Gauge
9 sts and 15 rows/4", blocked
I'm sorry! Since I hadn't originally intended to write up this pattern, I didn't take any gauge measurements before I blocked. Do the best you can to match it, but if it's not perfect, you'll have a slightly smaller or larger poncho that will still look great. The fabric is meant to be fairly loose and drapey, so be sure to use larger needles than recommended for your particular yarn.
Finished Measurements
Length (excluding fringe): 20". Bottom circumference: 80".
Abbreviations
inc 1: knit into front and back of next stitch
inc 1 p: purl into front and back of next stitch
m1: lift the running thread between the current stitch and the next and knit it tbl
skp: slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over knit stitch
sk2p: slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over k2tog
pm: place marker
sm: slip marker
Falling Leaves Stitch (Flat)
Over 26 sts to begin; end-of-row stitch counts are given in brackets.
Row 1 (WS): k5, p5, k4, p3, k9. [26]
Row 2: p7, p2tog, inc 1, k2, p4, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p5. [28]
Row 3: k5, p7, k4, p2, k1, p1, k8. [28]
Row 4: p6, p2tog, k1, inc 1 p, k2, p4, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, p5. [30]
Row 5: k5, p9, k4, p2, k2, p1, k7. [30]
Row 6: p5, p2tog, k1, inc 1 p, p1, k2, p4, skp, k5, k2tog, p5. [28]
Row 7: k5, p7, k4, p2, k3, p1, k6. [28]
Row 8: p4, p2tog, k1, inc 1 p, p2, k2, p4, skp, k3, k2tog, p5. [26]
[From row 9 on, the pattern will be worked circularly, so the rest of the flat repeat is not included, to save both confusion and all the typing I'd need to do!]
Falling Leaves Stitch (Round)
All rows worked on RS.
Row 1: p9, k3, p4, k5, p5. [26]
Row 2: p7, p2tog, inc 1, k2, p4, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p5. [28]
Row 3: p8, k1, p1, k2, p4, k7, p5. [28]
Row 4: p6, p2tog, k1, inc 1 p, k2, p4, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, p5. [30]
Row 5: p7, k1, p2, k2, p4, k9, p5. [30]
Row 6: p5, p2tog, k1, inc 1 p, p1, k2, p4, skp, k5, k2tog, p5. [28]
Row 7: p6, k1, p3, k2, p4, k7, p5. [28]
Row 8: p4, p2tog, k1, inc 1 p, p2, k2, p4, skp, k3, k2tog, p5. [26]
Row 9: p5, k1, p4, k2, p4, k5, p5. [26]
Row 10: p5, yo, k1, yo, p4, k2, p4, skp, k1, k2tog, p5. [26]
Row 11: p5, k3, p4, k2, p4, k3, p5. [26]
Row 12: p5, [k1, yo] twice, k1, p4, k1, m1, k1, p2tog, p2, sk2p, p5. [26]
Row 13: p5, k5, p4, k3, p9. [26]
Row 14: p5, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p4, k1, inc 1, k1, p2tog, p7. [28]
Row 15: p5, k7, p4, k2, p1, k1, p8. [28]
Row 16: p5, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, p4, k2, inc 1 p, k1, p2tog, p6. [30]
Row 17: p5, k9, p4, k2, p2, k1, p7. [30]
Row 18: p5, skp, k5, k2tog, p4, k2, p1, inc 1 p, k1, p2tog, p5. [28]
Row 19: p5, k7, p4, k2, p3, k1, p6. [28]
Row 20: p5, skp, k3, k2tog, p4, k2, p2, inc 1 p, k1, p2tog, p4. [26]
Row 21: p5, k5, p4, k2, p4, k1, p5. [26]
Row 22: p5, skp, k1, k2tog, p4, k2, p4, yo, k1, yo, p5. [26]
Row 23: p5, k3, p4, k2, p4, k3, p5. [26]
Row 24: p5, sk2p, p2, p2tog, k1, m1, k1, p4, [k1, yo] twice, k1, p5. [26]
Repeat rows 1-24.
Things to Keep in Mind That Will Help!
The poncho is worked flat at the neck for several rows for a V-neck at the center front, then joined and worked in the round to the bottom.
The stitches that mark the center front (after the V-neck is completed) and the center back are always worked in stockinette stitch and always worked twisted, even while the neck and bottom borders are in garter stitch.
PATTERN
CO 61 sts, mark center st. Work 3 rows as follows:
Rows 1 + 3: k2, yo, k to center st, yo, k1 tbl, yo, k to last two sts, yo, k2. (4 sts increased per row)
Row 2: k to center st, p1 tbl, k to end.
Set up leaf pattern:
Next row (WS): k2, *p3, pm, work row 1 of Falling Leaf stitch (flat) over next 26 sts, pm, p3*, p1 tbl, rep from * to * once, k2.
Next row (RS): k2, yo, *k3, sm, work row 2 of stitch pattern to next marker, sm, k3,* yo, k1 tbl, yo, rep from * to * once, yo, k2.
Continue this way for 5 more rows, always increasing 1 st at each edge and two at the center on RS rows, always working the appropriate row of the stitch pattern.
Join:
Next row (RS): work as established to last 2 sts (up to and including the final yo of the row), slip those two stitches onto the DPN. Hold the circular needle as if you were about to start working in the round, and bring the DPN next to the first two stitches on the left needle. K 1 st from the circ together with 1 st from the dpn, twice. (Like doing a three-needle bind off, except without the binding off. Yo, k1, pm for beginning of round.
From now on, you'll be working circularly. Next round: k to marker, work next row of stitch pattern, k to center back st, k1 tbl, k to next marker, work next row of stitch pattern again, k to the two center front stitches from the join, k2tog tbl, k to end.
Finally! All the weird shaping is done! The rest of the poncho is a relative breeze, using just these two rows:
"RS" rows: k to marker, work appropriate row of stitch pattern, k to center back, yo, k1 tbl, yo, k to next marker, work same row of stitch pattern again, k to center front, yo, k1 tbl, yo, k to end.
"WS" rows: k to marker, work appropriate row of stitch pattern, k to center back, k1 tbl, k to next marker, work same row of stitch pattern, k to center front, k1 tbl, k to end.
Continue in this manner until the entire pattern repeat (rows 1-24) has been worked three times (72 rows/rounds). Purl 1 round (but still k1 tbl the center front and back stitches!), then BO very loosely. Weave in ends and block to measurements. Fringe as desired, either with more of the same yarn or a corresponding lighter weight yarn.
