Poncho IV: "Two Rectangle"

This page describes the overall construction of "poncho IV". Visit the poncho IV generator to create your pattern.

I'm asking for $3 donations from people who actually use the generator and make themselves a poncho. Thanks for your generosity!

Poncho Construction (Theory)

To better understand the knitting directions, please examine the schematic to the right, which shows the poncho after the first two pieces are knit and the second rectangle has been attached to the first. (This discussion will ignore application of the Idiot cord.)

I illustrated the first rectangle with grey stripes in the schematics; the second rectangle, which is shown with purple stripes. If you change yarn ever few rows, you could make a striped poncho, and the stripes would run as illustrated. (My poncho is not striped.)

First, examine the grey striped rectangle. The instructions have you cast on along the lower right hand side of the "Big Square". You then knit the big square and hang markers. You then continue knitting toward the neck, eventually reaching the optional dart, which is indicated by a dark triangle. You will knit the dart, and then continue to the end of the piece, taking the knitting off on waste yarn. (Hand knitters can just bind off.)

At this point, you will have finished the first rectangle. You then make a second identical rectangle.

theory

Once you have both rectangles complete, you will seam one rectangle to the other, seaming one of the edges on waste yarn to the edge of the "Big Square". The poncho will form a 90 degree angle and look sort of like the schematic above. Then, fold the poncho at the two shoulder lines, and attach the other end, matching "A1" to "A2" and "B1"to "B2". After you seam, the poncho will look like the one pictures at left. The dots indicate locations where you were told to hang markers.

Once the poncho is assembled, you can work a neck treatment on the back neck only. This helps keep the poncho from shifting forward. (When you wear your poncho, you can look around and notice other people ponchos pitch forward, so their front hem hangs lower than the back. You can congratulate yourself for using my poncho generator instead of some over simplified thing. You are also permitted to scoff at anyone whose poncho rides up or bags funny around their neck.)

After assembling the poncho, you can finish any unfinished edges. (My poncho has I -Cord attached. You can obviously substitute something else, but you'll then need to skip the I-Cord aspect of the directions.)

What are the Darts For?

At this point, eveyrone who has seen other versions of this poncho realizes they usually dont have shoulder darts. What are they for? The purpose of the darts is to prevent the poncho from forming a cone and bunching at your neck. If you examine the schematic of the poncho, you'll see the shoulders are almost horizontal. That's due to the darts. (Yours may not end up quite this horizontal. The exact angle will depend on the ratio of you stitch to row gauge.)

The short row darts are optional. I recommend working them if:

You are making the neck width relatively small, as you would if you want a poncho that keeps your neck warm.
You are knitting a poncho out of a stitch with only a moderate amount of lengthwise stretch, like stockinette.
You have a poncho you mostly like, notice the neck bunches cones and you hate that.
Basically, you'll want to knit these if you want to make a modest, warm poncho to wear at late fall tailgate parties in Northern Illinois!

I recommend skipping the short row darts if:

You are knitting the poncho in a stitch with lots of lengthwise stretch, like some sort of lace. You can probably skip the darts if you are knitting in garter stitch too, it stretches a lot in the lengthwise direction. The lengthwise stretch prevents the neck from coning because the fabric stretches over your shoulders.
You are making the neck opening wide. You see lots of you women wearing these ponchos with a shoulder peaking out. That's a wide shoulder, and you don't need darts. This prevents the neck from coning because the area that might cone just isn't there!
Basically, you'll want to skip these if you are making a sexy, see through or slide off the shoulder poncho!

You may want to stop and plan ahead for the hem trim. I prefer to make it at the end, so I can inspect the balance and remove the trim if necessary. If you HK, it is best to use an "invisible cast on" at the hem if you wish to achieve the illusion of having cast on and knit the trim right form the start. However, it looks fine if you use any old cast on, pick up stitches and knit the trim.