Viva Poncho: Twenty Ponchos and Capelets to Knit [Paperback]

Christina Stork (Author), Leslie Barbazette (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 2005

Whether it's worn at the pool or as a cover-up or out on the town as an evening cloak, the poncho is everywhere. With Viva Poncho, knitters can make this sartorial sensation their own. This knitting book focusing solely on ponchos, features 20 projects in a range of styles and for various seasons.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Easier than a sweater, harder than a scarf, ponchos are the perfect in-between knitting project-they're also incredibly fashionable. That must be the reason why so many of Stork and Barbazette's designs look like they could fit right into the pages of Vogue, Nylon and Lucky. Take the two-piece rectangular poncho "Sonya," for example; cast loosely with superfine wool in cheery summer colors, it's the perfect accessory for a day at the beach. Need something warmer for winter? Try the one-piece raglan poncho "Eleanor," knit in a bulky alpaca-and-wool blend with a turtleneck and a pretty cable running down the front and back. For fancy nights, there's the one-piece caplet "Eloise" knit in a satiny black "faux fur" wool and tied with a pink ribbon. Stork, the owner of Article Pract, a "yarn shop for modern knitters" in Oakland, Calif., and Barbazette, founder of the accessories line Citizen Bags, provide plenty of advice for beginners, including tips for knitting with circular needles, dropping stitches on purpose and weaving in the ends as you go. A helpful chart at the beginning also lists the skills needed and taught within each of their 20 designs. With its fashionista photos, hip designs, clear instructions and reasonable price point, this volume is sure to have widespread appeal.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang (April 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584794216
• ISBN-13: 978-1584794219
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #566,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the recent poncho entries, August 11, 2005

By 

M. Desoer (Bay Area, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Viva Poncho: Twenty Ponchos and Capelets to Knit (Paperback)

For anyone else who is confused by the plethora of new "poncho" knitting books, hopefully my efforts will help you with your decision. I spent a considerable time in a couple of bookstores and local yarn stores in an attempt to select which poncho pattern books were the best. Having scoped out what I believe is everything on the current market, this one is definitely the best. Why? Well, there is a whole range of styles and designs. In addition, the patterns, while of varying levels, are easy to follow. This is the only one of the poncho books where, for me, the hardest decision is which one to knit -- there are several that I would love to have for this fall.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mistakes, November 1, 2005

By 

Linda S. Vandyck "Linda v" (Santa Fe, NM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Viva Poncho: Twenty Ponchos and Capelets to Knit (Paperback)

When I received this book, I found a number of patterns I wanted to make. My first choice was Eudora (page 110). It went pretty well until I got to row 41. I'm not a very experienced knitter (mostly scarves until recently), but it was pretty obvious to me that there was a mistake in the pattern. I sent emails to the publisher and the authors. I never heard from the authors, but today I received a reply from the publisher - there are corrections at: vivaponcho dot com. So beware - this book has mistakes.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The place to go for ponchos..., September 15, 2005

By 

Kristin Dreyer Kramer (NightsAndWeekends.com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Viva Poncho: Twenty Ponchos and Capelets to Knit (Paperback)

Right now, ponchos are everywhere-from the runway to the local movie theater-and the timing couldn't be better for all those knitters who joined the craze in the last few years and are ready to move beyond scarves. For those new knitters who want to enhance both their knitting repertoire and their wardrobe-and for seasoned pros looking for fun new projects-Christina Stork and Leslie Barbazette have created Viva Poncho, a collection of 20 poncho patterns for all levels of knitters.

The book is divided into three parts-one-piece, two-piece, and capelets. You'll find patterns for big, airy ponchos on huge needles, cozy ponchos to keep you warm when the weather gets chilly, and lacy capelets to accent your favorite strappy dress. The authors use drawings and charts along with the usual instructions to make patterns as understandable as possible. They also explain techniques that may be new to more novice knitters, using plenty of pictures to illustrate. For knitters who are looking to go beyond the pattern to add their own special touches, Stork and Barbazette also include tips and suggestions for adding hoods, fringe, and cowl necks-as well as changing yarns and playing with color-to individualize any design.

If you're searching for a pattern for a poncho, capelet, or serape (though I often have a hard time telling the difference), Viva Poncho has them all. There are ponchos for every occasion, every season, and every skill level. There's even a poncho for your pooch. Though the patterns and styles are sometimes a bit repetitious, there are still plenty of unique designs to thrill any poncho lover. So if you're looking for ponchos, look no further than Viva Poncho.