Malabrigo Hibiscus Cape Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Hibiscus Chevron Poncho

What Is Being Made

The Hibiscus is a flowing chevron poncho designed by Diane Piwko, featured in Malabrigo's Book 17: Ponchos & Familia - Flowing Garments In Merino Yarns. This is a beginner-friendly poncho that showcases beautiful color work through striped chevron patterning. The finished garment measures 62 inches in width and 29 inches in length, making it a generous, wearable piece that drapes elegantly.

Craft and Techniques

This knitting project uses several key techniques to create its distinctive appearance:

• Top-Down Construction: The poncho is worked from the top down, beginning with a small cast-on and expanding outward through strategic increases.
• Seamless Knitting: The garment is constructed seamlessly, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a continuous, flowing fabric.
• Worked Flat: Despite being seamless in appearance, the piece is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, allowing for easier color changes and stripe management.
• Striped Colorwork: The design features 11 total stripes worked in a repeating color sequence, creating visual interest and depth throughout the garment.
• Chevron Patterning: The core stitch pattern creates distinctive chevron or zigzag lines through strategic yarn overs and decreases, with 52 stitches in each chevron plus 5 edge stitches.
• Edge Diamonds: Decorative diamond motifs are worked along the edges using a contrasting yarn, adding textural detail to the finished piece.

Stitches Used

The Hibiscus employs fundamental knitting stitches combined to create its chevron effect:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch used throughout the body of the poncho, creating a smooth, classic fabric base.
• Yarn Overs (yo): Used to create the openwork and shaping within the chevron pattern.
• Knit Two Together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to shape the chevron points.
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used in the edge diamond sections.
• Knit Front and Back (kfb): An increase stitch used to expand the garment width during construction.
• Purl Stitches: Used selectively in the pattern, particularly in the diamond sections and edge treatments.

Materials and Gauge

The Hibiscus is designed to showcase the qualities of premium merino yarn:

• Yarn: Malabrigo Arroyo, a superwash merino wool available in 3½ oz/100g hanks with approximately 335 yards/306 meters per hank. The color palette includes Prussia Blue (#046), Azules (#856), Camaleon (#684), Azul Profundo (#150), and Marte (#121), with 1 hank each of colors A through D and 2 hanks of color E.
• Needles: Size 5 (3.75mm) circular needle, 40 inches/100cm long.
• Gauge: 21 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches/10cm in stockinette stitch using size 5 (3.75mm) needles. Checking gauge before beginning is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions.
• Additional Notions: Stitch markers and stitch holders are required to manage the pattern repeats and construction.

Skill Level

Rated as a beginner to intermediate project, the Hibiscus is accessible to knitters with basic skills while offering opportunities to develop technique proficiency. The straightforward chevron pattern and color-change sequence make it suitable for those new to striped garment construction, while the seamless, top-down approach provides valuable experience in garment shaping and finishing.