Design A452 - Autumn colours poncho

The summer heat this year is making it difficult to spin because my hands are so hot, so I'm taking a break from spinning and trying to see if crochet may be easier for a while. I know any kind of crafting is difficult in the heat, but crochet has to be less urghhh than spinning.

I'm being told by my "kids" that ponchos are very much on trend at the moment, so I have decided to have a go at making a couple and see if they are popular in my shop.

The design I am going to use consists of six crochet panels, which are then joined together. Additional crochet is added to both the top and bottom, and the piece is finished off with fringing/tassels.

I will use some of my own handspun for the panels and some commercial wool to join them together. The handspun is 50% Polwarth wool, 25% Black Alpaca, 25% Mulberry Silk and is really soft. I spun it back in November 2021. The other yarn is some Irish wool from Kilcarra Yarns of County Donegal, Ireland and is a much rougher wool. From what I have read online about this yarn, it does soften with wash and wear, but it will never be as soft as my luxury fibre handspun yarn.

The crochet panels worked up quickly and easily, really showcasing all the colours in the handspun. They are all slightly different in their own way because of the ever-changing colours of the yarn. I have actually remembered to take some work-in-progress photos this time, although they are not the best and the lighting is a bit meh.

I was confused about the joining method of each panel. After reviewing the photos of the original design, it is correct that they are joined in a way that creates a visible, textured line of stitches between each panel, and is an integral part of the design. The poncho is designed to be worn square, allowing a whole crochet panel to drape and cover each arm. It can also be worn the other way, if you prefer, but the construction is designed primarily for the square method. It is pretty generous in size but isn't overly long in the body length, so depending on your bust size, it may only just cover "your girls" if you're quite busty, or it may hang down to your waist if you're quite petite. It is designed for an adult, please pay attention to the measurements across the neck opening, which is quite generous, and you will need a measurement of at least 28" around the top of the breastplate/shoulders and including the arms, for it not to fall off you and onto the ground.

I began making this on 26th August and finished it on 28th August 2025. The final measurements of this piece are 14" across the neck, giving a 28" opening, and when worn square, the measurement from the neck to the bottom of the crochet (not including the tassels) is 14.5".

The overall fibre content is 52% Irish Wool, 24% Polwarth Wool, 12% Alpaca, and 12% Mulberry Silk.