Malabrigo Hydrangea Cape Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Hydrangea Wave Edge Poncho

What is Being Made

The Malabrigo Hydrangea is a flowing poncho design created by Lisa Craig, featured in Malabrigo's Book 17: Ponchos & Familia - Flowing Garments In Merino Yarns. This garment is a sophisticated wave edge poncho constructed using a bottom-up knitting method, worked flat on circular needles and finished with strategic seaming. The completed poncho measures 35 inches along the long edge (after folding) and 14 inches on the short edge, creating an elegant, draped silhouette suitable for layering and versatile styling.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Hydrangea poncho employs several intermediate knitting techniques that create visual interest and textural depth:

• Lace Construction: The pattern features decorative yarn overs (yo) strategically placed throughout the design to create an open, airy lace texture that contributes to the poncho's flowing aesthetic
• Bottom-Up Construction: The poncho is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to easily adjust length and monitor garment proportions as they work
• Worked Flat: Rather than working in the round, this poncho is constructed flat on a circular needle, then folded and seamed to create its final shape and structure
• Seaming: Strategic seaming along the garter stitch edges creates the poncho's distinctive silhouette, with a 10-inch seam placed at specific marked intervals to form the garment's neckline and drape
• Texture Pattern Repeats: The pattern uses repeating rows (rows 1–4) that alternate knit and purl stitches in a structured sequence, creating a consistent textural pattern throughout the piece

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Hydrangea poncho utilizes fundamental and intermediate knitting stitches combined in a sophisticated manner:

• Knit Stitch (k): Forms the foundation of the fabric and appears in garter stitch edges and throughout the pattern rows
• Purl Stitch (p): Creates textural contrast when alternated with knit stitches in the repeating pattern sequences
• Yarn Over (yo): Decorative increases that create the lace openings characteristic of the wave edge design
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used to shape and define the lace pattern
• Knit Two Together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease that balances the yarn overs and creates the wave texture
• Slip, Knit Two Together, Pass Slipped Stitch Over (SK2P): A centered double decrease that creates dramatic shaping within the lace pattern
• Garter Stitch: Created by knitting every row, this stitch forms the stable selvage edges and provides structural definition

Materials: Yarn and Needles

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

• Yarn: Rios by Malabrigo, a superwash merino wool in the colorway #210 Blue Jean. This yarn is supplied in 3½ ounce hanks, each containing approximately 210 yards of yardage. The pattern requires 5 hanks total, providing approximately 1,050 yards of yarn for the completed poncho
• Needles: Size 7 (4.5mm) circular needle measuring 40 inches in length. The circular needle format accommodates the large cast-on of 347 stitches and allows for working the poncho flat while maintaining comfortable needle length
• Notions: Stitch markers are required to track pattern repeats and to mark seaming positions during finishing
• Gauge: 20 stitches and 30 rows equal 4 inches over the texture pattern using the size 7 needle. Achieving proper gauge is essential for accurate finished measurements and proper drape

Skill Level and Construction Overview

The Hydrangea poncho is rated at an intermediate skill level, making it suitable for knitters with foundational experience who are ready to tackle lace techniques and garment shaping. The pattern begins with a cast-on of 347 stit