Ponchos are everywhere, so I decided to update a poncho I made 7 years ago.  Here's the old version -- a little bit of glitz, kind of outdated, wouldn't you say?















And here's the new version.   A little bit more sophisticated with a touch of glitter.

And here is the pattern:

MAXIMA PONCHO

Yarn:

Color A: Classic Elite Kumara # 5716 - 3 skeins
Color B Manos Maxima #M8881 - 1 skein
Color C Berocco Flicker #3334 - 1 skein

Size when finished:  Neck is approximately 20" around, bottom of poncho is approximately 75" around and  poncho is approximately  20" long.

Gauge: 4.5 stitches = 1 inch with larger needle.Needles: 16” and 47” Size 8; 24”, 32” and 47” Size 9
As poncho increases in stitch count, change to larger length needle to accommodate number of stitches

Increase round: * K1,M1L, knit to one sttich before marker. M1R, K1, SM, , repeat from * 3 more times,  end K1


With color A, cast on 100 stitches. Place marker and join to work in the round on 16” size 8 needles


Work K1 P1 Rib for eight rows

Change to 24” Size 9 needles
Knit entire row, placing markers every 25 stitches using a different color marker for these 3  markers,, so you know which is the beginning of the round.
Knit one increase round


Round 1: Change to color B and Knit entire round.
Round 2: repeat increase round.
Round 3 Knit entire round
Round 4 repeat increase round
Round 5 Knit entire round
Round 6 repeat increase round
Round 7 change to color A and knit entire round
Round 8 Repeat increase round
Round 9 Change to color C and knit entire round
Round 10 *P1, M1P purl to one sttich before marker. M1P, P1, SM, , repeat from * 3 more times,  end P1
Round 11 change to color A and knit entire round
Round 12 Repeat increase round


Repeat these Rounds 1-12 for 3 more times


Round 13: Change to color B and Knit entire round.
Round 14: Knit entire round
Round 15 Knit entire round
Round 16 repeat increase round
Round 17 Knit entire round
Round 18 Knit entire round
Round 19 change to color A and knit entire round
Round 20 Repeat increase round
Round 21 Change to color C and knit entire round
Round 22 PURL entire round
Round 23 change to color A and knit entire round
Round 24 Repeat increase round


Repeat rounds 13-24 2 more times.


Round 25 Change to color B and Knit entire round.
Round 26 Knit entire round
Round 27 Knit entire round
Round 28 repeat increase round
Round 29 Knit entire round
Round 30 Knit entire round
Round 31 change to color A and knit entire round
Round 32 Knit entire round
Round 33 Change to color C and knit entire round
Round 34 PURL entire round
Round 35 change to color A and knit entire round
Round 36 Knit entire round

Repeat rounds 25-36 2 more times


Change to 47” Size 8 needles and K1 P1 rib for 8 rounds. Bind off. Add fringe if desired.

Woolbearers is having a new KAL-- the "Mitered Square Sweater" from the  Elizabeth Zimmerman book Knit One Knit All.  This sweater is not for the faint of heart.  The construction is unlike any other sweater I've ever seen.  And, like all EZ patterns, you have to read the pattern instructions very, very carefully.  The gals who are in the KAL are all at various stages, but love doing this one.  Here are some pix.

Here is a picture of the completed sweater from the book. Great looking sweater - eh?

I think that Susan is the furthest  along and is now working on attaching a new color to the sides.  She is using Cascade 220 sport and is the only one doing a two-color sweater.  I can't wait to see how the second color works.

Frances is making progress.  She was getting a pedicure the other day and was knitting this project  Two other ladies were there and insisted this could not possibly become a sweater.   Guess they never heard of EZ

Gary and Frances are both using Simply Shetland Sprindrift.  As usual, Gary is marking every 5 rows so he knows exactly where he is.  Someone remarked that his was perfect and believe, me it is!

 Jane and Linda chose Imperial Stock Ranch Tracie to knit the sweater with.  Jane finally turned this one corner and is on her way finishing the first part. Linda has a ways to go, but is getting there.

Great new patterns from Jenny Watson done in all sorts of Noro yarns. 

Knit Wear is a new magazine from Interweave and has great patterns and articles.  Lots of simpler, elegant patterns and lots of great info on knitting.  Come check it out.

The latest buzz on Ravelry is the Beekeeper's Quilt by Tiny Owl Knits. It's a great little project, because you simply knit a gazillion of these little hexagons and put them together whenever you are ready.  I love having projects that I can just pick up and carry around with me, especially when I have to wait at the dentist office, etc.  You can use up all the leftover sock yarn, or, of course, you can just buy more -- I think she says that one skein of Koigu will do about 12 hexagons.

Golf anyone?  Fran came into the store to learn to knit, so that she could make covers for her husband's golf clubs.  Well, she ended up making some for herself, a few baby blankets, sweaters, the Einstein jacket.  You see what happens.

Beverly comes in on Friday mornings to knit and just had her first grandchild, who of course, is going to have his first hand knit sweater from Grandma.  She used a pattern from Lana Grossa's Filati Infanti Spring 2011 book and knit it in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.  We had a little trouble with the pattern translation, but the folks at Muench were a tremendous help and Beverly successfully finished the sweater.  Now, if only the weather will cooperate.

Bevely also made a Challah cover for her friend's daughter who recently got engaged.  She was thrilled to get such a wonderful gift.

Janet keeps pumping out these baby blankets.  Both blankets are Churchmouse Yarns "Picot Edge Baby Blanket".  The first one is out of Woolbearers Superwash Chunky and does not not the picot edge, but Janet put a ribbon around the border.  The second one is out of Viking Balder and does have the picot edge.

 And Sara finished her Westknits' Mystery Shawl.  She used some of her leftovers along with Shibui sock yarn for great effect.  Love those colors together.

 Sandra knit the Clinton Cowl from the Berocco Booklet #313.  It's made out of Berocco Vintage and lots of colors! Looks great around her neck.

Speaking of around the neck, Sandra also knit this necklace out of Southwest Trading's Jazz.  I put a button on, but you can jazz it up with anything -- a shawl pin, perhaps.

This a wonderful  pattern from Berocco -- booklet # 314, called Caffe.  It's made out of Berocco Voyage, an alpaca/nylon blend that has a chained construction and the "fleece" part is out of Berocco Nanuk.  Come in and check it out.