My new Persephone Poncho is ready for you! Eep!
Can I tell you how much I love this thing? I cannot. Words don’t describe how delicious this beauty is.
If you love it and just want to skip all the pictures and head to download it, go HERE.
For more behind the scenes tidbits, keep reading.
Hubby Tim decided to do more artsy photos of this one just for the blog. I do not know what I’d do without him!
His skills are outta dis worlddddd.
So you see all the lovely photos and the gorgeous pattern, but it’s really quite a journey to get to this point.
- We plan out our patterns for the next year in general.
- I fill in the specifics (knit? crochet? what items, etc?) for the quarter and establish release dates.
- I come up with inspiration for the pattern, write it up and get busy working test swatches.
- I contact the test knitter or crocheter, send off the yarn, give them the pattern and wait.
- They work the pattern, making sure there are no hiccups or kinks and they send it back to me and get paid.
- I finish up any remaining bits on the pattern, like the finished size and gauge.
- We take photosssss. This is always the funny part.
- Tim edits the photos, sends them back to me and a few days later, the pattern goes live on the site and blog and Ravelry and Craftsy, etc. The process usually takes several months from start to finish. And we are planning on offering you WAY more patterns this year than last, so get ready!
So back to the photo shoot process.
We have Media Day once a month. We take all pattern and giveaway photos needed for the following month. We also shoot 2 videos which will go live in the following month.
The process begins by me struggling to put my makeup on properly and fussing with my wild and crazy hair. It’s naturally curly but fried from too much processing and dyeing, so I straighten it mostly.
Tim gets all the lights and camera set up.
Once all that is out of the way and I feel all gussied up, we start to shoot.
I inevitably forget how to pose. Every. Single. Time. Chin out. Shoulders back and down. Sminch the eyes. Smile! Look happy!
Tim told me to lie down in this stream of sunlight. I was like…. OKAAAYYYY????
But it turned out awesome! I look kinda… ghostly.
But back to the pattern.
- It’s crocheted. Not too complicated, but you definitely want to feel comfortable with crochet in general and reading patterns.
- It uses 1220 yards of our Luster Superwash Merino Wool Tencel Sport Yarn in colorway (gasp) Persephone. Colorways come and go. Choose any that you like. That translates to 4 skeins. Or actually, just over 3 skeins. If budget is an issue, just get 3 and you can make it a wee bit smaller.
- The stitch pattern is easily memorizable.
- The construction is pretty straightforward.
- You’ll need a size F (3.75 mm) hook.
It’s just ridiculously enchanting. I adore it. Who wouldn’t want to wear this radiant, shimmering, cascading pool of wonder?
The back looks like the front!
One size fits most. You can make it bigger or smaller if you like. It’s easy to adjust the size. To do so, I recommend cutting out cheap fabric in various rectangle sizes and positioning them like I show you in the pattern. When you get a size poncho you like, just make rectangles in those sizes and follow the pattern construction as written.
I included pictures of each row for those that learn visually (me me me!).
Also, for the several people that mentioned my patterns are enormously long to print… you are correct. Up until this point, I’ve used huge text and giant pictures, thinking that it was helpful. I always look at patterns on my iPhone, so it WAS helpful… to me. LOL. But not so much if you’re printing.
So this pattern is short to print. I’m going to try and keep all future patterns as such, for those that like to print them.
Well, let me know what you think in the comments. I’m quite proud of this little beauty.
When you make yours, share it on your fave social network or blog and pleassssse link back to me or tag me so I can see! I can’t wait.
Have the most glorious of days, my dahling! Smooches!
Chandi
P.S. You can get the pattern HERE.
The pattern is gorgeous, but not practical for me. I need something that covers more of my arms. I bet it would be an awesome wrap without the sewing, for my beloved Mother in law. Thanks, Chandi
that looks very hard. how long did it take to write that pattern??
Actually writing it doesn’t take too long, but the process from idea to announcing it live on the site takes a few months.
I just downloaded the pattern. Can’t wait to get the yarn and make it! This is one of the prettiest shawl patterns I’ve seen – and I’ve looked through A LOT!! Thanks.
Love the Poncho… OK. You’ve been to Austin in the winter…. BUUUUT you haven’t been to TEXAS in the summer…. HOT, HUMID, HOT, HUMID & HOT, HUMID! Get the picture. During the Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall it can still be HOT & HUMID. I would love to make this as a coverup for Tank Tops. I wear them a lot & something like this is perfect for throwing over and going. BUT I don’t want wool…. and I don’t know if I would want the weight you are using in the pattern. If I went with a lighter wt and a Bamboo or Cotton would I just do like you suggested about cutting a paper pattern and crocheting until I got THAT size?
Thanks for all y’all hard work….
LizzieB-Texas
Yes, great idea! Absolutely.
Have you ever considered a giveaway of the items that you, or your test knitter/crocheter, makes? Kinda like your yarn giveaway contest?
I have thought about it. It might be something that we do in the future. ?
Chandi, you asked for comments about your patterns…..I always appreciated that your print was larger and easier to read. I also find the illustrations helpful. What if you had a way to access a “print version” that included mostly the text, then we could access the on-line version to reference the tutorials. Would that be technically possible? I consider myself an advanced beginner knitter and a newby at crochet, so rely on the tutorials a lot. Thank you for your beautiful yarns and patterns. I look forward to your emails every week!
Janet I.
Excellent suggestion! I think that is something that we can work on! ?
Hi thanks for your totorial videos the yarns make me excited to try them I will after I finish the yarn I have God bless you
How are you so stinkin’ adorable?
I’m one of the ones who learned to knit from your youtube video. I just recently got connected with your facebook and blog and I am loving every bit of it. You are a gem! You sparkle!
Thanks for shining your light so brightly.
Hi Chandi
I hope all is well. Do you have a tutorial on YouTube for this pattern?
Hello! Thanks, I hope all is well with you too! Unfortunately, we don’t have a tutorial for this pattern. I will add it to our list. 💕