Hollyhock Poncho Cape Knitting Pattern

Hollyhock Poncho in McIntosh ffluff

What is Being Made

The Hollyhock Poncho is a downloadable knitting pattern designed to create a versatile, wearable cape-style garment. This intermediate-level poncho is sized to fit UK dress sizes 8–26, with finished widths ranging from 31.5 inches to 42.5 inches and full lengths from 23.5 inches to 29.5 inches. The poncho features a structured neckline opening and is constructed in separate back and front sections before finishing with neck trim and side edge trims.

Techniques Used

The Hollyhock Poncho employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its finished design. The pattern uses circular needles for the main body construction, allowing for seamless knitting across larger stitch counts. Blocking out is essential to achieve the stated finished dimensions, requiring a blocking mat, pins, and a steam iron. The poncho incorporates lace pattern work with charted instructions, demanding attention to stitch placement and yarn-over sequences. Shaping for the neckline is worked into the back section, requiring decreases to create the proper opening. Seaming and finishing are completed using a tapestry needle, and the pattern includes instructions for attaching an McIntosh sew-on label using needle and thread, adding a professional branded finish.

Stitches Used

The pattern features two distinct lace stitch patterns worked from charts. The Hem Lace Pattern creates a decorative edge detail, while the Horse Shoe Lace Pattern forms the primary textured design element throughout the main body. These lace patterns are built using fundamental stitches including knit (K), yarn over (Yo) for creating lace eyelets, and decreases such as sk2po (slip 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over) to balance the yarn-overs and maintain stitch count. The pattern also employs standard techniques including casting on, casting off, and working in the round.

Materials

• Yarn: 2 skeins of McIntosh ffluff (50g per skein, 452 meters/459 yards per skein) in any colorway. The poncho shown in photography was knit in the Cola colorway.
• Needles: One set of 3.75mm circular needles measuring 80cm in length for the main body, and one pair of 4mm single-pointed needles measuring 35cm for finishing sections
• Notions and Accessories: Tapestry needle, row counter, scissors, 2 stitch holders, stitch markers, blocking mat, pins, steam iron, McIntosh sew-on label, and sewing needle with thread for label attachment

Pattern Structure

The Hollyhock Poncho is organized into clear construction phases. The pattern begins with a cast-on edge and hem worked in the Hem Lace Pattern. The main body is then divided into back and front sections, with the back section incorporating shaping to create the neckline opening. After the main body is complete, the neck opening is finished with a dedicated neck trim, and side edge trims are added to complete the garment. The pattern provides four size options with corresponding stitch counts and finished measurements, with figures in square brackets indicating variations for larger sizes.