Fur Striped Poncho Sweater

 My first pattern release for 2021 is perfect for heading into winter! I created the Fur Striped Poncho Sweater to be a super cozy knit that can be worked up super fast. This is a design that has been on my idea list for quite some time. I was originally going to try it by holding two strands of yarn together, but when I sorted through my extensive yarn stash last fall, I realized that Wool Ease Thick & Quick would pair perfectly with Go For Faux yarn.

This is a perfect pattern for the less experienced knitter who would like to try a sweater. It works up quick (so you don't lose interest) and has ZERO shaping! 

The Fur Striped Poncho Sweater is knit in a large rectangle, starting at one side and binding off some of the stitches in the middle of the row to create the neck opening. The same number of stitches are cast on in the middle of the next row to keep going with the rectangle. 

The side seams need to be stitched before the sleeves are added. I know when I first started knitting garments, I HATED seaming. Whenever possible I would just use my crochet hook to sew seams. Crocheted seams are much thicker than sewn seams, but with this sweater it doesn't matter. Because of the chunky nature of the sweater, and the fact that it is so oversized, thick seams will look just as good. This is a very forgiving sweater.

While I was knitting this sweater, I was a little worried that it would be too warm. I wore this for Christmas and found it was SUPER comfy. The large neck opening keeps it from getting too warm, and despite being so oversized, it did not get in the way. When it is freshly knit, the yarn can be a little stiff, but once you run it through the wash it softens up beautifully. 

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I hope you love this sweater as much as I do!

Fur Striped Poncho Sweater

Knitting Pattern

The Fur Striped Poncho Sweater is like a poncho and a sweater in one! It is a chunky, oversized sweater, more like a poncho with sleeves. It is knit using super bulky yarn for a quick and warm winter sweater. If you are not a fan of the fur yarn, the stripes could be knit in a contrasting color of the Wool Ease Thick & Quick, or the entire sweater could be knit in a solid or self-striping color.

The Fur Striped Poncho Sweater is a super easy knit project that a confident beginner could easily make. It is knit from side to side in one large rectangle, with a slit (like a large buttonhole) worked in halfway across for the neck opening. There is absolutely no shaping. The sleeves are picked up after the side seams are sewn, and worked in the round. 

Difficulty

⚫ ⚫ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪

Finished Sizes

This pattern is written for sizes XS through 5XL, and can be easily customized for an exact fit. Sizes are listed as XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). It is designed to be worn with about 30” of positive ease. For example, the size large has a bust measurement of 72”, although an average woman who wears a size large has a 40”-42” bust.

 

All measurements are approximate as this fabric has a fair amount of stretch. 

Length: 24 (24, 25, 25, 25, 26, 26, 27, 27)”/61 (61, 63.5, 63.5, 63.5, 66, 66, 68.6, 68.6) cm

Width: 30 (32, 34, 36, 38 , 40, 42, 44, 46)”/76 (81, 86, 91, 97, 102, 107, 112, 117) cm

Sleeve Length: 10”/25 cm (all sizes)

Instructions are written using standard US abbreviations. 

CO - cast on

K - knit

P - purl

BO - bind off

Materials

• Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick™ solids (6 oz./170 g; 106 yds/97 m): 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8) skeins #172 Kale
• Lion Brand Go For Faux™ (3.5 oz/100 g; 65 yds/60 m): 2 skeins #098 Baked Alaska
• Size 13 (9.00 mm), 16” circular knitting needles 
• Size 13 (9.00 mm) 50”-60” circular knitting needles
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle (for weaving in ends)

               

Gauge (Approximate)

With Wool Ease Thick & Quick™ and size 13 (9.00 mm) needles:

8 stitches in garter stitch = 4” (10 cm)

16 rows in garter stitch = 4” (10 cm)

Size Adjustments

To make the sweater wider, add an even number of rows in each section. By adding 2 rows in each section (not including the fur stripes) you would add 8 rows or 2” (5 cm) to the width of the sweater. Size could also be decreased in the same manner.

