Asymmetric Wrap Poncho

Asymmetric Wrap Poncho

 Want a new super fast transition season outer wear fashion statement?
Pick up 600 yards of super chunky yarn, and spend a couple of evenings with huge needles.  Ta da.
This one is worked in one piece, with a few short rows at the left shoulder, before returning to the right again.  One shoulder seam and two tacked spots make it custom fit, and one size fits all (make it a bit wider or longer if you want more coverage!).

NO Purls in this pattern, but the skill of SHORT ROWS is required, or take this opportunity to watch this video and master a new technique!

Yarn:  Lion Brand Woolease Thick and Quick, super chunky yarn About 550 - 600 yards (or any yarn with recommended needles of 9mm - 10mm)
Gauge: 8 sts = 4 inches in garter stitch (realistically , this is one where you can get away with between 7 and 9 sts to 4 inches and still succeed)  further afield from these numbers, change your yarn.
Needles: 10mm (US 15).  Circulars help with weight of this bulky yarn, but straight works well.  NOT knit in the round anyway!

Note:  you are knitting from front right side, to left shoulder, then back to right back edge.  BUT, once finished you can wear the short rows over either shoulder.... Asymmetric!

Right Front edge:   Cast on 30 sts.  Knit EVERY row (garter stitch) for 25 inches (measure without stretching please).
SHORT ROWS:   With right side facing (bottom edge of the wrap poncho) start short rows:
Row 1:  Knit until only 5 stitches remain on left needle,  wrap and turn, knit back on row 2.
Row 3: knit until only 10 sts remain on left needle, wrap and turn, knit back on row 4.
Row 5:  knit 15 sts, wrap and turn, knit back on row 6.
Row 7: knit 10 sts, wrap and turn, knit back on row 8.
Row 9: knit 5, wrap and turn , knit back on row 10.
ROW 11 and 12 :  knit the whole row
Row 13: knit 5, wrap, turn and knit back
Row 15:  knit 10, wrap and turn and knit back
Row 17: knit 15, wrap and turn and knit back
Row 19: knit 20, wrap and turn and knit back
Row 21: knit until only 5 sts remain on left needle, wrap , turn and knit back.

Work again in garter stitch for 20 rows (10 ridges are completed) and you are again facing the right side. (very important that you start your short rows at the same edge as the last set of short rows!!)
Repeat the short rows again....

SHORT ROWS:   With right side facing (bottom edge of the wrap poncho) start short rows:
Row 1:  Knit until only 5 stitches remain on left needle,  wrap and turn, knit back on row 2.
Row 3: knit until only 10 sts remain on left needle, wrap and turn, knit back on row 4.
Row 5:  knit 15 sts, wrap and turn, knit back on row 6.
Row 7: knit 10 sts, wrap and turn, knit back on row 8.
Row 9: knit 5, wrap and turn , knit back on row 10.
ROW 11 and 12 :  knit the whole row
Row 13: knit 5, wrap, turn and knit back
Row 15:  knit 10, wrap and turn and knit back
Row 17: knit 15, wrap and turn and knit back
Row 19: knit 20, wrap and turn and knit back
Row 21: knit until only 5 sts remain on left needle, wrap , turn and knit back.

Now continue in garter stitch for 25 inches, and cast off all loosely.  See photo below for stitching seam and arm tacks.  Sew the shoulder seam 14 inches from the straight edge towards the shorter side of the short rows.  (B to A in the photo).  Tack the front to back with a few overhand stitches at D and C, about 5 inches from right shoulder edge and bottom of short row arm edge.  These can be wider or smaller, depending on your arm width and comfort (tight or loose).  Best to put a safety pin on first and try it on!

 also note, the funky new Fluevog Boots, kind of hiking boot meets crazy fashion.  Oooooh.

HI-LO Poncho

Hi - Lo Poncho

 I made this one twice, a cute chunky poncho with keyhole neckline, and collar and mini sleeves to keep it in place.  The first is an incredibly extravagant beauty, made with Colinette Point Five yarn.  At full price and 6 skeins, it would cost over $150 (US), plus taxes and shipping.  I was fortunate enough to find it and get it to me for just under $100.  Still a treat for sure!  Shown in blue mix above.

I love the pattern, but thought it may be worthwhile trying to duplicate it in a wonderful value yarn, like Lion Brand Hometown. Shown in Pink mix above.  Six skeins of this cost $24 (US) plus taxes.  Quite a difference, and still a lovely poncho!

Your choice, go Hi or go Lo, but go poncho.  It is a fast knit and great for these transitional season days.

Sizes:  Small,[ Medium, Large. ] A loose fit should fit most.

