Tahki Yarns Walnut Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Walnut Knitted Cape Pattern

Product Overview

The Walnut pattern is a knitted cape or poncho design created by Lidia Karabinech. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a finished garment measuring 50 inches in length and 23 inches in width before assembly. The design is classified as an easy-level project suitable for knitters seeking a straightforward construction method.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a knitted poncho or cape worked in a flat construction method. The garment features decorative drop stitch columns that create visual interest and texture throughout the piece. The finished cape is assembled by seaming, with tassels positioned at the base of the center drop stitch columns and additional tassels at the lower edges for a finished, embellished look.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Seamed construction: The poncho is worked flat in separate sections and then seamed together during finishing
• Flat knitting: All pieces are worked back and forth on straight needles rather than in the round
• Drop stitch technique: A specialty stitch pattern that involves deliberately dropping stitches and then raveling them down to the cast-on edge, creating elongated vertical columns
• Crochet finishing: A size P/Q crochet hook is used to pick up and secure dropped stitches during the drop stitch process
• Blocking: The finished piece is blocked to shape and set the stitches

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the Walnut pattern is stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric surface. The signature design element is the drop stitch pattern, worked over 2 stitches. This specialty stitch creates dramatic vertical texture by dropping stitches off the left needle and raveling them down to the cast-on row. The dropped strands are then picked up using a crochet hook, twisted to form a loop, and worked together as a single knit stitch, effectively decreasing 2 stitches to 1 stitch. This technique produces decorative "braided" columns that are a focal point of the finished garment.

Materials and Specifications

The Walnut pattern calls for 5 hanks of Tahki Yarns Big Montana yarn, a 100% pure wool roving available in color #207 coffee. Each hank contains 3.5 ounces (100 grams) and yields 71 yards (65 meters) of yardage. The yarn weight classification places this as a bulky roving suitable for quick projects on large needles.

The pattern requires size 17 (12.75mm) knitting needles or the size necessary to achieve proper gauge, along with a size P/Q (15mm) crochet hook for executing the drop stitch technique. A yarn needle is needed for seaming and finishing.

Gauge and Sizing

The recommended gauge is 9 stitches and 9 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch. The pattern is offered in one size only, producing a finished cape measuring 50 inches in length and 23 inches in width before the pieces are assembled and seamed together.

Pattern Construction Details

The pattern begins with casting on 35 stitches and working in stockinette stitch until the piece measures 50 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a wrong-side row. The drop stitch pattern is incorporated with specific placement: knit 3 stitches, work the drop stitch pattern over 2 stitches, knit 7 stitches, and repeat this sequence 3 times across, resulting in 31 stitches remaining after the drop stitch decreases. All stitches are then bound off. The dropped stitch columns are raveled back down to the cast-on row and picked up using the crochet hook to create the finished braided effect. The bound-off edge is sewn to the lower side edges, and decorative tassels are added at the base of the center drop stitch columns and at the lower edges for a polished, embellished finish.