A knitted poncho with an unusual feature – it includes cuffs, which is not something most ponchos have.
Needles
Worsted weight yarn on a US size 8 (5 mm) circular needle in both 16 inch and 32 inch lengths, plus a set of five double-pointed needles in US size 7 (4.5 mm).
The two circular lengths do different jobs: the 32 inch carries the body, and the 16 inch handles the narrower sections. The double-pointed needles are for the cuffs, where the stitch count is too small for any circular.
Have all of them before you start. Discovering you need a 16 inch circular halfway through an evening is a familiar frustration.
Why the cuffs matter
A standard poncho has open sides, which means it is warm across the body and useless at the wrists. Adding cuffs closes that gap and makes the garment considerably more practical – it becomes something you can wear outside rather than only around the house.
It also changes how the poncho hangs. The cuffs anchor the fabric at the wrists rather than letting it swing free, which gives a neater line.
Yarn
Worsted weight in a fibre with some drape. A poncho is a large piece of fabric hanging from the shoulders, and a stiff yarn will make it stand out like a tent.
Wool or a wool blend works well and has the springiness to keep the cuffs snug. Pure acrylic can be a little flat but is more practical to wash.
Sizing
Ponchos are forgiving, but check the length before committing. A poncho that ends at the widest part of the hip is the least flattering length; shorter or longer both look better.
Buy enough yarn
A poncho takes more yarn than a sweater, because there is simply more fabric. Buy generously and in matching dye lots – a colour shift across a single large panel is very visible.
