Recently I dropped all other knitting to concentrate on making the Chevron Spaghetti Strap Poncho from the book, S. Charles Collezione Spring/Summer 2009. It was so very Missoni-like. Ever since the 1970’s the ready-to-wear knitwear created by the husband and wife team of Rosita and Ottavio Missoni has enthralled me.
Living in New York City I could visit the Missoni boutiques in Bonwit Teller (now gone), Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Berdorf Goodman. I was a new and enthusiastic knitter and the Missoni knits spoke to me with their colors, patterns and textures. My knitter’s curiosity prompted me to flip the knits to their wrong side in hopes of understanding the stitch patterns better. I always took away with me a fresh understanding of how colors played off one another. Later I learned that Kaffe Fassett was, for a period of time, one of their designers. These images may explain my knitterly love of all things Missoni.
Rosita and Ottavio have now retired and Missoni continues under their daughter, Angela. However, though still brilliant knitwear, the riot of colors, pattern and textures seems less. The passing-on also meant that I no longer had access to their licensed yarns and the accompanying hand knitting patterns. So imagine the unexpected joy I felt when I knit my gauge swatch for the Chevron Poncho. I had to do the swatch twice needing to increase my needle size from US 8 (5mm) to US 9 (5.5mm).
Nothing could be simpler than this poncho. It’s two identical rectangles, each edged in garter stitch. Casting on you knit a deep garter stitch hem before changing to the striped chevron pattern. When you change pattern stitches you leave the first and last fourteen stitches on holders. You will go back to these stitches after finishing the main portion of each piece, knitting up in garter stitch to complete the side borders. These borders are then sewn on. The pattern is 28 rows long with each right side row worked the same – a combination of knit stitches, single increases and K3tog decreases. All wrong side rows are either knitted or purled. I’m carrying the colors up along the side. The straps are I-cords sewn on. Like the knitting the finishing will also be simple - two seams that start from the top outside edges of the pieces and end 7˝ in.
The yarn is Sahara, a blend of viscose, bamboo and linen. Sahara is a tape and one of the easiest I have ever worked with. I have yet to poke my needle tip through the tape when knitting. The yarn was a perfect choice for the poncho; it provides the bulk for a good-sized needle without producing a heavy fabric. My first piece floats and drapes. I anticipate feeling cool, comfortable and fashionable this summer. I’ll wear it both sleeveless and slipped over a T-shirt or blouse.
Though the poncho will happily remind me of Missoni I do enjoy an even better reminder everyday I am in the Lenox Store. Years ago I stopped by a local auction house to preview the items coming up for bidding. I stumbled over the corner of a rug. Catching my balance I noticed that I had turned up the label – Missoni. The large-sized rug was a patchwork of colorful knitted swatches backed by canvass. I was stunned. I sent my husband, George, to bid on the rug with fervent hopes that my outside limit would enable me to win the rug. It was.
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