Banks skoncho

Banks Skoncho by Petra Christel Breakstone

What is Being Made

The Banks Skoncho is a versatile knitted garment designed by Petra Christel Breakstone that functions as both a skirt and a poncho, offering multiple styling options from a single project. This dual-purpose design features a fitted waistband with adjustable closure and a gently ruffled hemline, making it a practical and creative addition to any wardrobe. The garment measures approximately 19 inches in length and is available in multiple sizes to accommodate hip measurements ranging from 32 inches up to 48 inches, with options for positive ease of 0.5 to 1.5 inches for a comfortable fit.

Techniques Used

The Banks Skoncho is constructed using circular knitting, worked in the round from the top down to create a seamless, tubular garment. The design incorporates stranded knitting, a colorwork technique that allows multiple yarn colors to be worked simultaneously while maintaining tension across the fabric. The stranded knitting used in this project is described as easy, making it accessible to knitters new to colorwork. The garment features a ruffled bottom edge, created through strategic increases that add volume and visual interest to the hemline. An I-cord closure system is worked separately and threaded through the waistband, allowing the wearer to adjust the fit at the top of the garment. Large round disk beads are threaded onto the I-cord ends to serve as functional and decorative fasteners.

Stitches and Stitch Details

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the pattern excerpt provided, the construction relies on fundamental circular knitting stitches worked across multiple rounds. The colorwork sections utilize stranded knitting techniques, where yarn colors are carried across the back of the work to create the multicolor pattern. The I-cord is worked on double-pointed needles or a short circular needle using a specialized I-cord technique that creates a small, rounded cord suitable for threading and adjusting the waistband.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Banks Skoncho is knitted using 4-ply fingering weight yarn, specifically Theodora's Pearls in the colorway Auxanometer for the main fabric. The project requires four yarn colors total:

• C1 - Onyx
• C2 - Goldenrod
• C3 - Agave
• A fourth color (not specified in the provided excerpt)

The yarn is described as a bamboo yarn, which provides a smooth, lustrous finish and excellent stitch definition ideal for colorwork projects.

The pattern calls for US size 1 (2.25 mm) circular needles measuring 36 inches in length for most sizes, with a 32-inch length for the smallest size. These needles are used for the main body of the garment worked in the round. A US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needle in either 36 or 40 inches is also required for sections worked at a larger gauge. For the I-cord closure, US size 1 (2.25 mm) double-pointed needles or short circular needles are used.

Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 680 yards for the smallest size (32 inches hip) to 1,020 yards for the largest size (48 inches hip). The I-cord requires 37 to 55 yards depending on the size selected. Additional notions include one stitch marker and large round disk beads for finishing the I-cord ends.

Difficulty Level

The Banks Skoncho is rated as a beginner-friendly knitting project, making it an excellent introduction to circular knitting and stranded colorwork techniques. The straightforward construction and easy colorwork sections allow newer knitters to build confidence while creating a sophisticated, wearable garment.