Jo Sharp Asymmetrical Poncho Cape Knitting Pattern

Jo Sharp Asymmetrical Poncho

What Is Being Made

The Jo Sharp Asymmetrical Poncho is a one-size-fits-all garment constructed from a single knitted rectangle that is folded and seamed to create a square poncho shape. The finished piece measures 60cm x 60cm with a 25cm neck opening, offering a versatile layering piece suitable for various body types. The asymmetrical design is achieved through the folding and seaming technique rather than shaping during the knit itself, making it an elegant and practical garment.

Techniques Used

This poncho is worked flat on straight needles and features seamed construction. The garment begins as a simple rectangle measuring 60cm wide by 120cm in length. After knitting is complete, the poncho is folded in half with right sides together and sewn along the selvage edge using an edge-to-edge stitch. The seaming begins at the open edge and works toward the fold, with approximately 25cm left unseamed to create the neck opening. This straightforward construction method makes the poncho accessible to intermediate-level knitters.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is Wave Stitch, which creates a textured, flowing fabric through strategic yarn manipulation. Wave Stitch is formed over an 8-row repeat and involves wrapping yarn around the needle on specific stitches to create elongated loops that are subsequently dropped on knit rows, producing the characteristic wave effect.

• Knit Stitch (K): The foundational stitch used throughout the pattern
• Yarn Forward and Round Needle (yfrn): Yarn is brought forward and wrapped completely around the needle once, finishing at the front. This creates a single elongated loop.
• Yarn Forward and Round Needle Twice (yfrn2): Yarn is brought forward and wrapped around the needle twice in succession, finishing at the front. This creates a double elongated loop.
• Edge-to-Edge Stitch: The seaming technique used to join the folded edges together during the making-up process

The Wave Stitch pattern repeat consists of 8 rows. Rows 1, 2, 5, and 6 are worked as plain knit. Rows 3 and 7 incorporate the yarn wrapping abbreviations in specific sequences to build the wave texture, while rows 4 and 8 involve dropping the wrapped yarns off the needle to complete the effect. Correct tension is emphasized as most important for success with this technique, and knitters are advised to experiment on a test piece before committing to the full project.

Materials

The poncho is knitted using Jo Sharp Alpaca Silk Georgette yarn in the colorway 751 Pebble. The project requires 7 x 50g balls of yarn, providing approximately 350 grams of fiber for the complete garment. The yarn is worked on 3.75mm needles (USA size 5, UK size 9), which are straight needles suitable for working flat. The specified tension is 20 stitches and 32 rows measured over a 10cm square of Wave Stitch using the 3.75mm needles and Jo Sharp Alpaca Silk Georgette yarn. The Alpaca Silk Georgette blend provides a luxurious drape and subtle sheen appropriate for a sophisticated poncho design.

Pattern Overview

The knitting rating for this project is Intermediate, reflecting the need to master the Wave Stitch technique and maintain consistent tension throughout the 120cm length. The pattern is presented in downloadable PDF format and comes from Jo Sharp Knit Issue 9. The one-piece construction and straightforward seaming process offset the textural complexity of the stitch pattern, making this an achievable project for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to expand their technical repertoire.