One Skein Noro Poncho

I had this beautiful ball of Noro yarn sitting in a partially worked project and shoved into a drawer. It needed more than one skein to finish, and at $45 a skein plus the fact that my local yarn store doesn’t carry it anymore, I decided to just frog it and think about what I could make with just one (albeit large) skein. 

I thought this slubby, cottony, color-shifting Noro yarn would be perfect for a poncho—something cozy but with texture and visual interest. Ponchos can sometimes feel a bit dated or lean into a cheap sort of mall kiosk vibe, but I was aiming for something cooler, more modern, and effortless. A piece that just warms your shoulders and acts as a fashionable, easygoing accessory.

This poncho was worked top-down in the round, using raglan increases to shape. While this isn’t a formally tested or graded pattern, I wanted to write down everything I did in pattern form—basically as a “here’s what I did” kind of thing, in case anyone else wants to follow along or make their own version. 

So, here’s what I did:

Size & Fit

This poncho measures about 50–52 inches in total circumference, making it roomy enough to fit multiple sizes comfortably.

Gauge

14 stitches x 22 rows = approx. 4" (in stockinette, measured after blocking)

Needles

• 6.5 mm (US 10) circular needles for the main body, starting with a 14" cable, switching to a 30" cable as needed.

• 5.5 mm (US 9) circular needles with a 14" cable for the neckline.

Yarn

Noro Haruito, color #11 (40% silk, 40% cotton, 20% nylon; 150 g / 410 yds) — 1 skein

Other Materials

• 4 stitch markers

• Scissors

• Darning needle

—Pattern Instructions—

Body

Using 6.5mm circular needles, cast on 112 stitches with the long-tail cast-on. Join in the round, placing a marker to indicate the beginning of the round (BOR).

Knit 3 rounds.

Increase round: Knit 6, (kfb, knit 13) repeat 7 times, then kfb, knit 7. (Total 8 increases this round.)

Knit 3 rounds.

Increase round: (kfb, knit 14) repeat 8 times. (Total 8 increases this round.)

Knit 2 rounds.

Knit 1 round to place increase markers (PM): Knit 18, PM, knit 46, PM, knit 46, PM, knit 18 back to BOR.

Raglan shaping increases

Markers:

A = back left

B = center front

C = back right

Starting the round immediately after placing markers (Row 12), increase at all three markers (ABC) by working:

Knit to 1 stitch before marker, M1R, knit 1, slip marker, knit 1, M1L

Then follow this pattern until Row 36:

Increase ABC every 4th row 

Increase B every other row

After Row 36:

Stop increasing at A and C.

Continue increasing B every other row.

After Row 56:

Increase B every 4th row to taper.

Continue until Row 66.

Bind off 

Bind off using an I-cord bind off. (Video here, if you’re unfamiliar) 

Neckline

Using 5.5mm circular needles, pick up one stitch for each cast on stitch around the neckline (112 sts).

Knit 8 rounds stockinette stitch.

Bind off with Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off 

Finishing

Weave in ends, wash, and block.

That’s it! Below are some photos of it styled, including a back view. I love how it turned out and I’m glad I finally found a use for this yarn.