At some point - and honestly, I still don’t know how! - eight 50g balls of baby alpaca DK weight yarn showed up in my stash. One day, I decided to design something that would use up as much of it as possible. I decided to go for a poncho made out of two rectangles joined together at the shoulders. One fancy lace-and-cables edging chart and a whole bunch of moss stitch later, plus some garter stitch for the edgings, and I had myself a fantastic, flowy layering piece!

Skills required

• Cast on, bind off
• Knit, purl
• Increase, decrease
• Work yarnovers
• Cable
• Work with stitch markers
• Block to given measurements

If you want to follow the chart instructions, you’ll also need to be able to follow a chart. However, this is not required, as written instructions are also provided.

Size information

“Wingspan” refers to wrist-to-wrist measurements with arms slightly bent. Note that the bust circumferences given for the wearer of the garment are super-approximate and very flexible, given the nature of a poncho - it’s the wingspan which should be more of a deciding factor for size.

Finished widths given are for the narrowest point. Add another 2.5” for all sizes to get the widest point.

• XS: Wearer wingspan 52.5”, bust circumference 30”. Finished width 32”, length 22.25”.
• S: Wearer wingspan 54.5”, bust circumference 34”. Finished width 33.25”, length 23”.
• M: Wearer wingspan 56.5”, bust circumference 38”. Finished width 34.5”, length 23.25”.
• L: Wearer wingspan 58.5”, bust circumference 42”. Finished width 35.75”, length 23.5”.
• 1X: Wearer wingspan 58.5”, bust circumference 46”. Finished width 35.75”, length 24”.
• 2X: Wearer wingspan 60.5”, bust circumference 50”. Finished width 37”, length 24.25”.
• 3X: Wearer wingspan 61.5”, bust circumference 54”. Finished width 37.5”, length 24.25”.
• 4X: Wearer wingspan 63.5”, bust circumference 58”. Finished width 38.75, length 25”.
• 5X: Wearer wingspan 63.5”, bust circumference 62”. Finished width 38.75, length 25”.

Yarn requirements

Yardages given are approximates. Sample shown is the XS size and used 399.5g or about 991 yards.

• XS: 1,040 yards
• S: 1,110 yards
• M: 1,170 yards
• L: 1,215 yards
• 1X: 1,230 yards
• 2X: 1,290 yards
• 3X: 1,305 yards
• 4X: 1,380 yards
• 5X: 1,380 yards

Other materials needed

• Cable needle
• Two spare lengths of yarn at least 44.5 to 51.25 inches long (depending on the size you’re making)
• Two stitch markers
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends