Monday, June 01, 2009
Summer in the City Poncho and Capelet
When all you need is a light cover-up when the breezes blow, the Summer in the City poncho can fill the bill. Constructed with rows of wrapped and dropped stitches, it has an openwork structure, sufficient for summer living.
Summer in the City is one of the easiest garments to knit, but most importantly, to wear. It is light and airy. Just pull over your head and you're ready. The neckline is large enough so that it does not hug the neck, but instead allows you wear it in any way you like. Let it fall to one side, exposing a shoulder. Or balance it so that both shoulders are covered. It'll look good in any way that you choose.
It is knit in the round, by working from the top down. The wrapped and dropped stitch pattern, when coupled with Garter Stitch between, is particularly effective in highlighting the colour changes in the handpainted yarn. I used Fleece Artist's Woolie Silk 3-Ply in the colour "Ivory". I can imagine it in any of the other colour options, too. Each one would produce a piece with its own signature mood.
The Summer in the City pattern also includes a short, shoulder capelet version. The one shown here is worked in Fleece Artist's Woolie Silk 3-Ply "Bronze". And takes only one 100-g. skein. Another quick project, great for gift-giving, if you can stand to part from it yourself.
In fact, this pattern can be worked to any length you like. Since it is worked from the top down, you can adjust it for the yarn quantity you have available. Not enough yarn to make the full-size poncho? No problem. Finish it when you run out of yarn. If you can see the end coming, you can calculate where in the pattern you'd like to be for the finish and make adjustments accordingly.
The shoulder capelet has its own versatility, too. Here I decided to gather it a little to one side and secure it with an amber brooch.
You can do the same to highlight a piece of jewellery or to add some chic to a simple outfit.
The Ivory poncho was handknit by Julie Rosvall of Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Thanks for doing such a beautiful job, Julie. It has become one of my new favourites to actually wear.
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