Gooseberry Poncho

**Sizes:** 2 (4, 6, 8, 10-12) years **Finished measurements:** Chest circumference: 88 (96, 102, 109, 109) cm [34¾ (37¾, 40¼, 43, 43)]”; Length from shoulder to edge: approx. 40 (43, 47, 52, 56) cm [15¾ (17, 18½, 20½, 22)]” **Yarn:** 1 strand of Knitting for Olive Heavy Merino (125 m [137 yd] / 50 g [1.8 oz]), worsted weight yarn, 4 (6, 6, 7, 9) balls, + 1 strand of Knitting for Olive Merino (250 m [273 yd] / 50 g [1.8 oz]), fingering-weight yarn, 2 (3, 3, 4, 5) balls. Sample is in Heavy Merino + Merino in Dusty Moose colorway **Needles:** 6 mm / US10 circular needles and 5 mm / US8 double-pointed needles, or in size to obtain gauge **Gauge (after blocking):** 16 sts and 24 rows = 10 cm [4”] with 6 mm / US10 needle in stockinette stitch and 2 strands held together **Notions:** Stitch markers, waste yarn or stitch holders, tapestry needle Gooseberry Poncho is a mix between a poncho and a vest. It has armholes like a vest but it is also oversized, working as an outer layer, like a poncho. Gooseberry Poncho is worked with 1 strand of Heavy Merino + 1 strand of Merino held together throughout, and features an edge with leaves and berries along the lower edge of the poncho. Gooseberry Poncho is worked from the bottom up. You start with the leaf and berry edge, working back and forth from a chart. Stitches are then picked up and you knit the last berries before the poncho is shaped with German short rows and continued in the round up to the armholes. From here, the front and back are shaped and finished separately, working back and forth. Shoulders are grafted together and Gooseberry Poncho is finished with a ribbed turtleneck in 2x2 rib. ***The leaf and berry stitch pattern is charted only.***