Juniper Moon Farm Cape Knitting Pattern

Demaris Poncho by Melissa Leapman

What is Being Made

The Demaris is a seamless, worked-in-the-round poncho from the Aspen Collection, designed by Melissa Leapman. This garment features a sophisticated construction that begins at the hem and works upward to the neckline, finishing with an adjustable turtleneck. The poncho offers two finished sizes with hem circumferences of 45½ inches (115.5cm) for Small and 56 inches (142cm) for Large, with corresponding lengths to neck of 15.5 inches (39.5cm) and 17 inches (43cm).

Techniques Used

The Demaris poncho employs several advanced knitting techniques to achieve its elegant silhouette and visual interest:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The poncho is knitted from the hem upward, allowing for easy adjustments and a natural progression of shaping.
• Seamless, Worked-in-the-Round: The entire garment is constructed in continuous rounds using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, professional finish.
• Stranded Colorwork: Multiple yarn colors are incorporated using stranded knitting techniques, where unused yarn is carried along the inside of the work.
• Striped Patterning: Color changes create distinct horizontal stripes throughout the body of the poncho, adding visual depth and design interest.
• Strategic Decreasing: Multiple decrease rounds are worked at specific intervals to shape the shoulders and create the poncho's characteristic silhouette, with decreases ranging from ssk (slip, slip, knit) techniques worked at regular intervals.
• Ribbed Neckline: A 2x2 ribbed turtleneck is added after the body is complete, providing structure and comfort at the neck opening.

Stitches Used

The Demaris poncho utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined in strategic ways:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch throughout the body of the poncho, creating a smooth, classic fabric with a gauge of 12 stitches and 16 rounds per 4 inches (10cm) when worked with the smallest needles.
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): Used for left-leaning decreases throughout the shoulder-shaping section, worked in multiple decrease rounds to gradually reduce stitch counts from 119 (147) stitches down to 72 (91) stitches.
• 2x2 Ribbing: Applied to the turtleneck section, alternating knit and purl stitches in groups of two to create an elastic, fitted neckline that measures approximately 4½ inches (11.5cm) in the first phase.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Demaris is knitted with Juniper Moon Farm LA PAMPA yarn, a premium fiber choice that showcases beautiful color variation through three coordinated colorways:

• Color 108 Anise: 2 x 100g skeins (primary color)
• Color 107 Rosewater: 1 x 100g skein
• Color 106 Ivory: 1 x 100g skein

Needles: The pattern requires multiple circular needle sizes to accommodate gauge changes and the graduated turtleneck construction:

• Size US 10½ (6.5mm) circular needle, 16 inches (40cm) long, for the initial body sections
• Size US 10½ (6.5mm) circular needle, 32 inches (80cm) long, for working the larger circumference sections
• Size US 11 (8mm) circular needle, 16 inches (40cm) long, for the middle turtleneck section
• Size US 13 (9mm) circular needle, 16 inches (40cm) long, for the final turtleneck section
• Stitch marker for tracking rounds and pattern repeats

The pattern notes that needle size should be adjusted as needed to obtain the specified gauge of 12 stitches and 16 rounds per 4 inches (10cm) in stockinette stitch with the smallest needles, blocked. The use of progressively larger needles for the turtleneck creates a graceful, graduated transition