Painted Desert

Pueblo stripes with stranded stars, flowers and arrows in a purl-free stockinette stitch poncho.

Yes, that's right! ... the only purl stitches you'll work are in the ribbing!

And the fringe allows for lots of color changes with practically no loose ends to deal with.

Painted Desert is worked flat in one piece forming a rectangle that is folded with a single seam from ribbed border to shaped neckline. An open or buttoned ribbed cowl is picked up and knitted.

Kits are available in two 14-color colorways and in several 4-color colorways. Or create your own!

Two sizes: The finished folded poncho forms a 21-1/2 (25)" by 25" retangle (not including 3-1/2" fringe along one edge). From center neckline to corner tip is 27 (29)". Ribbed cowl is 25" around and 8" deep. Shown in smaller size on model, larger size on dress form.

Yarn: Sunday Knits 3 ply yarn (light sport weight - 246 yds / 225 m per 50g skein): Eden (100% merino), Nirvana (92% merino 8% cashmere) and/or Angelic (75% merino 25% angora). Substitute any light sport weight wool-blend yarn that works nicely to gauge: approximately 1600 (1950) yd total yarn length. If working in four colors: 250 (300) yd each of lightest and darkest colors, 550 (600) yd each of the two mid-range colors.

Needles & notions: Size 5 US / 3.75 mm circular needles (with a cable long enough to hold 150 sts), tapestry needle, four 3/4" buttons.

Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows = 4" in Stockinette stitch.

Techniques used: Stranded knitting (right side only), pick up and knit, basic increase and decrease stitches.

Pattern includes: Written instructions, glossary, color sequence of sample is written and charted, stranded sections are charted.

Knit Painted Desert

© Sunday Knits 2015. All rights reserved. Design and photography by Carol Sunday.
Edited by Sandra Whittaker. Modeled by Jess Anastase