Noro Poncho Cape Knitting Pattern

Noro Poncho - Designer Mini Knits

What is Being Made

This is a knitted poncho design from the Mini Knits 4 collection by Jenny Watson. The finished poncho measures 41 x 66 centimetres (16 x 26 inches) and features a sophisticated construction made from two identical sections that are seamed together at the sides. The poncho is designed to drape elegantly with points positioned at the front and back.

Techniques Used

The Noro Poncho employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques to create visual interest and structure:

• Lace Work: The pattern incorporates yarn forward decreases that create an open, decorative lace effect throughout the fabric. These lace elements use yarn forward stitches combined with slip stitch and decrease sequences to form eyelet patterns.
• Cable Work: Cable stitches add textural dimension to the design. The pattern uses C6B (cable 6 back) instructions, where stitches are slipped onto a cable needle and held while other stitches are worked, then the held stitches are worked to create a twisted cable effect.
• Worked Flat: Both sections are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for easier pattern manipulation and the creation of distinct sections that are later seamed together.
• Seamed Construction: The two sections are joined using seaming techniques, with cast-off edges sewn to marker thread positions at the side edges, creating a structured garment with defined seams.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental and decorative knitting stitches to build the fabric:

• Knit (K): The primary stitch forming the base of the fabric.
• Purl (P): Used on alternate rows to create texture and definition, particularly in the edge stitches and pattern rows.
• Yarn Forward (yfwd): Creates decorative eyelet holes and is essential to the lace pattern repeats.
• Slip Stitch (s1): Used in combination with decreases to create neat lace decreases.
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used throughout the lace pattern.
• Pass Slipped Stitch Over (psso): A left-leaning decrease that works with the slip stitch to create balanced lace elements.
• Cable Stitches (C6B): Creates the textured cable elements that appear in the pattern repeats.

Materials and Tools

The Noro Poncho requires specific materials to achieve the intended finished fabric and drape:

• Yarn: Five 100-gram balls of Noro Obi in Shade 1. Noro yarns are known for their distinctive color blending and varied texture.
• Needles: One pair of 6mm (US size 10) knitting needles for the main fabric.
• Cable Needle: Required for working the C6B cable stitches throughout the pattern.

Pattern Details

The pattern is worked in two identical sections, each measuring 41 centimetres (16 inches) in width. The first section is knitted until it reaches 66 centimetres (26 inches) in length, with marker threads placed at each end to indicate seaming positions. The second section is worked identically. The pattern repeat consists of 8 rows that establish the combination of lace and cable elements, with the pattern maintained throughout the entire length of each section. The cast-off edges are then joined to the marker thread positions using seaming techniques to complete the poncho construction.

Tension

The pattern is designed to achieve a tension of 11 stitches over 6 centimetres (2½ inches) and 22 rows over 10 centimetres (4 inches) when worked on 6mm (US10) needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential for the poncho to reach the specified finished measurements and for the lace and cable patterns to display properly.