1310 Sirius - Poncho Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Ashfield

1310 Sirius Poncho Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women – Designed by Julie Turjoman for Valley Yarns

The 1310 Sirius is a women's poncho knitting pattern designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns. Rated Advanced Beginner, this pattern is an excellent project for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to explore simple textured stitch work in a relaxed, wearable garment. The finished piece is a graceful, oversized poncho designed to drape loosely at the high waist, with open sides through which the arms slip comfortably, falling to approximately elbow length.

What Is Being Made

The Sirius Poncho is a cover-up style garment intended for cool spring weather and casual layering. It is constructed from two identical rectangles — a front and a back — which are seamed together at the shoulders, leaving a central neck opening. The poncho sits loosely on the body with 8–10 inches of positive ease, giving it a relaxed, flowing silhouette. A ribbed hem is added at the bottom, and the neck and arm openings are finished with neat bands. The pattern is available in nine sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, and 5XL, with a finished flatlay width ranging from 34¼ inches to 51½ inches side to side. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in Size M.

Construction Techniques

The Sirius poncho uses a thoughtful combination of construction methods that make it approachable for advancing beginners while still offering satisfying variety:

• Worked flat (back and forth in rows): Each of the two main rectangles is knitted flat from the bottom cast-on edge up to the shoulders. This straightforward approach keeps the shaping minimal and the stitch pattern easy to follow row by row.
• Seamed construction: The two rectangles are joined at the shoulders using seaming, a classic finishing technique that gives the garment structure at the shoulder line while leaving the sides open for the arm openings.
• Worked in the round: Once the two body pieces are seamed, stitches are picked up along the cast-on edges and the bottom hem is worked downward in the round, creating a seamless ribbed hem finish. This combination of flat and circular knitting gives the pattern a well-rounded construction experience.
• Top-down and bottom-up elements: The main body is worked bottom-up, while the hem is worked downward after pick-up, incorporating both directional approaches within a single project.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Sirius pattern features several distinct stitch elements that contribute to its textured, polished appearance:

• Diamond Gansey Stitch Pattern: The center panel of each rectangle showcases a gansey-inspired textured diamond pattern worked entirely in knits and purls. Gansey patterning is a traditional British technique historically used in fishermen's sweaters, known for its dense, graphic texture created without any yarn-overs or cables — just the interplay of knit and purl stitches. This makes it very accessible for advancing beginners while producing a visually striking result.
• Slip Stitch Columns: Flanking the central diamond panel are slip stitch columns, which act as clean vertical borders that frame the textured motif and add subtle definition to the fabric structure.
• K2/P2 Rib: The bottom hem is finished in a classic two-by-two rib (K2/P2), worked in the round after stitches are picked up from the cast-on edge. This ribbing adds elasticity and a tidy, finished edge to the lower hem.
• Reverse Stockinette Stitch Bands: The neck opening and arm openings are finished with narrow reverse stockinette stitch bands, where the purl side of the fabric faces outward. This creates a subtle, rolled-edge aesthetic that frames the openings cleanly without requiring complex finishing techniques.
• Stockinette Stitch: The gauge swatch and portions of the body are worked in standard stockinette stitch, which forms the foundational fabric of the garment.