MARY HENDERSON: Pavonina

Decorated with a peacock feather pattern, this poncho has steeked armhole openings

- MARY HENDERSON

THIS CHIC poncho by Mary Henderson is knitted from the bottom up, with steeked openings for the arms and a ribbed yoke. Just two colours are used throughout, one of which is the new gradient version of Rowan's Felted Tweed. “Working the body on 3.75mm needles gave it a lovely drape, and the side vents give ease of movement and mean the back does not bag out," says Mary. The steeked openings are finished with i-cord cast-offs.

STITCH PATTERNS

GARTER STITCH RIB

(worked flat; multiple of 4 sts + 8)

Row 1 (RS): Knit.

Row 2 (WS): K3, *P2, K2; rep from * to last 5 sts, P2, K3.

Repeat these 2 rows for pattern.

YOKE RIB PATTERN

Rib round: Using yarn B, *Kitbl, P1; rep from * to end of round.

Repeat this round for pattern.

I-CORD CAST-OFF

Using 3.75mm needles and yarn A, cast on 3 sts to beg of round using the thumb cast-on method. Slip 3 sts to left needle. *K2, K2tog tbl, slip 3 sts from right needle back to left needle. Rep from * until 3 sts rem. Cast off, leaving a 10cm tail. Join cast-off to cast-on using the yarn tail.

BODY

BACK HEM

Using 3.25mm circular needles and yarn A, cast on 144 (168:192) sts. Knit 1 WS row.

Work in Garter Stitch Rib patt for 40 rows. Knit 2 rows. Break yarn and place sts on a holder.

FRONT HEM

Using 3.25mm needles and yarn A, cast on 144 (168:192) sts. (nit 1 WS row. Work in Garter Stitch Rib patt for 24 rows. Knit 2 rows.

Change to 3.75mm circular needles. Using yarn A and with RS facing, knit across Front Hem, pm (side mrk), knit across Back Hem sts on holder, join to work in the round and pm for beg of round. 288 (336:384) sts.

BEGIN MAIN CHART

Round 1: Work Round 1 of Main Chart, working 24-st rep 12 (14:16) times around.