To make the sweater longer, CO an even number of additional stitches. Each 4 stitches added will increase the total length by 1” (2.5 cm). When adding stitches, divide the number of added stitches by 2, and knit that many extra stitches before and after the bind off for the neck opening. Sweater length can also be decreased in the same manner.

Instructions

Body

With size 13 (9.00 mm), 50”-60” circular needles and Wool Ease Thick & Quick™ yarn, CO 96 (96, 100, 100, 100, 104, 104, 108, 108) stitches, leaving a 36” tail for sewing the side seam. 

Row 1 (WS): Knit each stitch across. Turn.

Row 2 (RS): Knit each stitch across. Turn.

Continue in garter stitch until piece measures approximately 5.5 (6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5)”/ 14 (15, 16.5, 18, 19, 20, 21.5, 23, 24) cm/ 21 (23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37) rows, ending with a WS row.

Fur Stripe

Row 22 (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) [RS]: Change to Go For Faux™ yarn. Work in Garter stitch for approximately 4” (12 rows) ending with a WS row.

Row 34 (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50)[RS]: Change to Wool Ease Thick & Quick™ yarn. Work in garter stitch for approximately 5.5 (6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5)”/ 14 (15, 16.5, 18, 19, 20, 21.5, 23, 24) cm/ 22 (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) rows, ending with a RS row.

Neck Opening

Row 57 (61, 65, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89) (WS): K first 38 (38, 40, 40, 40, 42, 42, 44, 44) stitches. BO 30 stitches. Knit remaining 28 (28, 30, 30, 30, 32, 32, 34, 34) stitches. Turn.

Row 58 (62, 66, 70, 74, 78, 82, 86, 90) (RS): Knit first 28 (28, 30, 30, 30, 32, 32, 34, 34) stitches. CO 30 stitches. Knit remaining 38 (38, 40, 40, 40, 42, 42, 44, 44) stitches. Turn.

Row 59 (63, 67, 71, 75, 79, 83, 87, 91) (WS): Knit across, including newly cast on stitches. Turn.

Continue in garter stitch until piece measures approximately 5.5 (6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5)”/ 14 (15, 16.5, 18, 19, 20, 21.5, 23, 24) cm/ 22 (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) rows from neck opening, ending with a WS row.

Fur Stripe

Row 82 (88, 94, 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130): (RS): Change to Go For Faux™ yarn. Work in Garter stitch for approximately 4” (about 12 rows) ending with a WS row.

Row 95 (101, 107, 113, 119, 125, 131, 137, 143) (RS): Change to Wool Ease Thick & Quick™ yarn. Work in garter stitch for approximately 5.5 (6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5)”/ cm [21 (23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37) rows], ending with a RS row.

Bind off all stitches from WS. Fasten off, leaving a 36” tail to sew side seam.

Sew side seams

Fold piece in half (so that each long row is folded in half), with right side showing. Count out the center 24 (24, 24, 24, 24, 28, 28, 28, 28) stitches. Place removable stitch markers in the 1st and last stitch of the center stitches. Using the long tails left at the beginning and end, sew each side seam, placing the last seam stitch in the stitches with the markers. Remove markers.

Sleeves

With Wool Ease Thick & Quick™ yarn and size 13 circular needles, pick up 24 (24, 24, 24, 24, 28, 28, 28, 28) stitches around armhole opening. The first and last stitch should be picked up in the stitches where the last seam stitch was worked. Place marker for start of round. 

Round 1: P1, k2; *p2, k2. Repeat from * around. P last stitch.

Repeat Round 1, working in 2x2 ribbing until sleeve measures approximately 10” (34 rounds) or to desired length. Bind off in pattern and fasten off. 

Repeat for the second sleeve. Count rounds to ensure sleeves are the same length. 

Weave in ends and enjoy!

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Copyright © 2020 Sharon Hansen/Yarnmare

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The pattern and photographs of this design are the property of Sharon Hansen/Yarnmare. This pattern and design are subject to copyright, and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not distribute or sell this pattern or any items created using the directions in this pattern without consent. Please email yarnmare@gmail.com with any questions.