Lydia Poncho Knitting Pattern

A few months ago I rediscovered the very funny Beetlejuice cartoon series, and in the process fell in love with Lydia’s red spider-web poncho. I found some suitably gothy yarn and started to knit, only to discover I didn’t have quite enough yarn. The result: a shorter, more practical poncho than the one in the cartoons, but still sexy, warm and fun. You can make yours longer, wider or less pointy, or leave out the cobweb details.

If you have any problems with this pattern (and sorry, I’m not very good at them) please leave a message in the comments box below.

The poncho is worked from back to front in one piece.

Materials: Worsted weight dark red yarn

5.5mm needles

Black yarn or embroidery floss

Darning needle

Stitch holder

Gauge: 4 sts x 6 rows to the inch

Abbreviations: st – Stitch

K – knit

P – purl

Kfb – knit into front and back of stitch

RS – Right side

WS – Wrong side

Cast on 3 st

Rows 1-3: Work in stocking stitch, starting with a P row

Row 4: Kfb, K1, kfb. (you should now have 5 sts)

Rows 5-9: work in stocking stitch

Row 10: K1, Kfb, K1, Kfb, K1

Rows 11-15: work in stocking stitch

Row 16: K1, kfb, K to second to last st, Kfb, K1

Repeat rows 11-16 five times

Continue in stocking stitch, increasing every 4th row until you have 99 sts (or until work reaches desired length and width)

Next row: K1, Kfb, K32, Cast off 31, K32, Kfb, K1

Place first set of 32 sts (the right hand side, if looking at RS)

Now working with left set of 32 sts:

First row – Purl

2nd row – K1, K2tog, K to end, Cast on 5 (this should be on “inside” edge, ie where your head will go on the finished garment)

3rd row- repeat first

4th row – K to end, Cast on 5

5th row - repeat first

6th row - Repeat 2nd

Now place these sts on stitch holder and repeat process for other side, casting on 5 on the inside (where the hole for your head will be) and decreasing 2 at outside edge. You will have to cast on at the start of P rows, instead of the end of K rows. Finish on a P row.

K across, cast on 1, then pick up sts from the stitch holder and knit across those. (95 sts remain)

Next row – K1, k2tog, k to 3 sts from edge, K2tog, K1

Work 3 rows in stocking stitch

Repeat these four rows until you have 3 sts remaining. Cast off.

Weave in all ends and block.

For a longer, thinner poncho, increase the number of rows between the increase/decrease rows. For a wider poncho, decrease the number of rows and continue increasing for longer.

To add the cobweb detail, use the black yarn and the darning needle and sew from neck band to bottom edge of poncho in backstitch. For mine, I added eight “threads”, one at the back going from the middle to the point, one at the front doing the same, two along the shoulders and four in between these. Then, sew two or three vaguely circular lines joining these “threads” up.

And there you have it, your very own Lydia Deetz poncho!

For more of my patterns and crafty tips check out:

• Bataclava Knitting Pattern: Make Your Own Batman Cowl Hat
• Guide to Wire Knitting
• How to Make Vampish Gothic Gloves
• How to Make an Easy Shawl
• Toddlets Sweeney Todd mittens
• Edward Scissorhands costume how to