cro che t

SOUTHWEST
S p i r i t
bonus
project

Text and designs © Susan Kennedy 2023. Layout and photography © David and Charles, Ltd 2023.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means.
 SKILL LEVEL

LIGHTNING FEATHER
Poncho
Lightning is a common occurrence on the high mountain peaks
and flat mesas of the Four Corners area. Traditional Navajo
teachings say that lightning is the contact between Mother
Earth and Father Sky that sparks the reproduction of all plant
life. A feather’s lightness is a soft, graceful counterpart to
the striking power of a lightning bolt. Lightning and feathers
are both magnificent displays of nature’s beauty, and both
inspired the motif of this versatile tapestry crochet top.

The poncho is constructed from two

double crochet rectangles joined at
the top to create shoulder seams.
A zigzag lacing cord at each side
represents the shape of a lightning
bolt and joins the front to the back in
a unique way. The lacing cord ends
are adorned with macramé tassels to
represent the softness of feathers and
create bohemian southwestern style.
SUPPLIES GAUGE
13 sts and 7.5 rows = 4in
YARN (10cm) in dc
Worsted (aran) weight in five
colors SIZE
Main Color (MC): 930yd XS–M: 28in wide x 22in long
(850m) for XS–M; 1,240yd (71cm wide x 56cm long) to fit
(1,134m) for L–XL; 1,525yd a 28–38in (71–96.5cm) chest
(1,395m) for 2X–3X: 1,765yd
L–XL: 33in wide x 24in long
(1,614m) for 4X–5X
(84cm wide x 61cm long) to fit
Contrast Color 1 (CC1): 93yd a 40–46in (101.5–117cm) chest
(85m)
2X–3X: 37in wide x 26in long
Contrast Color 2 (CC2): 93yd (94cm wide x 66cm long) to fit
(85m) a 48–54in (122–137cm) chest
Contrast Color 3 (CC3): 93yd 4X–5X: 41in wide x 27in
(85m) long (104cm wide x 69cm
Contrast Color 4 (CC4): 93yd long) to fit a 56–62in
(85m) (142–158cm) chest

Shown in Lion Brand Pima If you are between sizes,

Cotton yarn (100% cotton); choose a size up for a looser
186yd (170m)/100g: 178Y poncho fit or a size down for
Dragonfly (MC, 5 balls [7 balls: a sweater-like fit. Model is
9 balls: 10 balls]), 099R Vintage wearing size XS–M.
(CC4, 1 ball), 159S Mineral
Yellow (CC3, 1 ball), 140R
Taupe Rose (CC2, 1 ball), and
135 Spice (CC1, 1 ball).

HOOK
5.5mm (I/9) crochet hook for
poncho, 4mm (G/6) hook for
lacing cord

Pattern Notes
Wind contrast color yarns into small balls to make color changing
easier. You will need six small balls each of MC and CC1, five small
balls of CC2, and four small balls each of CC3 and CC4. To change
colors, yarn over with the new color to complete the last stitch in the
old color. Each row begins with a starting ch-3, which counts as a
double crochet stitch. Work is turned after each row. Pattern shows
directions for size XS–M (L–XL: 2X–3X: 4X–5X).

