Tahki Yarns Welty Poncho Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Welty Honeycomb Poncho

What Is Being Made

The Welty Honeycomb Poncho is a knitted cape-style garment designed by Lisa Hoffman. This poncho is constructed from two rectangular pieces that are seamed together and features an open neckline with button closures. The poncho is available in three sizes: Small/Medium, Large/XL, and 2X/3X, with finished widths at the widest point ranging from 76 inches to 110 inches and lengths from 36 inches to 52 inches.

Techniques Used

The Welty Honeycomb Poncho employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its final structure:

• Bottom-up construction: The poncho is knitted from the bottom edge upward, beginning with cast-on stitches and progressing toward the neckline opening.
• Worked flat: Although a circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches, the pieces are worked back and forth in rows rather than in continuous rounds, creating flat rectangular panels.
• Seamed construction: Two identical rectangular pieces are knitted separately and then seamed together to form the complete poncho.
• Worked in the round: The initial setup rounds are worked circularly before the piece is divided for the opening at the neckline.
• Decreasing techniques: Strategic decreases using K2tog (knit 2 together) and P2tog (purl 2 together) stitches shape the garment and create the honeycomb texture pattern.
• Buttonhole construction: Yarn-over buttonholes are incorporated into the ribbed opening edge to accommodate the button closures.

Stitches Used

The Welty Honeycomb Poncho utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined to create visual texture and structure:

• K1, p1 Rib: A basic alternating knit and purl stitch that creates vertical ribbed texture, used throughout the neckline opening and portions of the pattern.
• K2, p2 Rib: A wider ribbed pattern alternating two knit stitches with two purl stitches, providing additional texture and elasticity in the main body of the poncho.
• K2tog (Knit 2 together): A right-leaning decrease stitch that reduces stitch count and contributes to the honeycomb texture pattern.
• P2tog (Purl 2 together): A decrease worked on the purl side, used to shape the garment symmetrically.
• Yarn-over (yo): Creates decorative eyelets for the buttonhole openings in the neckline edge.

Materials

The Welty Honeycomb Poncho is crafted using quality materials specified for durability and drape:

• Yarn: Tahki Yarns TARA TWEED, a durable blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon. The nylon content adds strength and wear resistance to the wool base. Yardage requirements are 16 balls for Small/Medium (1,952 yards total), 24 balls for Large/XL (2,928 yards total), and 35 balls for 2X/3X (4,270 yards total). Each ball contains 1.75 ounces and 122 yards, with the color specified as #09 moss tweed.
• Needles: Two circular needles are required—a size 10½ (6.5mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches long for the main knitting, and a size 9 (5.5mm) circular needle of the same length for ribbed sections. Circular needles are used to accommodate the large stitch counts, even though the work is performed flat in rows.
• Notions: Two buttons measuring 1 inch in diameter for the neckline closures, stitch markers to track pattern repeats, and a yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends.

Gauge and Construction Details

Achieving proper gauge is essential for this project. The pattern specifies 12 stitches and 26 rows equal 4 inches in the pattern stitch using the larger needle and two strands of yarn held together. Two strands of Tahki Yarns TARA TWEED are held together throughout the entire project to create the proper fabric density and drape. The pattern