Moonlight Wolf Knit Poncho with Fur Collar

Knit Poncho with Fur Collar

I made this lovely poncho for a Christmas gift for a family member and liked it so much that I had to make one for myself also. It is so warm and lovely.

I have included instructions for three sizes but really it’s a one size fits all. The three sizes affect the length of the poncho but you can wear any of the sizes whether you are slim or matronly in size.

 

Here’s the short version: Gage doesn’t really matter but it’s about 2 st per inch if you want to check and adjust if you are way different. Use size 13 needles. Circular needles work best since there’s a lot of fabric resulting. There is a garter edge while the main body is done in linen stitch. Constant increases every other row work to offset the yarn bars that are created when slipping the stitch with the yarn in front. For the rows worked without increases (across the shoulders) knit an extra stitch if necessary to maintain bar placement.

Cast on 3 stitches and knit the front and back of 1^st and 3^rd stitch then knit back then knit first stitch, increase with KFB in second stich and second to last stitch on right side rows and knit wrong side rows until you have 7 stitches. We are creating the garter stitch border. Start slipping first stitch of every row now and do an increase by doing KFB in center stitch of this row to give us even number of stitches.

Continue slipping first stitch, increase in second stitch, knit to last two stitches, increase in second to last stitch, knit last stitch on right side and knit across on wrong side until you have 12 stitches. Now slip 1^st stitch, increase in second stitch, knit 2 stitches, *slip a stich with the yarn in front, k1* twice, knit 2 st, increase, knit last stitch and purl back on wrong side. Next round will be slip 1^st stitch, increase in second stitch, knit 2 stitches, *slip a stich with the yarn in front, k1* three times, knit 2 st, increase, knit last stitch and purl back on wrong side. Continue doing this until you have 80 stitches for small, 90 stitches for medium, and 100 stitches for large. Work 6 rows without increasing, paying attention to bars from slipped stitches to maintain offset and knitting an extra stitch if necessary to maintain pattern. You can insert a stitch marker on either side of center stitch at this point.

Now we’re going to bind off 26 stitches in center for neck hole. Working in pattern, slip 1, k4, *slip 1 with yarn in front, k1* until you reach the 13^th stitch from center. Bind off 26 stitches, continue working in pattern to end of row. Purl back, cast on 26 stitches, purl rest of the way back. Work 6 rows without increasing then start working decrease in place of increase. Slip 1^st stitch, k2tog, knit 3, *slwyf, k1* to last 6 stitches, knit 3, ssk (slip 1^st then 2^nd stitch and knit them together through back loops). Continue until you have 12 stitches then continue in garter stitch, binding off last three stitches.

For neck, pickup up 60 stitches (26 on each side and 2 at each end) with main yarn, join and knit one round, decreasing out extra picked up stitches by K2tog at 24^th stitch and 26^th stitch and 56^th and 38^th stitch. Now add fur yarn and knit with both yarns for eight rows (will use up almost whole skein of fur yarn) and bind off loosely.

Very straightforward and I think even an experienced beginner will find this easy enough to do. If knitting in the round is intimidating you could knit back and forth for neck and seam it up the back. Or crochet the neck if you know how to crochet. The fur can be a bit tough to crochet because the stitches are buried in the fur.

Moonlight Wolf Knit Poncho with Fur Collar

Suitable for experienced beginner.

Detailed pattern:

Size 13

Yarn used:

”Moonlight” Chunky Wool Ease 5-6 skeins (5oz, 87 yds each and

Red Heart Boutique Fur 1 skein (3.5 oz/11 yds) 1 skein

Gauge: 2.5 st/inch

CO3

R1: KFB, K1, KFB

R2: K5

R3: K1, KFB, K1, KFB, K1

R4: K7

R5: K1, KFB, K1, KFB, K1, KFB, K1

R6: sl1, K9

R7: Sl1, KFB, K6, KFB, K1

R8: sl1, K11

R9: sl1, KFB, K2, (sl1wyf, K1) x2, K2, KFB, K1

R10: sl1, K4, P4, K5

R11: sl1, KFB, K2, (sl1wyf, K1)x3, K2, KFB, K1

R12: sl1, K4, P6, K5

R13: sl1, KFB, K2, (sl1wyf, K1) x4, K2, KFB, K1

R14: sl1, K4, P8, K5

Continue repeating rows 13 and 14, working (sl1wyf, K1) linen stitch repeats between garter borders on right side and purling stitches between garter borders on wrong side until you have 80 (90, 100) stitches on needle. Finish with purled side.

(80 stitches is for small, 90 for medium, and 100 for large)

Work 6 more rows without increasing, repeating these 3x

RS: sl1, K4, (sl1wyf, K1) to last five, K5.

And adjusting as needed to offset sl1wyf from row above by knitting a stitch before beginning linen stitch.

WS: K5, Purl across to last five st, K5.

RS: sl1, K4, repeat (sl1wyf, K1) to 13^th stitch from center. (Depending on size you might end on slipped stitch or knit stitch here). Bind off 26 stitches.  Knit 1 if needed to maintain offset or resume with linen stitch (sl1wyf, K1) to last five stitches, K5.

WS: sl1, K4, Purl across. Cast on 26 stitches. Use knit cast on. Purl to last 5 stitches, K5.

Work 6 more rows, repeating these 3x

RS: sl1, K4, (sl1wyf, K1) to last five, K5.

And adjusting if needed to offset sl1wyf from row above by knitting a stitch first.

WS: sl1, K4, Purl across to last five sts, K5.

Now we’re going to work a decrease wherever there was an increase on the first half.

RS: sl1, K2tog, K3, (sl1wyf, K1) x as needed, to last six sts, K3, SSK, K1

Ws: sl1, K4, Purl across to last 5 sts, K5

Continue working a 5 stitch garter border with decreases at second stitch, linen stitch across, and decrease on second to last stitch on right side.  Then 5 stitch garter border, purl across, and 5 stitch garter border on wrong side until you are down to 12 stitches.

RS: sl1, K2tog, Knit to second to last, SSK, K1

WS: sl1, knit across

Continue until 3 sts remain, bind off.

For fur cowl around neckline; pick up 60 stitches (26 on each side and 2 at each end) with main yarn, join and knit one round, decreasing out extra picked up stitches by K2tog at 24^th stitch and K2tog at 26^th stitch as well as at 56^th and 58^th stitch. Now add fur yarn and knit with both yarns for eight rows (will use up almost whole skein of fur yarn) being careful not to drop one of the yarns while working both together. Bind off loosely.

K= knit

P= purl

KFB= knit in front and back of same stitch

SSK= slip a stitch knitwise twice, put the two sts back on left needle and knit through back

K2tog= knit two stitches together

sl= slip stitch purlwise

slwyf= slip stitch purlwise with yarn held to the front

linen stitch= alternate slwyf and K1 stitches.

garter= knit on both right and wrong sides