Knitted Beach Tunic or Poncho

Oh, the knitted beach tunic or poncho - what a versatile and stylish piece for those sunny beach days! Whether you're strolling along the sandy shores or relaxing under a beach umbrella, this cozy garment is a perfect choice. The intricate knitted patterns not only add a touch of bohemian charm but also provide just the right amount of coverage to keep you comfortable and chic. With its breezy and laid-back vibe, the knitted beach tunic or poncho is a must-have for any beach lover looking to add a fashionable flair to their seaside ensemble. So, go ahead and rock that beachy look with confidence and ease!

Materials

• Double Knitting yarn:
• 8 / 8 / 9 x 1oz balls in main shade (W), snow white;
• 2 / 2 / 2 oz in each of green (G) and red (R);
• 1 / 2 / 2 oz in blue (B);
• 1 / 1 / 1 oz in yellow (Y).
• Pair each of No 8 (4mm) and No 9 (3¾mm) needles.
• No 10 (3¼mm) crochet hook.

Tension

23sts and 31 rows to four inches on 3¾mm needles over stocking stitch.

Size matters

To fit chest:

33-34 / 35-36 / 37-38 inches;

length from top of shoulders: 21½ / 22 / 22½ inches.

Abbreviations

• k: knit
• p: purl
• k2tog: knit two stitches together to decrease one stitch
• W: main white
• G: green
• R: red
• B: blue
• Y: yellow

A word on the wool.

Original yarn was a double knitting

Instructions for Tunic

Instructions are given for 3 sizes, and the tunic is knitted sideways, following the chart.

Carry unused wool loosely behind work to keep even tension and elasticity.

Back

With No 9 (3¾mm) needles and main shade (W), cast on 121 / 121 / 127 stitches, and work 1 / 3 / 5 rows in stocking stitch, starting with a purl row.

Break off W.

Change to No 8 (4mm) needles and with right side facing, work the Fair Isle pattern from the chart, reading odd rows knit from right to left, and even rows purl from left to right.

On knit rows, first work section A, then repeat the 6 pattern stitches 18 / 18 / 19 times. On purl rows, repeat the 6 pattern stitches 18 / 18 / 19 times, then work section A, as indicated.

Thus your first 2 rows will read :

1st row (right side facing): knit in green (G).

2nd row: purl, * 1G, 1Y; repeat from * to last stitch, 1G.

Continue working from chart until 36th pattern row has been completed, increasing 1 stitch at the beginning of the next and every

following 4th row for shoulder as indicated : [130 / 130 / 136 sts].

Shape back of neck by casting off 3 stitches at the beginning of the next row, then decrease 1 stitch at this edge on the following 6 rows as indicated: [121 / 121 / 127 sts].

Work 1 row straight to complete the Fair Isle panel.

Break off B.

Change back to No 9 needles and work 42 / 46 / 50 rows straight in stocking stitch in main shade W, starting with a knit row.

Change to No 8 needles, join in B, and work the Fair Isle panel for the left side.

To reverse the pattern, read the chart as before, but work down the chart, starting with the 44th row.

When you are working backwards, even rows are knit, and odd rows, purl.

So the first 2 rows will read:

44th row (right side facing): knit 3W, 1B, 5W, 1B, 3W, * 2W, 1B, 3W; repeat from * to end.

43rd row: purl, * 3W, 1B, 2W; repeat from * to last 13 stitches; 3W, 1B, 5W, 1B, 3W.

Finish to correspond with chart, increasing for neck and decreasing for shoulder as indicated.

When the 44 rows of chart are done, break G.

Change to No 9 needles and work 1 / 3 / 5 rows in stocking stitch, in W, starting with a knit row.

Cast off.

Front

Work as for back, shaping neck by casting off 5 stitches at the beginning of the 37th row, then decreasing as indicated, and changing to No 9 needles when the 44 rows of the Fair Isle panel have been completed: [111 / 111 / 117 sts].

When the neck shapings are complete, work 34 / 38 / 42 rows straight in stocking stitch using W, starting with a knit row.

Now, reading chart in reverse as before, work 4 more rows in W, shaping the neck as indicated.

Change to No 8 needles, and Fair Isle pattern, and finish as for the back, shaping neck and shoulder as before.

Ribbed Border

Front: with right side facing, using W wool and No 9 needles, pick up and knit 114 / 120 / 126 stitches evenly along the lower edge.

Work 10 / 14 / 10 rows in k1/p1 rib; cast off in rib.

Work the back ribbed border in the same way.

To Make Up

Press work lightly on the wrong side, under a damp cloth, avoiding the ribbing.

Join right shoulder seam.

With right side facing, using W and crochet hook, start at the left side of the neck on the front, and work a row of double crochet (English = double crochet, American= single crochet) evenly round neck edge.

