Making A Poncho

Pattern:  2660 Poncho (from Plymouth Yarns)

Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, in Como Blue

Needles: size 8

Ponchos are back in style! Remember those crocheted fringed ponchos from decades ago? Well, the design has been upgraded and they looked more polished than those old ones. (But I guess we thought those were very stylish at the time.) I am going to enjoy this one.

This knitting project has been with me everywhere lately. I started it at the knitting retreat weeks ago. I picked this pattern, thinking it was one that I could knit while talking. We call that "social knitting." (Let me say that this is the most unexciting name for a knitting pattern ever. It isn't available to download, but it can be ordered from Jimmy Beans Wool.)

Right after the retreat, I carried it with me when I visited the grandchildren. The only knitting there happened early in the morning before the littles woke up. Miss Bunny was better company while I knitted than Baby Girl and Little Sister. Miss Bunny was very quiet.

Then I took it to the lake where I used the finished part of the poncho as a lap robe while I worked. It was chilly while we were there. But I love knitting out on the pier even though it was cool and windy.

By now I'm back at home, where more early morning knitting happened. I am a major fan of sunrises and have photographed the dawn sky hundreds of times. I never get tired of this view.

And the weather warmed up and I moved my knitting out on the porch. This is my favorite place to knit. Except for knitting at the lake. And knitting on Thursdays with my knitting group.

And yesterday the knitting was finished. But the poncho wasn't done quite yet. There were ends to be woven in. A shoulder seam to be sewn. And the big finish is the washing and working with the damp "fabric" to get it all into shape. (That's called blocking.) 

 I measured and pinned it all out and waiting for it to dry. Fingers crossed it would hold the shape. This is the point where I always think, "This surely was a lot of work if it doesn't end up like it should." I am a worrier.

While the poncho was pinned out and drying, it was time to head to the yard. We pulled weeds, planted the herb garden, planted some new perennials. Daddy-O planted vegetables. Waiting on the knitting to dry is easier than waiting on the plants to grow.

And after several weeks of having this yarn as my constant companion, it's done. My poncho is ready to wear. And it's nearly 90 degrees now. So much for my timing! Hoping we will have a few cooler days before the real summer sets in.

“It's impossible to be unhappy while wearing a poncho!”
― Noel Fielding