Red "Shopping Spree" Poncho Pattern

Shopping Spree Poncho So named because hubby and I ran around the yarn section of AC Moore grabbing every red yarn we liked until we found a combination that seemed perfect.(Adapted from Melanie Scoles’ “That Seventies Poncho” in Debbie Stoller’s Stitch ‘n Bitch Nation. Lace edging pattern from “Tricia’s Shawl” in Sally Melville’s The Knitting Experience Book 2:The Purl Stitch) The poncho begins at the neck, with increases on either side of the cable panels every other row. The turtleneck is picked up and added on afterward. One Size Finished Measurements: 27” long at center neck (including turtleneck and edging), 96” around bottom Gauge: Because of the varied yarns, gauge will change from section to section, but I averaged about 14 sts/4”. If you do use different yarns than I did, the best way to avoid gauge problems is not to do too many consecutive rounds of any yarns that are much thicker or much thinner than the rest. To substitute yarns, make sure you have about 1200 yards total. Materials: A - TLC Amore (80% Acrylic, 20% Nylon; 290 yds per 170g skein), color: Red Velvet, 1 skein B - TLC Lustre (100% Acrylic; 253 yds per 143g skein), color: Claret, 1 skein C - Bernat Ping Pong (73% Acrylic, 27% Nylon; 58 yds per 50g skein), Color: Radiant Red, 2 skeins D - Katia Grenada (64% Polyamide, 36% Polyester; 140 yds per 50g ball), Color: 11 – Dark Red, 1 ball (Note: This seems to be a discontinued yarn. It is a narrow (1mm) ribbon yarn and any narrow ribbon should work as a substitute) E - Moda Dea Prima (60% Nylon, 40% Polyester; 77 yds per 50g skein), color: Burgundy, 1 skein F - Caron Jewel Box (64% Acrylic, 20% Rayon, 16% Polyester; 100 yds per 71 g skein), color: Ruby, 1 skein G - Lion Brand Color Waves (73 % Acrylic, 27% Polyester; 125 yds per 85 g skein), color: Sunset Red, 1 skein H - Bernat Solo (72% Acrylic, 28% Polyester; 86 yds per 80g skein), color: Tomato, 1 skein US Size 10 circular needle (interchangeable, or in 16”, 24”, and 36” lengths) Cable needle 5 stitch markers, 1 of which is different to mark the beginning of the round. I pretty much changed yarns whenever the mood struck me, but here is the color sequence as I worked it: Body (top-down): 10 rows B, 2 rows H, 18 rows A, 2 rows E, 8 rows D, 2 rows G, 6 rows B, 6 rows C, 10 rows A, 6 rows F, 4 rows H, 3 rows G, 3 rows D, 4 rows C, 6 rows E Turtleneck (bottom-up): 4 rows F, 4 rows C, 4 rows A, 4 rows G pm = place marker sm = slip marker Poncho body: Using color B and shortest needle, cast on 136 sts. Join, placing marker to indicate beginning of round. Round 1: K48, pm, K10, pm, K58, pm, K10, pm, k10 (This puts the beginning of the round away from the front and back cable panels so that the color changes are not in the panels) Round 2: *K to marker, yo, sm, p2, k6, p2, sm, yo*, repeat from * to *, k to end of round. Round 3, 5, and 7: *K to marker, sm, p2, k6, p2, sm *, repeat from * to *, k to end of round. Round 4: *K to marker, yo, p2, sl3 to cable needle, hold in front, k3, k3 from cable needle, p2, yo*, repeat from * to *, k to end of round. Round 6: repeat row 2 Rounds 8-90: Repeat rows 2 through 7, changing colors as indicated above, 14 more times. Switch to longer needles as needed. Begin lace edging. Lace Edging (worked flat in color B): Set up row: With RS facing, cast on 6 stitches onto left needle. Row 1 (RS): K5 , sl 1 (from poncho), psso (joins lace to poncho). Row 2 (WS): K2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2 (7 sts) Row 3: K6, sl1, k1 (from poncho), psso. Row 4: K3, yo, k2tog, yo, k2. (8 sts) Row 5: K7, sl1, k1 (from poncho), psso. Row 6: K4, yo, k2tog, yo, k2 (9 sts) Row 7: K8, sl1, k1 (from poncho), psso. Row 8: K5, yo, k2tog, yo, k2 (10 sts) Row 9: K9, sl1, k1 (from poncho), psso. Row 10: K6, yo, k2tog, yo, k2 (11 sts) Row 11: K10, sl1, k1 (from poncho), psso. Row 12: K7, yo, k2tog, yo, k2 (12 sts) Row 13: (RS) Bind off 6 at beginning of row (1 stitch left on right-hand needle), K4 (5 sts on right-hand needle), sl1, k1 (from poncho), psso. Rows 2-13 repeat around bottom of poncho. It will look wonky where they meet back up, but fudge it as best you can. No one will notice. Turtleneck: Pick up 108sts around cast-on edge. Work 16 rows of K2, P2 ribbing, following color sequence. Bind off loosely in pattern. Weave in all ends. ETA: Pattern now in sidebar in a printer-friendly .pdf format!