Top Five Free Poncho Knitting Patterns

In through the bunny hole.

Where do ponchos sit on your cool scale? Me? I am completely enamoured with the concept of ponchos. They encapsulate the impression of warm, cozy, safe and nestled. And how easy are they to wear? Crazy easy. And talk about versatile. Dressy, smart, casual, homely, patterned, plain, Nordic, cabled, hoods, cowl necks, chunky knits, fine knits, long or short. The list is endless for this 70’s throwback. The poncho made a comeback in the last decade and has managed to hover in the periphery of modern sweater trends. I am automatically drawn to those ponchos that are a soft and chunky knit. I have a predisposition for cable knits. I also love a hood. I adore them for their simplicity—you just throw it over your head as you run out the door. I love them for their forgiving nature—there’s nothing nicer than looking cute and tidy even when your skinnies are feeling a little tighter than usual. This fall, I’m going to love pairing a cosy poncho with some adorably knit arm warmers just to keep the chill at bay. In fact, my love of ponchos has planted the seed in my mind that I should learn to knit so that I might one day be able to produce the poncho designs I have blasting through my head this time of year. Are any of you well versed in the knitting pattern vernacular? 

My Top Five Free Poncho Knitting Patterns:

1.     High Neck Fashion

  I adore the high neck and inset slits that allow more range of motion.

2.      Pompom City

  How sweet are those oversized pompoms and the hood?

3.      Asymmetrical Fun

  Lovely cables and the asymmetrical collar adds unusual detail!

4.      Cable Chic

  Horizontal cables running the whole breadth of the poncho give it a unique and expensive look!

5.      Fab Fringe

  Classic fringed poncho with a mix of stitches to create such visual impact. Perfect for tweedy yarn!

Off course, there's always Nordstrom for the ready made version.

Top Five Must Haves For Fall 2012

Fall 2012

How quickly this year has flown by. At least, the summer has disappeared remarkably fast. Admittedly, this is hardly upsetting since the only thing I enjoy about the summer season is how lovely the gardens grow. But not this summer, we had so little rain, everything was dried up and sad looking. Now autumn, that is my favourite season. Always has been, always will be.

Now it’s mid September, the nights are finally cool, even if the days are still questionably warm for my liking. Fall is when I become obsessed again with fashion, with makeup, with hair. An unbridled urge to destroy my credit card on unholy numbers of boots, shoes, heels and discounted summer sandals nearly brings me to my knees. Every. Single. Year. And denim? What is it about fall that triggers this unerring need to acquire one or five new pairs of jeans? Am I somehow cleansing myself of the past year? As if whatever new jeans I set my sights on somehow set the scene for the year to come? I’m not satisfied until I appease these urges. So what is it to be this year? While perhaps a tad late to the trend, I’ve just acquired a sleek pair of cherry red Celebrity Pink skinny jeans. They’re pretty freaking adorable, and are just waiting impatiently to be paired with my adorable tuxedo jacket I procured earlier in March. Thinking on it long and hard, I believe I can narrow down my fall needs to this list:

Top Five Must Haves For Fall 2012

1.       Wedge booties in either black or chocolate suede (they just look so adorable with skinnies.)

2.       Dark nail polishes in burgundy, navy, espresso, or mahogany (I can’t wait to retire the summer neons for more serious tones.)

3.       One or two Equipment shirts in either solid or patterned fabric (I’m feeling reds, purples, liberty prints or perhaps a bird theme.)

4.       Boot socks (I love my all of my boots and I’m loving this new boot sock trend to freshen up their look! Perhaps cables, argyle or fairisle.)

5.       A tartan blazer (something loud and lively to pair with jeans and a plain white tee.)

And purses! I’d almost forgotten my best friends in the world! All signs are pointing a cool oversized satchel (think British schoolbook bag. Probably in tan. Distressed tan would be perfect!) Now, if I’m able to obtain this short list, in addition for a few new pairs of skinnies, then I will be a happy Renegade! Now where did I leave that Visa card...?