Who crochets well - or has a mom who can help?

I absolutely love Martha's poncho. I can't tell you how much time I've spent online trying to find a pattern similar to her's. I think I can manage the stitch and the edging, but I don't know how the neckline is made and if it's make in one piece. I would really appreciate help on this.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/en/022605marthastewart&a=&tmpl=sl&ns=&l=&e=92&t=&prev=93


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/050304/photos_ts_afp/050304222303_mu17cv5m_photo2&e=12&ncid=705

Thanks. Mary

Hi Mary! I'm just a beginner, so I can't really help. But if you drop by a yarn store, they usually have patterns you can purchase. They'll probably have a poncho.

I knitted a poncho in the fall and there were very few patterns available then. I looked around quite a bit, not finding anything I liked. I finally winged it on my own and it came out pretty good, if I don't say so myself. However, with this one, I can't figure out how to begin. I'm tempted to crochet a circle for the neck and continue increasing stitches to make it full. Ponchos have become very popular so you may be right about there being some patterns available. I'm the type who gets enthusiatic about something really quickly and I want to do it immediately. I have no doubt if I wait a few weeks, patterns to Martha's poncho will start surfacing. There are lots and lots of women who want it. You would not believe what's going on on some of the different forums.

Patience.....that's what I need to learn... that is unless someone has an idea to help me start it off right now. See how quickly I move on? LOL!
Thanks for your response though.
All the best.
Mary

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Posted by Sasha96

I'm no expert but it looked like most of it had been double crocheted with a scalloped or shell stitched edge. Do you know the basics? Lion's Brand yarn has a ton of poncho patterns for free on their site. I can read most beginner patterns. Let me know if I can answer a question...not sure if I'll be able to but I can give it a try!

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I do know the basics but I can't figure out how to begin.
Do you think it was made as two pieces and then joined on the sides, or was it made from the neck, increasing as it flaired?

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Posted by LImom


I do know the basics but I can't figure out how to begin.
Do you think it was made as two pieces and then joined on the sides, or was it made from the neck, increasing as it flaired?

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I don't think it was made from the center- it may have been started in a corner and increased to the middle, then decrease.

I would do it that way, then work the neck at the end. Good luck!

Here is a much better picture. I can't believe someone already has made them and they are for sale on e-bay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=63866&item=5370041985#ebayphotohosting

What do you think now?

Hi Mary.

I haven't seen the pattern that Martha has but this is the way I have made them. And I've made them in many lengths, even for little girls.

Use size H crochet hook. (thats my favorite size and Susan Bates is the best.)

Crochet a chain long enough to fit over the head but make sure you have an even amount of stitches. Join both ends with a slip stitch. Single crochet in each chain until you get back to the beginning. 3 double crochet in the last stitch. Turn. Mark with a different color wool each end, this is were your going to do your increasing.

Double crochet in each single crochet, BUT when you get to your corner, 3 double crochet, chain 2, 3 double crochet in the same stitch. Continue around until you get back to your second mark.

Continue increasing at each end until your desired length.

Finishing the bottom: Single crochet in each double crochet. And fringe if want.

If you have a problem, I will be more than happy to crochet a sample of the beginning and send it to you via U.S. mail. Just FM me your home address.

Good luck and let me know how you do with it.
Gina

Gina, thanks so much. You would not believe the obsession many women have on getting the pattern to Martha's poncho. Martha's website is full of women asking for it, as is a crochet forum I visit. In fact, the news showed a little of her first press conference with her employees yesterday and she held it up and said a fellow inmate made it for her. She would try to get the pattern from her. It is lovely because it swings with her when she walks and the scallop edging is bold and really makes a statement. I'm sending you some photos if you'd like to see.
Unfortunately, the first two are dark and a little too blurry to really see the stitches. The last is being sold on e-bay and is supposed to be a copy. However, the women on my crochet forum don't think it's the same stitch. There is also some doubt that the neckline is the same.
I love that yours is made in one piece. That was what I was thinking. When I knitted my poncho I made two long rectangles and joined them together, leaving the neck open.
Your directions are excellent. I am going to stitch up a sample and see what the stitch looks like. I don't think I have to bother you with that. I can follow directions well (I taught myself to knit, crochet and sew from books) but I'm very visual and need to see things in front of me.
I would love your thoughts on the scallop trim. I didn't want a fringe when I knitted mine so I did crochet a fan shell edge. It was small - 5 dc's in one stitch - and it looked a bit like a ruffle. Now that I see Martha's, I yanked mine out and am trying to recreate hers. I spent a lot of time yesterday and don't have it right yet. Mine still ruffles a bit but hers is big and lies flat.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/en/022605marthastewart&a=&tmpl=sl&ns=&l=&e=92&t=&prev=93


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/050304/photos_ts_afp/050304222303_mu17cv5m_photo2&e=12&ncid=705


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5370437068&category=63866&sspagename=rvi:1:1v_home

I hope the future mama and papa in your family are doing well, as is the future grandma.

Thanks again. You are very sweet and thoughtful to go to all this trouble for me.


Mary

NO trouble at all.
I love crocheting, crafting, and quilting is my passion.

All the expants are doing fine. Started preparing my quilting project for my first grandbundle of joy.

I'm at work and this computer drives me to crazy.
so when I get home, I'll take a peek at the photos and get back with you.

I'm sorry - I didn't know.
Thanks so much.

When you can maybe you can check this out also.
Someone on another forum suggested that this is the pattern made longer and made with heavy yarn (maybe double) and a large hook. What do you think?

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/cjif-poncho.html

Mary, I saw this message in a yahoo knitting forum:

Lion Brand yarn announced tonight that
'After receiving the largest number of requests ever for a pattern, Lion Brand is creating a Homespun® pattern to match the poncho that Martha Stewart wore for her return home this week.

So check the Lion Brand website next week- hopefully they will have it!

I also saw this article on msn
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7119356

Hi Rebecca,
Isn't this amazing? I also saw the LionBrand announcement. Every so often a craze catches on and it's such a fun diversion, if nothing else. I do hope to make the poncho, but the hunt is just as exciting.
Have a great day and thanks for thinking of me.
Mary

Thanks so much. I didn't know. LionBrand said next week so I didn't check. Bernat.com has one also, but it's different.
I think I just will wait til Martha puts it up so we have the real one.
Thanks again, though. I think Lion Brand's poncho would look beautiful in a light weight yarn for the spring.