Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Stuyvesant Town Poncho Knitting

Stuyvesant Town Poncho by Irina Poludnenko

What is Being Made

The Stuyvesant Town Poncho is a lightweight, wearable cape designed as a versatile layering piece. This poncho features a simple construction with front and back panels worked separately, then joined at the shoulders. The design is offered in three sizes: Small/Medium, Large/XL, and 2X/3X, with finished measurements of 27½ (30¼, 32¾) inches wide and 23 inches long from the shoulder. The poncho includes side edgings and a neckband for a polished finish.

Techniques Used

The Stuyvesant Town Poncho is worked flat, meaning the pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round. This straightforward construction method makes the pattern accessible to knitters of various skill levels. The poncho begins with casting on stitches for the back and front panels, which are worked identically until the neck shaping is introduced. After the main panels are complete, the pieces are blocked to measurements and sewn together at the shoulders. The side edgings are picked up and knit along the cast-on edges, and a neckband is added to finish the garment. This pick-up-and-knit technique creates a professional edge detail while maintaining the flat-worked construction throughout most of the project.

Stitches Used

The pattern features two primary stitch patterns that create texture and visual interest:

• Garter Rib in Rows – Used for the main body of the poncho. This stitch pattern works on a multiple of 3 stitches and alternates between knit rows and purl rows with a specific purl-knit-knit sequence. The combination creates a ribbed texture with garter stitch characteristics, providing both elasticity and structure to the garment.
• Garter Rib in Rounds – An alternative version of the Garter Rib pattern designed for circular knitting, though the primary construction uses the flat-worked version. This pattern also works on a multiple of 3 stitches and alternates knit-purl-purl rounds with all-knit rounds.
• K2, P2 Rib – Applied to the side edgings and neckband for a classic ribbed finish. This stitch pattern works on a multiple of 4 stitches and creates a balanced, elastic edge that frames the poncho and ensures a comfortable fit around the neck and sides.

The gauge for this project is 14 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches in Garter Rib, worked with the specified needle size. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished poncho matches the intended measurements.

Materials

The Stuyvesant Town Poncho is designed to be knitted with Stacy Charles Fine Yarns PATTI, a 100% cotton yarn available in color #04 amber. The yardage requirements are 9 (10, 10) balls, with each ball containing 1.75 ounces and 98 yards of yarn. Cotton yarn is an excellent choice for this poncho, offering breathability and a crisp drape that makes the finished garment ideal for warm-weather layering.

The pattern calls for one size 10½ (6.5mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches long or longer, or a needle size that achieves the correct gauge. Circular needles are used for the flat-worked construction and accommodate the number of stitches required for the various sizes. Additional materials include a stitch marker for tracking pattern repeats and a yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends during finishing.