Golden Honey Bell Poncho in Cascade Yarns Cascade ® Merino Free

Golden Honey Bell Poncho in Cascade Yarns Cascade® Merino

What is Being Made

The Golden Honey Bell Poncho is a knitted women's accessory designed as a bell-shaped poncho with a fitted neckline that flares to a wider hemline. This intermediate-level knitting project features a one-size-fits-most design with a finished circumference of 48 inches at the lower edge and 18 inches unstretched at the neck edge, with a total length of 19.5 inches. The poncho is constructed using a two-color colorwork technique that creates a striking visual pattern.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

This poncho is worked in the round using circular knitting needles, which allows for seamless construction and continuous colorwork patterning. The piece begins at the neck edge with a smaller circumference and increases gradually toward the lower edge, creating the characteristic bell shape. The designer, Ethel Weinberg, employs strategic increases throughout the construction to achieve the proper fit and drape. The garment is worked primarily in stockinette stitch as the foundation, with the colorwork pattern layered on top.

Stitches and Colorwork Pattern

The primary stitch used is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric surface. The distinctive visual element of this poncho comes from the Zigzag Mosaic colorwork technique, which is a special stitch pattern that repeats over 14 stitches and 14 rounds. This mosaic technique combines knit stitches with slip stitches worked in two alternating colors—Olive Oil and Jet—to create a dynamic zigzag pattern without requiring traditional two-handed colorwork or stranding.

The Zigzag Mosaic pattern works by alternating between the two yarn colors on odd-numbered rounds while maintaining the pattern on even-numbered rounds. On even rounds, knitters work all stitches that were knitted in the previous round in the current working color and slip all stitches that were slipped in the previous round, following the color of the yarn on the needle rather than a chart. This method simplifies the colorwork process and reduces the complexity typically associated with two-color knitting.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This pattern uses Cascade Yarns® Cascade 220® Merino, a premium yarn composed of 100% Merino Wool. Each skein contains 3.5 ounces (100 grams) and yields 220 yards (200 meters). The poncho requires a total of 4 skeins: 2 skeins in color #16 (Olive Oil) and 2 skeins in color #12 (Jet). The Merino Wool fiber provides softness, breathability, and natural elasticity, making it ideal for a wearable accessory like a poncho.

Tools and Needles

Construction requires US 8 (5.0 mm) circular knitting needles in two sizes: a 16-inch needle for working the smaller circumference sections at the neckline and a 24-inch needle for working the larger circumference sections toward the hem. Knitters should select needle sizes that allow them to achieve the specified gauge of approximately 18 stitches by 24 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when worked in blocked stockinette stitch. Additional tools include a yarn needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers (14 are required), and a blocking surface for finishing.

Difficulty Level and Skill Requirements

Rated as an intermediate skill level, this poncho is suitable for knitters with foundational experience in circular knitting and basic colorwork techniques. The mosaic method used here is more accessible than traditional stranded colorwork because it eliminates the need to manage multiple colors simultaneously on each round. However, knitters should be comfortable with circular needle techniques, increasing stitches, reading pattern instructions, and managing multiple stitch markers to track the pattern repeats around the circumference.