINISHED SIZE 39¼ (43¼)” wide and 17¾ (21)” tall, excluding fringe. Poncho shown measures 39¼” on model with 32″ bust.

YARN Sugar Bush Yarns Crisp (100% extra fine superwash merino wool; 95 yd 
[87 m]/1¾ oz [50 g]): #2026 maple, 19 (24) balls.

NEEDLES Size 5 (3.75 mm): 40″ circular (cir) and set of double-pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

NOTIONS Cable needle (cn); size F/5 (3.75 mm) crochet hook; waste yarn for provisional CO; tapestry needle.

GAUGE 43 sts and 31 rows = 7 ” wide and 4″ tall in patt after sts are dropped.

Get this poncho on your needles. Summer is calling.