What if you were the most beautiful Elf to have ever walked Middle Earth? What if you father was the King of Doriath? What if your mother was a demi-goddess? …what if Mother knit you a poncho?

The Girdle of Melian is the ring of enchantment cast by the Maia Melian around the hidden kingdom of Doriath in the first age of Middle Earth. Based upon the shawl of the same name, the poncho pattern incorporates stitch motifs that represent the four seasons of the world, the outer fence of the enchantment, and the wilderness beyond the borders of Doriath. Two colours are used, one within and one outside the enchantment.

The poncho is structured in eight wedges knit in the round from the center out, to create an octagonal piece with a circular neckline. The wedges are increased by one stitch on the first and every other subsequent row, alternating between the beginning and the end of the wedge to prevent creating a spiralling effect.

Gauge is given so that if limited yarn is available, usage can be matched. However, gauge is not as essential for lace knitting as satisfaction with the fabric produced, keeping in mind that if your gauge is larger more yarn will be required to finish the project.

This pattern is best suited to a solid or semi-solid sport-weight yarn with good stitch definition. A heavy fingering weight or light DK weight yarn could be used in substitution, but will affect the final size and drape of the product. The sample shown used @670 yards of main colour (pink) and @400 yards of contrast colour (brown).

Materials needed:
•4mm (US6) circular needles large enough for @640 stitches, or needle size to get a fabric you like
•7 stitch markers to mark wedges plus 1 contrasting marker to mark the start/end of the rounds
•48 additional stitch markers optional to mark repeats of final two lace charts
•optional cable needle for 1/1 twisted stitches
•@670 yards main colour
•@400 yards border colour

This pattern uses the Buttercups, Frost and Wilderness lace motifs created by Naomi Parkhurst, used with permission.

update with corrections posted April 2017