Entrelac Poncho
Designed by Joan Dyer.  Yarn by Melinda Bickford of Tess' Designer Yarns  (http://www.tessdesigneryarns.com).

This poncho is knitted in the round, beginning at the neck edge, until it reaches your wrist.  The work is then divided and the front and rear points are finished separately.  The edge is then completed using attached I-cord, with a loop at each of the front and back points.  The loops can be cuff-linked together, over a shoulder, for a shorter double-warm wrap.

The entrelac squares are each 8 stitches by 16 rows.  Each "round" has 2 more entrelac rectangles than the round before, and the colors used alternate. The Silky Locks rectangles (and initial triangles) are worked in stockinette, the Angel Hair in reverse stockinette. For a snug fit around the neck, the initial round had 6 triangles (3 for the front, 3 for the back).  For a more generous neck opening, work 8 triangles






Materials: Yarn A: 2 sk Silky Locks; Yarn B: 2 sk Angel Hair; Circular needle(s), #11, various lengths

Directions:  Using Yarn A, cast on 6 x 8 = 48 for a snug neck,  8 x 8 = 64 for a more generous neck opening.  Join into a circle, being careful not to twist, and work 4 rounds of stockinette.  (This curls outward and finishes the neck edge.)  Next work the setup round.
    One triangle:      K1, turn;  P1, turn;  K2, turn;  P2, turn;  ....;   K7, turn;  P7, turn;  K8
First triangle completed.  Repeat these rows for the 2nd triangle, continue, until you have the desired number of triangles.  Turn, and P8 once only, leaving Yarn A at a triangle point farthest from the neck edge (so you don't need to break the yarn when you get to the next Yarn A round).

 
Figure 1: This figure shows a neck edge of 6 triangles using blue for Yarn A.  The lines indicate rows, the numbers indicate the order in which the triangles and rectangles are worked, and the "loops" are the live stitches once triangle or rectangle is completed and to which the next round will be joined.  The second round of entrelac rectangles, in red (yarn B), is also shown as is the start of the third round in Yarn A.   
    
Now start the entrelac rectangles in Yarn B.  With inside facing:  pick up and knit 8 stitches beginning at the "valley" nearest the neck edge, doing the pickup along the edge with non-live stitches.  Turn and purl 7 then p2tog joining a Yarn B stitch with the first live Yarn A stitch.  Turn and knit 8.  Repeat until all 8 Yarn A stitches have been consumed (in the first figure, this is the rectangle labelled "7".).  Repeat for next rectangle(s);  when you start the 3rd Yarn B rectangle [4th if you have the larger neck opening], DO NOT attach to the previous Yarn A round; just work 15 rows back and forth (in Figure 1, this is the rectangle labelled "9").    Now pick up 8 stitches from the rectangle just completed, working towards the next group of live Yarn A stitches (rectangle labelled "10").  Complete another Yarn B rectangle, joining with Yarn A setup triangle.  Continue, working another "extra" rectangle at the opposite side of the ring.  At the last rectangle work one additional row so that you end farthest from the neck opening.



 
Figure 2: shows 4 complete rounds.  (Numbering of rectangles is not the same as Figure 1).  The "P" indicates picked up stitches and the rectangle numbering shows the direction of working (not necessarily your starting place).

To work the next round (Yarn A rectangles), go to Yarn A that was left after completing the setup triangles.  Work similarly to the Yarn B rectangle round, but in the other (reverse) direction, to build Yarn A entrelac rectangles adding additional rectangles as before.

Repeat, alternating working yarns.  Once the poncho has been worked to the desired length (neck to wrist), separate front and back, and begin working one fewer rectangle each row.  You will need to break each yarn color at the end of a row of rectangles.

 
Figure 3: indicates the decreasing rows of rectangles.  The "BO" means bind off, and the arrows indicate the direction in which the row is worked.

Once front and back have been completed, work attached I-cord all around (using Yarn A to match the neck edge).