Berroco Pend Oreille Cape Knitting Pattern

Berroco Pend Oreille Knit Poncho

What is Being Made

The Berroco Pend Oreille is a knitted poncho designed by Amy Palmer, suitable for intermediate-level knitters. This garment is a versatile layering piece worked as a single continuous piece from the neck downward. The finished poncho offers four size options with lower edge measurements ranging from 78 inches to 88½ inches around, a neck circumference between 22½ and 25½ inches, and a finished length of 31 inches. The poncho is shown in the colorway #3717 Wild Bill Hickock.

Techniques Used

The Pend Oreille employs two primary knitting techniques that define its construction and shaping:

• Top-Down Construction: The poncho is worked from the neck opening downward toward the lower edge, allowing knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and easily adjust the final length if desired.
• Worked in the Round: The entire garment is knitted circularly using circular needles, creating seamless construction. This technique eliminates the need for seaming and produces a smooth, continuous fabric without interruption.

The pattern incorporates strategic increases that occur every round during the shaping phase, allowing the poncho to expand gradually from the fitted neckline to the generous lower edge. Knitters transition between three different circular needle lengths (16 inches, 29 inches, and 36 inches) as the stitch count increases, accommodating the growing number of stitches comfortably on the needle.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns Used

The Pend Oreille combines fundamental knitting stitches with a charted stitch pattern:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary fabric base, created by knitting on right-side rounds and purling on wrong-side rows, producing a smooth, classic knit fabric.
• Charted Pattern: A 32-stitch repeat pattern worked from a chart is incorporated into the design. This charted section is worked over 32 stitches and repeated strategically throughout the garment to create visual interest and texture variation.
• Increase Stitches: Right Leaning Increase (RLI) and Left Leaning Increase (LLI) are used to shape the poncho symmetrically. These paired increases are placed on either side of marked sections, creating balanced expansion as the garment grows from neck to hem.
• Stitch Markers: Eight stitch markers are used throughout the pattern, including one in a different color to denote the beginning of each round, helping knitters track their position and maintain pattern repeats.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Pend Oreille is designed to be knitted with Berroco Suede, a yarn produced by Berroco, Inc. Each ball weighs 50 grams, and the pattern requires 14 to 15 balls depending on the size selected. Berroco Suede offers a soft, luxurious texture suitable for a wearable poncho.

Needles: The pattern calls for circular needles in size 9 (5.50 mm) in three different lengths: 16 inches, 29 inches, and 36 inches. The shorter needle is used for the initial cast-on at the neck, and longer needles are introduced as stitch counts increase during the shaping rounds. Knitters should verify their gauge before beginning to ensure proper fit and finished measurements.

Gauge: The pattern is worked at a gauge of 17 stitches and 24 rounds over 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch and the charted pattern. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished measurements and proper drape of the poncho.