Pattern: Stitch World III # 257

YARN: Approximately 7 ozs
Bramwell Artistic or a
dress yarn that can be steamed.

MACHINE: Brother 970 standard
Gauge

Carriage tension: 8 (a little
looser than I would normally
knit Artistic)

This poncho is actually 2 rectangles measuring 15" x 27".
If you are using a yarn that can't
Be steamed to size, make your
Rectangles 15" X 30" and ignore the notes below about easing the 2 pieces together.

SWATCH: Knit a swatch that is at least 100 stitches by 100 rows using the tuck lace pattern above (or one of your choice). Take it off the machine and steam it until it lays flat and the lace stitches are open but not so hard that there's no stretch left to the piece. Figure out how many stitches and rows it will take to make rectangles 15" x 27" after blocking. (Again, if your yarn can't be steamed that much, steam it as much as you can, if you can and go with the final results for your swatch but figure 15" x 30").

HINTS:
1. When the piece reaches the floor, I weave a stainless steel bar that resembles a size 8 double-pointed metal knitting needle through my piece and hang the claw weights evenly across it.
2. When the end needle doesn't come forward, pull it forward, the end needle MUST BE FORWARD when knitting tuck lace.

With Waste Yarn, cast on stitches to get your final measurement of 15" and knit 6 to 8 rows ending on the left. Knit 1 row ravel cord to the right. With garment yarn e-wrap cast on over the ravel cord. Hang cast on comb and 4 claw weights evenly spaced across the cast on comb. Knit 2 rows plain stockinette. Now transfer the needles for tuck lace. Following the diagram above, start from center right, needle # 1. Transfer needle # 3, 7, 11, & every 4th stitch to the needle next to it, pushing the empty needle out of work. Now start from needle Left -1 (we'll call the left side needles "-") transfer stitch # -2, -6, -10 & every 4th stitch to the left pushing the empty needles out of work. Turn the KC button to KC II so that the end needles won't select and knit to the left. Push in the 2 tuck buttons and continue knitting, go slowly so you can watch that the end needles come forward.

Knit to the RC you need to get 27 inches (or 30 if you are making yours 30") ending carriage on right. Latch tool bind off around 2 gate pegs so that the bind off edge isn't tight.

FINISHING: (see diagram below)

Lay your piece on the blocking board and block to fit. You want your rectangles to lay flat and measure 15 X 27. Block them to those measurements. (or steam your 15 X 30 inch piece as much as the yarn will allow)

Now join as in the diagram. Fold the first piece in half and mark the center edge point. Hang it on the machine from center point to edge (check your diagram). Hang the second piece over it, right sides facing and ease it to fit as in the diagram (you are making room for your head by easing this edge). Latch tool the pieces together and steam the seam so that it will lay flat. Now find the center of Piece B and join the 2 sides I have marked with an "X". Again, ease to fit. Latch tool bind off.

EDGING:
With wrong side facing hang 3 stitches on one of the edges of the neck. Lower tension on the carriage to 6 and knit 6 rows, hang 3 more stitches over the first 3 and knit 6 rows. Continue This Worm Stitch all the way around the neck.

Change tension to 7 and knit the Worm Fringe around the bottom of the poncho:
Pull out needles L20-21-22 and R20-21-22. With the wrong side of garment facing you,
hang 3 stitches on the Left 3 needles. E-wrap the 3 Right needles with 1 strand of 2/24 and thread carriage. Knit 6 rows. Use a claw weight on the 3 stitches on the right to hold them down. Hang 3 more stitches on the same Left needles and knit 6 more rows. Continue until you get to the last 3 stitches. Knit 4 rows. Transfer L20 and L22 to L21. Knit one row. Bind off. Using a pair of sharp scissors, carefully trim off the edge made by needles on the right. The fringe you have left is now all the same length.
.
Give your poncho 1 more steam and put it on, you're ready to go out for the evening in your elegant new poncho.

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Copyright © Roz Porter 2004

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