Viva Poncho: Twenty Ponchos and Capelets to Knit

By Christina Stork, Leslie Barbazette and David Verba

Twenty knit poncho designs that “could fit right into the pages of Vogue, Nylon and Lucky,” complete with “fashionista photos” and “clear instructions” (Publishers Weekly).

Whether worn as a beach cover-up or donned as an elegant evening wrap, ponchos are everywhere. Now, with Viva Poncho, knitters can make the newest sartorial sensation their own. This fun, fresh book offers 20 poncho designs for every season and in every style--serapes, raglans, wraparounds, semicircles, rectangles, pullovers, capelets, and even a dog poncho. Patterns suitable for both beginners and experienced knitters are included, all accompanied by clear, easy-to-follow explanations. Simple to make and give as gifts (since sizing is easy), practical and stylish to wear, and suitable for all sorts of creative adaptations, ponchos are an ideal project for every knitter. In fact, the authors encourage customization, showing how to add a hood or a collar, or devise personalized color schemes. Like the fashionable garments themselves, Viva Poncho will be the perfect impulse buy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Sep 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781453268148

Book preview

VIVA PONCHO

Twenty Ponchos & Capelets to Knit

Ponchos are versatile garments. They can be worn as a cover-up for a day on the beach, or slipped over the shoulders as an elegant wrap for a night on the town. They make a cozy alternative to ward off the chill of an over-air conditioned office, and make a sweet gift for someone who has everything.

Enter Viva Poncho. This fun, fresh book contains twenty poncho and capelet designs to fit every season and every style. From wraparounds to serapes, raglans to rectangles, knitters can make this sartorial sensation their own. Patterns suitable for both beginners and experienced knitters are included, all featuring clear, easy-to-follow explanations of specific techniques. Most importantly, the book is designed to give you all the tools needed to create your own unique poncho or capelet.

Simple to make and give as gifts (since sizing is easy), practical and stylish to wear, and suitable for all sorts of creative adaptations, ponchos are an ideal project for any knitter.

VIVA PONCHO

twenty ponchos & capelets to knit

christina stork • leslie barbazette

STC CRAFT | A MELANIE FALICK BOOK | NEW YORK

Copyright © 2005 Christina Stork and Leslie Barbazette Photographs copyright © 2005 David Verba

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

Published in 2005

STC Craft: A Melanie Falick Book

115 West 18th Street New York, NY 10011

www.abramsbooks.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data (Print)

Stork, Christina. Viva poncho : twenty ponchos and capelets to knit / Christina Stork & Leslie Barbazette.

p. cm. Includes index.

1. Knitting–Patterns. 2. Cloaks. 3. Shawls. I. Barbazette, Leslie. II. Title.

TT825.S754 2005

746.43’2043–dc22          200459136

ISBN: 1-58479-421-6 (Print) ISBN: 978-1-4532-6814-8 (ePub)

Designed by Leslie Barbazette

Stewart, Tabori & Chang is a subsidiary of

contents

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INTRODUCTION

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

Make Your Own Perfect Poncho

Pattern Breakdown by Skill

Standard Yarn Weights

Terms & Abbreviations

ONE-PIECE PONCHOS

Serapes, Raglans, and Wrap-arounds

TWO-PIECE PONCHOS

Semicircles and Rectangles

CAPELETS

Pullovers and Cardigans

EXTRAS

Puppy Poncho

Sizing

Accessorizing Your Poncho

Resources

Recommended Reading

Index

for jason & sacha

credits & thanks

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WE’D LIKE TO THANK OUR

Photographer

David Verba

Editors

Marisa Bulzone, Melanie Falick, Dee Neer, and the folks at Stewart, Tabori & Chang

Knitters

Lisa Morter, Matthew Sumner, Sonya Philip, Rachael Herron, Marilyn Stemerick, Jennifer Hughes, Keiran Best, Tessa O’Donnell, Amy Hsu, and Michael Baum

Models

Christina Lozano, Lisa Solomon, Rachel Konte, Assata Konte, Jonathan Hunt, Hiya Swanhuyser, Keiran Best, Amy Hsu, Brigid Hewitt, and Duchess

Symbolcraft Creatrix

Dee Neer

Thanks to the customers and staff of Article Pract for being such a source of inspiration.

Thanks to our families and friends for making us the strong and sassy ladies we are today.

introduction

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I MADE THIS

Sick of scarves? Have you knit one too many hats? Eager to try your hand at a garment, but want something a bit more accessible than a sweater? You’re not alone.

We think ponchos and capelets are a perfect next step for a newer knitter and a welcome break for old hands. Ponchos are also great teaching tools: they take the knitter step-by-step through techniques that can seem daunting if attempted all at once.

One of the things we love most about ponchos is their flexibility. There are many basic shapes and within each shape are myriad possibilities. You can easily take a basic shape, add your favorite design elements, and make it your own. On the following pages you’ll find basic shapes, to which we’ve added some details to create 20 different ponchos and capelets. You’ll see all the tools we used to create our versions–you can either play with ours or create your own.

history

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Variations on capes and capelets have been worn for centuries. Consider, for example, the paenula, a hooded, circular cloak made of wool or leather that was worn by the ancient Romans. Or the huque, a short, flowing tunic with open sides that clothed medieval Europe. The poncho has its roots in the serape, a heavy, woven horse blanket worn like a shawl or sewn together in traditional Mexican and Navajo cultures. But it wasn’t until the mid-1960s that the poncho became a fashion icon.

It was during that time that American politics and cultural attitudes manifested themselves in fashion by rebuffing some of the more formal and coiffed ideals of the past. Ponchos, caftans, Nehru jackets, and other garments from foreign traditions were embraced by the hippie culture as statements of global consciousness.

As the 1970s approached, the craft movement took hold of fashion, first by way of tie-dye and batik, and then by means of all forms of handmade clothing.

As punk and New Wave moved in, ponchos

Reviews for Viva Poncho

[marianne · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I thought this book had patterns. Very disappointing.

[gmillar_8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Subtitled: "Twenty Ponchos and Capelets to Knit". I'm making one of them for my grandaughter, Ivy. She wants it to be a bit "Little Red Riding Hood"-ish. The pattern is easy to follow and the finished piece will hang nicely on her shoulders.