#1361 Lady Alice - Poncho Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Hardwick

Pattern #1361 Lady Alice – Women's Ruana Poncho Knitting Pattern in Valley Yarns Hardwick

Pattern #1361 Lady Alice, designed by Susan Baron and published by Valley Yarns, is a beautifully crafted knitting pattern for a women's ruana — an open-front poncho style garment that delivers exceptional warmth, drape, and everyday wearability. While the ruana silhouette may be less familiar than a traditional poncho, it is beloved for its relaxed, wrap-like fit that layers effortlessly over everyday outfits. The standout feature of this design is its elegant mosaic border, a striking two-color decorative element that gives Lady Alice a polished, artisan look without requiring advanced colorwork skills.

What Is Being Made

Lady Alice is a ruana-style open-front poncho for women, worked in three sizes to fit a wide range of body types. The finished garment is generously sized for comfortable, relaxed wear over other clothing. Finished measurements include a width of 24 (29, 34) inches and a length of 27½ (29½, 33¼) inches, fitting bust sizes 28–38 inches (XS/S/M), 40–50 inches (L/XL/2X), and 52–62 inches (3XL/4XL/5XL). The sample shown in the pattern is worked in Size XS/S/M.

Skill Level and Sizing

The pattern is rated Advanced Beginner in the original PDF, though the product listing notes it as intermediate — making it an excellent next-step project for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to explore simple colorwork borders and finishing methods. The three inclusive size groupings ensure the pattern is accessible to a broad range of knitters and wearers.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat: The pieces of Lady Alice are knitted flat, meaning back and forth in rows rather than in the round, which suits knitters who prefer straight or circular needle work without continuous circular construction.
• Seamed construction: The finished flat-knitted pieces are joined together using seaming techniques, giving the ruana its final structured shape and clean finish.
• Mosaic colorwork border: The decorative border uses a mosaic knitting technique — a method of creating two-color geometric or slip-stitch patterns while only working with one color per row. This makes it far more approachable than stranded colorwork, as there is no carrying of multiple yarns simultaneously across a row.
• Three-needle bind-off: A classic technique used to join two live sets of stitches together while simultaneously binding off, creating a neat and sturdy seam. The pattern specifically calls for a spare US size 8 (5.0 mm) needle for this purpose.
• I-cord buttonhole: A refined finishing detail worked using double-pointed needles, adding a tidy, tubular loop or fastening element to the garment.

Stitches Used

• Mosaic slip-stitch pattern for the decorative border sections
• Standard knit and purl stitches for the main body fabric
• I-cord stitch technique for the buttonhole detail
• Three-needle bind-off as a finishing and joining stitch method

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically for Valley Yarns Hardwick, a luxurious worsted weight yarn with a fiber composition of 50% Baby Alpaca, 35% Wool, and 15% Silk. Each hank contains 100g and 164 yards. This blend creates a yarn that is famously soft, slightly squishy, and wonderfully cozy — ideal for a wrap-style garment meant to be worn on cool days.

The pattern uses two colors:

• Main Color (MC): Deep Ocean (14) — required in 5 (7, 9) hanks depending on size
• Contrast Color (CC): Rust (06) — required in 2 (3, 3) han