Turn with 1 chain, and work a further 3 rows dc, turning with 1 chain

at the end of every row.

Fasten off.

Join the left shoulder and neckband seam.

Armholes: Measure 6¼ / 6¾ / 7¼ inches from the top of the shoulder down the side edge on the back and front, and mark with pins.

With right side facing, W wool and crochet hook, work a row of dc between the pins. Work a further 3 rows dc, decreasing 1 stitch at each end of every row. Fasten off.

Work the other armhole in the same way.

Join side and border seams; press seams.

Materials

• Aran or worsted weight yarn:
• 10 x 1oz balls in main shade (W), snow white;
• 3 oz in green (G);
• 2 oz in tangerine (R);
• 2 oz in blue (B);
• 1 oz in yellow (Y).
• Pair each of No 6 (5mm) and No 7 (4½mm) needles.
• No 10 (3¼mm) crochet hook.

Tension

20sts and 25 rows to four inches on 4½mm needles over stocking stitch.

Size matters

Width across front measured flat:

22 inches;

length from top of shoulders: 25 inches.

Abbreviations

• k: knit
• p: purl
• k2tog: knit two stitches together to decrease one stitch
• W: main white
• G: lime green
• R: tangerine
• B: royal blue
• Y: sun yellow

A word on the wool.

Original yarn was a blend of wool and acrylic, making it so-called "light weight", though it's an Aran or worsted weight yarn.

A cotton blend might be pleasanter for the beach.

Instructions for Poncho

Instructions are given for 3 sizes, and the tunic is knitted sideways, following the chart.

Carry unused wool loosely behind work to keep even tension and elasticity.

Back

With No 7 (4½mm) needles and main shade (W), cast on 127 stitches, and work 6 rows in stocking stitch, starting with a knit row.

Change to No 6 (5mm) needles and with right side facing, work the Fair Isle pattern from the chart, reading odd rows knit from right to left, and even rows purl from left to right.

On knit rows, first work section A, then repeat the 6 pattern stitches 19 times. On purl rows, repeat the 6 pattern stitches 19 times, then work section A, as indicated.

Thus your first 2 rows will read :

1st row (right side facing): knit in green (G).

2nd row: purl, * 1G, 1Y; repeat from * to last stitch, 1G.

Continue working from chart until 36th pattern row has been completed, increasing 1 stitch at the beginning of the next and every

following 4th row for shoulder as indicated : [136 sts].

Shape back of neck by casting off 3 stitches at the beginning of the next row, then decrease 1 stitch at this edge on the following 6 rows as indicated: [127 sts].

Work 1 row straight to complete the Fair Isle panel.

Break off B.

Change back to No 7 needles and work 26 rows straight in stocking stitch using main shade W, starting with a knit row.

Change to No 6 needles, join in B, and work the Fair Isle panel for the left side.

To reverse the pattern, read the chart as before, but work down the chart, starting with the 44th row.

When you are working backwards, even rows are knit, and odd rows, purl.

So the first 2 rows will read:

44th row (right side facing): knit 3W, 1B, 5W, 1B, 3W, * 2W, 1B, 3W; repeat from * to end.

43rd row: purl, * 3W, 1B, 2W; repeat from * to last 13 stitches; 3W, 1B, 5W, 1B, 3W.

Finish to correspond with chart, increasing for neck and decreasing for shoulder as indicated.

When the 44 rows of chart are done, break G.

Change to No 7 needles and work 6 rows in stocking stitch, using W, starting with a knit row.

Cast off.

Front

Work as for back, shaping neck by casting off 5 stitches at the beginning of the 37th row, then decreasing as indicated, and changing to No 7 needles when the 44 rows of the Fair Isle panel have been completed: [117 sts].

Break off B.

When the neck shapings are complete, work 18 rows straight in stocking stitch using W.

Now, reading chart in reverse as before, work 4 more rows in W, shaping the neck as indicated.

Change to No 6 needles, and Fair Isle pattern, and finish as for the back, shaping neck and shoulder as before.

To Make Up

Press work lightly on the wrong side, under a damp cloth.

Neck edging front: with right side facing, using W and crochet hook, start at the left side of the neck on the front, and work a row of double crochet (English = double crochet, American= single crochet) evenly round neck edge.

Turn with 1 chain.

Work a 2nd row of dc.

Fasten off.

Neck edging back: work as for front.

In the same way, neaten the side edgings by working a row of dc down the right side of the front, along the lower edge, and up the other side; turn with one chain, and work a 2nd row.

Fasten off.

Work a crochet edging on the back in the same way.

Join shoulder seams.

Press seams and edgings.

Make ties: with 3 strands of W, or contrast yarn, make 4 lengths of crochet chain, about 20 inches long. Sew one length to each side of front and back, about 3½ inches in from the side and 10 inches up from the lower edge.

Tie as shown in the photo.