Beaded Poncho

This Beaded Poncho has a chic shape and cool color pallet. It's great for crisp fall days and calls to mind images of tree-lined streets. Best of all, this beginner knitting pattern is free!

Materials:

• Caron International’s Feathers (65% acrylic, 35% nylon; 1.75 oz/50 g, 70 yds/64 m): 9 skeins #0002 Parrot
• Size US 8 (5 mm) knitting needles, or size to obtain gauge
• crochet hook size US F/5 (3.75mm) for edging
• tapestry ndl (tn)
• approximately 105 gold plated 8mm round pearl beads

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
Each panel measures 12" by 30", excluding Beaded Edging

GAUGE:
Using size US 8 (5mm) needles, in St st: 16 sts and 20 rows = 4”/10 cm

STITCHES USED:
Stockinette stitch (St st): Knit on RS, purl on WS
Single crochet (sc) for Beaded Edging

Instructions:

SPECIAL TECHNIQUE
Place a Bead (PB): Pre-string beads on yarn. Insert crochet hook in next stitch, slide bead up close to work, yo hook, pull yarn through stitch and loop on hook (slip stitch made).

PANEL (Make 2)
CO 48 sts.
Work even in St st until piece measures 30" from the beginning.
BO all sts.

FINISHING
Block pieces to measurements, if necessary, following instructions on ball band.
Sew one end of each panel to side edge of opposite panel (see Assembly Diagram).

NECK EDGE
Round 1: With RS facing, using crochet hook, join yarn with slip stitch (sl st) to one corner of neck; ch 1, sc in next 2 edge sts, *skip 1 edge st, sc in next 3 edge sts; repeat from * around, join with a sl st in first sc.
Fasten off.
Round 2: Thread approximately 25 beads on to yarn - enough to have a bead for every 6 sts worked around neck edge. With WS facing, join yarn in last st of previous round; * sl st in next 5 sc, PB in next st; repeat from * around, join with sl st in first st.
Fasten off.

LOWER EDGE
Round 1: With RS facing, using crochet hook, join yarn with slip stitch (sl st) to one corner of lower edge; ch 1, work 2 sc in same st as join; cont as for Neck Edge, working 3 sc in each remaining corner st.
Round 2: Thread approximately 80 beads on to yarn - enough to have a bead for every 4 sts worked around lower edge. With WS facing, join yarn in last st of previous round; sl st in next 2 sc, * PB in next st, sl st in next 3 sc; repeat from * around, join with a sl st in first st.
Fasten off.

Weave in ends.