Chunky Poncho Sweater : Must Have Now

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This Chunky Poncho Sweater Knitting Pattern is a great pattern for beginner knitters. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to knit a poncho!

There’s an advanced version for a brave beginner or an experienced knitter who’d like to knit it with a clean edge.

Get the free Chunky Poncho Sweater Knitting Pattern below or
purchase the ad-free, downloadable & printable PDF here.

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multiple pics of a model wearing a hand knitted poncho sweater

These ponchos are so trendy right now, they give your cozy fall outfit some extra warmth!

It’s a classic poncho style that never goes out of fashion. Plus, they’re a great alternative to jackets.

My On the Go Poncho Pattern in bulky weight yarn is so popular and I’ve had several requests to make it in super bulky yarn, so here it is!

About the Pattern

Ponchos are so easy! Just knit 2 long rectangles, sewing the 2 top seams and each side and now you have a poncho. This creates a boat neck poncho, which is a beautifully simple neckline.

Start at the top working in a rib stitch (knit 1, purl 1) to create a wide rib collar and then switch to stockinette for the body section and do a few more rows of the rib stitch, bind-off and do it all over again for the second side. The second side is quicker since you already have the hang of it.

Available Sizes: Eight
Pattern Format: Written Pattern, No Chart
Pattern Language: English
Skill Level: Beginner & Advanced Beginner
PDF Format: Printer Friendly
Bonus: Videos

Techniques

Here are some of the knitting skills you need to know before getting started:

Knit Flat (Back & Forth)
Knit & Purl Stitches
Clean Edge (optional)
No shaping, increases or decreases

WHAT’S TO LOVE!?

Quick & easy project
Video tutorials to help you along the way
Simple & classic texture
Lovely drape
A layer of extra warmth… like a hug

Yarn & Substitutions

Yarn Weight: Super Bulky Yarn
Yardage: 383 – 629 yards (350 – 575 meters)
Suggested Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick, Wheat

I like using LBT&Q because it’s affordable, squishy & durable. Plus, using super bulky yarn makes for a quick knitting project. Which is great for my short attention span! ;) Also, it’s a wool & acrylic fiber blend, which I think is what makes it warmer and more durable than other options.

Alternative Yarn Substitute:
Lion Brand Re-Spun Thick & Quick which is 100% recycled polyester.

Lion Brand HomeTown Yarn which is a 100% acrylic yarn. I’ve used this yarn before and it works interchangeably with LB Thick & Quick.

If you’re looking for other substitutes, I recommend checking out YarnSub.com for other yarn options. They’re an excellent resource!

Needles & Notions

US Size 13 (6.5mm) Circular Knitting Needles with a 32” (80cm) Cable
Darning Needle
Scissors

Gauge

4” (10 cm) square knit flat in stockinette stitch.
Before Blocking: 9 STS & 13 rows
After Blocking: 8 STS & 14 rows

Measurements

Poncho Measurements, after steaming: 45″ wide x 16 1/2″ (114cm x 48cm)
Poncho Weight: 1lb 13.5oz (835g)
Model is 5’9″/175cm, 130lbs with a 33″/84cm chest, 27″/68cm waist wearing a 45″ width poncho with mid-rise jeans.

Sizes

5′ 4″ : Size 37” (94cm) wide, CO 71 STS, 383-437 yards (350-400m)
5′ 5″ : Size 39” (99cm) wide, CO 75 STS, 410-465 yards (375-425m)
5′ 6″ : Size 41” (104cm) wide, CO 79 STS, 437-492 yards (400-450m)
5′ 7″ : Size 43” (109cm) wide, CO 83 STS, 465-519 yards (425-475m)
5′ 9″ : Size 45” (114cm) wide, CO 87 STS, 492-547 yards (450-500m)
5′ 10″ : Size 47” (119cm) wide, CO 91 STS, 519-574 yards (475-525m)
5′ 11″ : Size 49” (124cm) wide, CO 95 STS, 547-601 yards (500-550m)
6′ 00″ : Size 51” (129cm) wide, CO 99 STS, 574-629 yards (525-575m)

*The approximate yardage is for a 16 1/2″ length.

Note: I designed mine to be just long enough to meet my high waisted jeans. Make it longer or shorter depending on your bust, waist size & style. For a larger bust or waist you may want to make it a little wider, depending on your size & style too. ;)

Notes

Not reversible.
Knit top down or bottom up, either way.
Knit using the rib stitch & stockinette stitch.
Knit flat, back & forth using circular needles.
Circular needles are used to accommodate the large number of CO stitches.

Video Tutorials

Knitting Abbreviations

*– * – repeat between * to end of round
BO – bind-off in pattern
CO – cast-on (long-tail cast-on method)
K – knit stitches (K1 means to knit 1 stitch)
K1TBL – knit 1 stitch through the back loop
P – purl stitches (P2 means to purl 2 stitches)
RS – right side
S1PW – slip one stitch purl-wise
STS – stitches
WS – wrong side
WYIF – with yarn in front

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BEGINNER Pattern Instructions

Knit flat, back & forth, row-by-row
Using the long-tail cast-on method, CO the number of STS from the Size section above.

Rows 1, 3, 5 (WS): *P1, K1* last stitch: P1
Detailed Instructions:
Repeat in the purl 1, knit 1 pattern until you have 1 stitch remaining, purl the last stitch.

Rows 2, 4 (RS): *K1, P1* last stitch: K1
Detailed Instructions:
Repeat in the knit 1, purl 1 pattern until you have 1 stitch remaining, knit the last stitch.

Body:
In this section, you’re going to knit in stockinette. Meaning, knit all of the stitches on the right side of your work and purl all the stitches on the wrong side of your work.

Row 6 (RS): *K*
Detailed Instructions:
Knit all the stitches in this row.

