Free Pattern for Combined Shawl/Poncho

This is a pattern for a rectangular shawl with button holes down the front top ridges. It can be worn open as a shawl or buttoned closed as a poncho. The shawl will end up being 18 x 52 inches.

For the poncho, I folded the pattern in half, creating an 18 x 26 inch piece and created button holes for the 14 inches from the bottom of the top ridges to the middle of the piece, leaving (12x2) 24 inches for the neck opening. There are button holes down both ends to allow for double-ended buttons to be added or removed at will.

Yarn: Worsted Weight - 11 balls (50 balls)

Recommended needles - 6.5 mm (US Size 10.5)

Cast on 100 stitches.

Row 1: K1, P1 - repeat

Row 2: P1, K1 - repeat

Continue seed stitch - work 10 rows total.

Row 11: K1, P1, K1, P1, cast of 2 stitches, K1, P1, K1, P1, knit 10 stitches, knit row 1 of pattern A, knit 10 stitches, knit row 1 of pattern B (placing stitch marker in first stitch of pattern B row), continue in pattern B until last 10 stitches, K1, P1 - repeat for last 10 stitches (see stitches).

Row 12: Seed stitch 10 stitches, knit row 2 of pattern B up to and including stitch marker, purl 10 stitches, knit row 2 of pattern A, purl 10 stitches, K1, P1, K1, P1 cast on 2 stitches, K1, P1, K1, P1.

Row 13: seed stitch 10 stitches, knit 10 stitches, knit row 3 of pattern A, knit 10 stitches, knit row 3 of pattern B (placing stitch marker in first stitch of pattern B row), continue in pattern until last 10 stitches, seed stitch last 10 stitches.

Row 14: seed stitch 10 stitches, knit row 4 of pattern B up to and including stitch marker, purl 10 stitches, knit row 4 of pattern A, purl 10 stitches, seed stitch last 10 stitches.

Repeat rows 13 and 14, increasing pattern A and B patterns throughout the piece. AT THE SAME TIME, place 4 more button holes every 3 inches on top ridge.

From top button hole, knit 24 inches, placing next button hole at this point. Continue by placing a further 4 button holes every 3 inches. Next row, knit 10 stitches in seed stitch and cast off.

Pattern A:

Row 1: P5, K6, P5

Row 2: K5, P6, K5

Row 3: P5, C6B, P5

Row 4: K5, P6, K5

Row 5: P4, T4R, T4L, P4

Row 6: K4, P3, K2, P3, K4

Row 7: P3, T4R, P2, T4L, P3

Row 8: K3, P3, K4, P3, K3

Row 9: P2, T4R, P4, T4L, P2