Yarn:  Colinette Point Five,  6 [6, 7]skeins.  *** OR *** Lion Brand Hometown USA, 6 [6, 7] skeins

Gauge:  7 sts = 4”

Needles: 10mm (US 15) circular needles  (24 “ max)

Body of Poncho (work 2 pieces the same)

Cast on 28[31, 34] sts.  Knit four rows  (garter stitch)

Next row (right side),  Knit all stitches.

Wrong side row:  Knit 3, purl to last 3 sts, knit 3.

Repeat last two rows until 29”[ 31”, 33”] worked, then garter stitch next four rows.  Cast off all stitches.

Checking out photos, sew short end of one rectangle to long side of other.  Fold like photos and sew other short side to last long side, creating a poncho with v-neck front and back.

Collar:

Mark with safety pins 2 inches each side of each “V”.  This is the space to be left for “keyhole”.

At one pin, start picking up neck stitches, 28 along one side until next pin, then turn and cast on 2 sts over the keyhole gap, continue to pick up 28 more sts until next pin, and cast on 2 over second gap.  Closing the circle start to knit around the neckline, in K1, P1, ribbing.  Work for two rows, then on third row, cast OFF the last two stitches of the round (over the keyhole that will be the front.)

Now work the rest of the collar, back and forth (NOT in the round) continuing the ribbing for about3 more inches.  Cast off loosely.

Sleeves.

Fold the poncho, and mark center of “shoulder line”.  Measure 8 inches down both sides and place two safety pins.  Working between the 16”, pick up 30 stitches, and work in K1, P1 ribbing for 4 inches.  Cast off loosely.  Sew bottom edges of mini-sleeve.

 Mark the "V" for the keyhole.  It makes the collar more round!

 Hi - lo, anyway you go, the perfect poncho.

Monarch Butterfly Nuno-Felt Coat

Last photo of the butterfly pieces in assembly line....

 And the photo shoot on the front porch.  A lovely sunny day, perfect for the arrival of the first butterfly of spring!  I will be taking this one (size Small - Medium) to Pamela's in Jordan Village.  BUT, you have a chance to own one yourself, as I have also posted it to ETSY, where you can order a custom sized coat!

 I love these nuno felt coats (in all the colours that I make) as you can wear it almost all year 'round, inside in the winter, and outside spring and fall, or chilly summer nights.  Silk is warm and cool and light.

Butterflies

On my mind for quite a while, has been a nuno-felted Butterfly Coat.  I have made quick sketches at work, and while on vacation, but did not start the project until the wall art (in the background of the photo) was completed.  I started with some fine silk chiffon in white and black.  I spent a morning dying the white to orange.  Then I began the many segments needed to produced the effect I had in mind.  here is a quick peek at the work so far....

I am please with the first pieces.  I need 7 individual pieces of nuno-felt, then a few hours to sew it into the floor length coat.  It should be light and airy and kind of float around the body as I walk.

:)

At Eye Level

Here is the finished Felt Art Piece.
It is titled "At Eye Level", and represents the retina of the art lover's eye, with the rods and cones that allow the viewing, and appreciation of art.  Fibre art particularly is a "touchable" artform, but you must not touch.... so the eye takes in the texture, depth and colour.

 Aspen thinks it is a wall of birdhouses!

The retina has 4.5 million cones and 90 million rods!  Eyes are amazing

pods and art

My art project, almost finished, uses felt pods on a field of mohair curlylocks.  The whole concept will be revealed in a future post, but for now you can get a sneak peek.  I think it is coming along nicely and you can see in the first photo a section that is missing pods and locks.  I have only those to make now.

 The project is for a fibre exhibit hosted by the City of St. Catharines this year, and is a result of a call for fibre art entries. I will be presenting the project via photos and email within two weeks, and should know if it will be part of the exhibit by mid March.  Fingers crossed.  I still have to count the number of pods, but it felt (pun intended) like an endless task making these things for the last four months!

it's been a while...

I realized I missed January completely!  I have a good reason.  January welcomed my new grand-baby into our lives.  Here she is wearing the superwash merino cocoon, that I made so many months ago.  (not the best photo of baby, but a nice one of the cocoon!)

Here's a nice one of her gray-blue eyes and a headband that I made.

 I have also hosted two workshops in my felting studio.  They are so fun.  Email me if you would like to be notified of future workshops.

 AND, I began a wonderful relationship with a charming shop in Jordan Village.  Pamela's now carries my nunofelt scarves, shawls and coats.  The rust coloured coat below was featured in the Fashion Show on the Ice Wine Weekend in January.

I have been knitting as well, but not as much and mostly socks and simple shawls.  No new patterns for a bit.  I will be showing a felt Art piece shortly, hoping to place it into a fibre art gallery soon.