Row 7 (WS): *P*
Detailed Instructions:
Purl all the stitches in this row.

Repeat rows 6-7, until it measures 15″ (38cm) from the beginner or until desired length, minus the bottom ribbing.

Bottom Rib:
In this section, repeat the top ribbing, creating a 1×1 ribbing for the bottom. So, you’re going to knit into the knit stitch and purl into the purl stitches.

Repeat Row 6 (RS): *K*
Detailed Instructions:
Knit all the stitches in this row.

Rows 1, 3 (WS): *P1, K1* last stitch: P1
Detailed Instructions:
Repeat in the purl 1, knit 1 pattern until you have 1 stitch remaining and then purl the last stitch.

Rows 2, 4 (RS): *K1, P1* last stitch: K1
Detailed Instructions:
Repeat in the knit 1, purl 1 pattern until you have 1 stitch remaining and then knit the last stitch.

Row 5 (WS): BO in the K1, P1 pattern
Detailed Instructions:
Knit the first stitch, purl the second stitch and then pass the knit stitch over the purl stitch.
Repeat the next 2 sentences until you run out of stitches: Knit the next stitch and then pass the purl stitch over the knit stitch. Purl the next stitch and then pass the knit stitch over the purl stitch.

Cut the yarn, leaving a 12″ tail, which you can use to seam the side.

You’ve completed one long rectangle, knit the 2nd side the same as the first, the front and back are the same.

Get the free Chunky Poncho Sweater Knitting Pattern below or
purchase the ad-free, downloadable & printable PDF here.

ADVANCED BEGINNER Pattern Instructions

Knit flat, back & forth, row-by-row
CO the number of STS from the Size section above.

Top Rib:
In this section, you’re creating a create a wide rib collar using the 1×1 ribbing for the top, where it sits on your shoulders. So, you’re going to knit into the knit stitches and purl into the purl stitches.
Rows 1, 3, 5 (WS): WYIF S1PW *P1, K1* last 2 sts: P1, WYIF S1PW
Detailed Instructions:
On the first stitch, bring the yarn into the front of your needle, slip 1 stitch purl-wise.
Next, repeat in the purl 1, knit 1 pattern until you have 2 stitches remaining on your working needles.
Purl the second to last stitch.
For the last stitch, with the yarn in front slip 1 purl-wise.

Rows 2, 4 (RS): K1TBL *K1, P1* last 2 sts: K1, K1TBL
Detailed Instructions:
Knit into the back loop of the first stitch.
Next, repeat in the knit 1, purl 1 pattern until you have 2 stitches remaining on your working needles.
Knit the second to last stitch.
Knit into the back loop of the last stitch.

Body:
In this section, you’re going to knit in stockinette. Meaning, knit all of the stitches on the right side of your work and purl all the stitches on the wrong side of your work.

Row 6 (RS): K1TBL *K* last stitch: K1TBL
Detailed Instructions:
Knit into the back loop of the first stitch.
Next, knit all the stitches until you have 1 stitch remaining on your working needles.
Knit into the back loop of the last stitch.

Row 7 (WS): WYIF S1PW *P* last stitch: WYIF S1PW
Detailed Instructions:
On the first stitch, bring the yarn into the front of your needle, slip 1 stitch purl-wise.
Next, purl all the stitches until you have 1 stitch remaining on your working needles.
On the last stitch, bring the yarn into the front of your needle, slip 1 stitch purl-wise.

Repeat rows 6-7, until it measures 15″ (38cm) from the beginner or until desired length, minus the bottom ribbing.

Bottom Rib:
In this section, repeat the top ribbing, creating a 1×1 ribbing for the bottom. So, you’re going to knit into the knit stitch and purl into the purl stitches.

Repeat Row 6 (RS): K1TBL *K* last stitch: K1TBL
Detailed Instructions:
Knit into the back loop of the first stitch.
Next, knit all the stitches until you have 1 stitch remaining on your working needles.
Knit into the back loop of the last stitch.

Rows 1, 3 (WS): WYIF S1PW *P1, K1* last 2 sts: P1, WYIF S1PW
Detailed Instructions:
On the first stitch, bring the yarn into the front of your needle, slip 1 stitch purl-wise.
Next, repeat in the purl 1, knit 1 pattern until you have 2 stitches remaining on your working needles.
Purl the second to last stitch.
For the last stitch, with the yarn in front slip 1 purl-wise.

Cut the yarn, leaving a 12″ tail, which you can use to seam the side.

You’ve completed one long rectangle, knit the 2nd side the same as the first, the front and back are the same.

BOTH Versions, Bringing it all together:

Top Seam:
Put the wrong sides together.

Starting from the outside, seam the top seam, leaving a hole just large enough to fit your head through. Make sure the seams from the outside to the inside are the same measurement. (watch the video to see how I sewed it.)

Mine measures 46″ wide and the hole width is 8″. Each top seam measures 19″.
Here’s the math: total width minus 8″ divided by 2 equals the length of each side.
Example: 46″ – 8″ = 38″ / 2 = 19″

Side Seam:
Starting from the bottom, seam each side using the mattress stitch, leaving a hole just large enough to fit your hand and arm through. (watch the video above to see how I sewed it.)

Weave in the ends.

Blocking:
Steam-block lightly, which will add 1-2″ of length.

I steam blocked mine before I seamed it, but in hindsight it might be better to do it afterward, so it lines up better.

Print this Pattern

I know many of you enjoy working from a paper copy of your knitting pattern that’s why I offer a printer-friendly PDF completely ad-free here.

That way you can have lifetime access to it and download it to any device and view it from anywhere, without ads {and the pattern might not be around forever}.

The ads on this website make it possible for me to offer the patterns for free, that way you can try it before you buy it. :)