Transumanza - poncho

Transumanza is the Italian term for transhumance that means ‘crossing the land’. It is a traditional migration of sheep and cows from the highlands to the lowlands and back which happens twice a year. 

Transumanza is an ancient tradition vital in Abruzzo, but not exclusive to Abruzzo. People would move with their livestock to higher pastures in spring/summer and to lower valleys in autumn. The paths along where they moved are called tratturi, and they represent important elements of our heritage still now.
The shepherds would wear traditional black/dark capes called tabarro. They wore it during the day, and in the night they used it as a blanket or even a tent. Very famous are Cartier-Bresson’s photos taken at Scanno, a small town encircled by the Majella mountains and that has been immortalised by many photographers. In the Scanno photography campaign, Cartier-Bresson also took gorgeous images of men wearing tabarro.

My poncho is designed without any side-opening; I applied a bold rhomboidal geometrical motif to it. It is a motif that comes with some twists and rotations from the same sketch from which my Gradient mesh designs originated. 

As the motif has a large repeat, I found that a poncho was the perfect garment that would enhance the pattern; on the other hand, the pattern is giving a modern feature to an old traditional cloak. 

I chose to knit Transumanza with green and blue shades, which reflect the colours seen by the shepherds and sheep in springtime migration. 

I set up another palette with autumnal colours, reflecting the second yearly transumanza.

Yarn

Fingering woollen yarn, 100m / 109yds per 25g, WPI = 14, in two shades.

Yarn used for the sample: Kate Davies Designs Milarrochy Tweed (70% Wool; 30% Mohair; 100m / 109yds per 25g ball) in shades:

A Hirst (182 g)

B Garth (33 g)

C Ardlui (44 g)

D Tarbet (44 g)

E Lochan (24.5 g)

Needles and Notions

2 gauge-size needle(s) of your preferred type for working in the round (for the lower edge rib you will need a very long cable, at least 150cm / 60in)

Stitch markers

Tapestry needle

Scissors

Gauge

31 stitches and 33 rounds to 10cm / 4in over stranded stockinette in the round on gauge-size needle(s)

Use 3.25mm needle(s) as a starting point for swatching.

Size

Max Height: 77.5cm / 301/2in

Max Length: 85cm / 331/2in

Pattern Notes

The poncho is constructed with two identical rectangular panels, each of them is knitted in the round and then steeked. After steeking, the two panels are sewn together to poncho shape. The lower edge and the neck are finished off with 1x1 rib.

Charts and Schematic Notes
The pattern includes charts and schematics.

Special Techniques

Steek

Joining with mattress stitch a Selvedge Edge to a Bind Off

Technical Editing: Frauke Urban
Design, Photography and Graphics: Claudia Fiocchetti