3
PONCHO FRONT Row 7: 27 (35: 41: 47) MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, Row 14: Rep Row 12.
3 CC3, 3 CC4, 9 MC, 3 CC4, 3 CC3, 3 CC2, 3 Row 15: Rep Row 11.
Using MC, ch 89 (105: 117: 129). CC1, 27 (35: 41: 47) MC.
Row 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hook and each ch Row 16: Rep Row 10.
Row 8: 30 (38: 44: 50) MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2,
across. (87 dc: 103 dc: 115 dc: 127 dc) Row 17: Rep Row 9.
3 CC3, 3 CC4, 3 MC, 3 CC4, 3 CC3, 3 CC2, 3
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first st), dc in each CC1, 30 (38: 44: 50) MC. Row 18: Rep Row 8.
st across. (87 dc: 103 dc: 115 dc: 127 dc) Row 9: 15 (23: 29: 35) MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, Row 19: Rep Row 7.
Rep Row 2 six (8: 10: 11) more times. 3 CC3, 3 CC4, 6 MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, 3 CC3, Row 20: Rep Row 6.
3 CC4, 3 CC3, 3 CC2, 3 CC1, 6 MC, 3 CC4, 3 Row 21: Rep Row 5.
Colorwork Section CC3, 3 CC2, 3 CC1, 15 (23: 29: 35) MC.
Row 22: Rep Row 4.
Row 1: 27 (35: 41: 47) MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, Row 10: 18 (26: 32: 38) MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2,
3 CC3, 3 CC4, 6 MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, 3 CC3, Row 23: Rep Row 3.
3 CC3, 3 CC4, 9 MC, 3 CC4, 3 CC3, 3 CC2, 3
3 CC2, 3 CC1, 6 MC, 3 CC4, 3 CC3, 3 CC2, 3 Row 24: Rep Row 2.
CC1, 27 (35: 41: 47) MC.
CC1, 18 (26: 32: 38) MC. Row 25: Rep Row 1.
Row 2: 30 (38: 44: 50) MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2,
3 CC3, 3 CC4, 3 MC, 3 CC4, 3 CC3, 3 CC2, 3 Row 11: 3 (11: 17: 23) MC, (3 CC1, 3 CC2, Rep Row 2 eight (10: 12: 13) times.
CC1, 30 (38: 44: 50) MC. 3 CC3, 3 CC4, 6 MC) twice, 3 CC1, 3 CC2,
Fasten off and weave in ends.
3 CC1, (6 MC, 3 CC4, 3 CC3, 3 CC2, 3 CC1)
Row 3: 33 (41: 47: 53) MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2,
twice, 3 (11: 17: 23) MC.
3 CC3, 3 CC4, 3 CC3, 3 CC2, 3 CC1, 33 (41:
Row 12: 6 (14: 20: 26) MC, (3 CC1, 3 CC2,
PONCHO BACK
47: 53) MC.
3 CC3, 3 CC4, 6 MC) twice, 3 CC1, (6 MC, 3 Using MC, ch 89 (105: 117: 129).
Row 4: 36 (44: 50: 56) MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, 3
CC4, 3 CC3, 3CC2, 3CC1) twice, 6 (14: 20: Row 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hook and all ch
CC3, 3 CC2, 3 CC1, 36 (44: 50: 56) MC.
26) MC. across. (87 dc: 103 dc: 115 dc: 127 dc)
Row 5: 39 (47: 53: 59) MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, 3
Row 13: 9 (17: 23: 29) MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first st here and
CC1, 39 (47: 53: 59) MC.
3 CC3, 3 CC4, 6 MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, 3 CC3, 3 throughout), dc in each st across. (87 dc:
Row 6: 24 (32: 38: 44) MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, CC4, 9 MC, 3 CC4, 3 CC3, 3 CC2, 3 CC1, 6 103 dc: 115 dc: 127 dc)
3 CC3, 3 CC4, 6 MC, 3 CC1, 6 MC, 3 CC4, 3 MC, 3 CC4, 3 CC3, 3 CC2, 3 CC1, 9 (17: 23:
Rep Row 2 until you have 41
CC3, 3 CC2, 3 CC1, 24 (32: 38: 44) MC. 29) MC.
(45: 49: 51) rows.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Chart
Each square of the chart represents three double crochet stitches.
Colorwork Row
Colorwork Row
13
13
12
12
11
11
10
10
99
88
77
6
5
44
3
22
11

KEYMC CC1 CC2 CC3 CC4

MC CC1 CC2 CC3 CC4

4
Finishing Edging Joining the Sides
Join Front and Back at Shoulders Attach MC yarn at the corner of one of with Lacing
With right sides of poncho panels facing one the long edges of the joined front/back With a 4mm (G/6) hook, chain 150 (160:
another and WS facing out, attach MC yarn rectangle, and work (sc, ch 1) into the end of 170: 175).
at edge, sc through both front and back for each row, sc in last st.
Fasten off.
30 (38: 44: 50) stitches. Fasten off.
Make another chain cord in the same way.
Fasten off. Rep on other long edge. Mark a point 10½in (26cm) (11½in [29cm]:
Skip next 27 sts, reattach yarn with a sl st, 13½in [34cm]: 14½in [37cm]) from the
sc through both front and back for last 30 shoulder edge at each side for armholes.
(38: 44: 50) stitches. Insert one end of the chain cord through
Fasten off. the ch-1 space on the front of the poncho
and the other end of the chain cord through
the ch-1 space on the back of the poncho.
Lace the chain cord down through the side
edging, pushing the cord ends through every
other ch-1 space from the back of the work
to the front to join the sides together with
crisscross lacing for 9½in (24cm) (10½in
[26cm]: 12½in [32cm]: 13½in [34cm]). Knot
the end of each chain cord in an overhand
knot, then knot again in an overhand knot
to create a larger knot. Trim chain cord yarn
ends near the knot.

5
Macramé Tassels on Tie the tassel wrap piece around the top of
the tassel and knot it (F). Wrap the yarn
Chain Ends around the tassel 10 times. Use a yarn
Cut four 12in (30.5cm) lengths each of needle to hide the ends of the yarn inside
CC1, CC2, CC3, and CC4. Cut a 16in (41cm) the tassel (G, H). Trim the tassel to 4in
length of MC to wrap the top of the tassel. (10cm). Repeat three times to create a tassel
Fold four pieces of CC1 in half—into a for each chain cord end.
hairpin shape—and place on a flat surface.
Fold four pieces of CC2 in half and tuck
the ends through the top of the hairpin
loop formed by CC1 (A). Fold four pieces
of CC3 in half and tuck the ends through
the hairpin loop formed by CC2 (B). Fold
four pieces of CC4 in half and tuck the ends A B
through the hairpin loop formed by CC3.
Tuck the ends of CC1 through the hairpin
loop formed by CC4 (C).
Place the knot end of the chain cord into
the center of the loops (D). Slowly tighten
each loop up to meet the knot by pulling on
the ends (E).

C D E

F G H