The Comfort Zone modified for fingering-weight yarn to yield dimensions indicated below:

• First try: I CO 94st on US5 needle. (Update: I had to add 2 extra stitches on the set up round of the body, made just before the marker that starts each shoulder, and using an M1R, because I didn’t realize that this pattern requires a multiple of 4-st.) For future reference, make sure you’ve got a multiple of 4 stitches for the cast on, regardless of how many stitches that is to meet gauge.. Further update: I decided that this turtle neck is too slim (about 3” less circ than the original) so I’m going to rip back and reknit the neck ribbing at 108st. At this point, it’s unclear if I’ll have to front load any increases when I start the body. I’m also going to swatch on US5 (in stockinette) to see if I prefer the fabric in stockinette because I’m not sure I like how open my cashmere version (Take 5) is working up at…

• Second try: Knit 108st in twisted rib in round for 25R (3” of depth)

• Sized down to US4 needle and set up for body - 11st for shoulders given the switch in gauge - so starting circ is 11 / 43 / 11 / 43 = 108st.

Note - I didn’t swatched on this needle so I’ll use info from my previous swatching to estimate the number of st that will be required at full circ. Having said this, I’ll also take gauge as soon as I have enough rows to do so with some accuracy. Update - on blocking with US4 the st gauge is I’m also using one of my finished versions to confirm inc rate - esp at the beginning when front-loading a lot of inc rounds… While it’s hard to determine the st gauge in US4 (I didn’t really knit enough rounds and the turtle neck, which is very close, is skewing the gauge in initial rounds), I sense I’ll get a better fabric if I go down to a US 3. I’m going to have to knit at this gauge for a while before I can get an accurate sense of st count per inch. Then I’ll be able to determine st count required at full circ…

• Note: within 10” of vertical depth (or 90R at my gauge on US5 needle in stockinette), you need to get to 294st or ~50” of circ. To do this:

• Given that this gauge is small, front load ? increase rounds, to increase ?st quickly.

• Work another ?R, every other round as increase round (per pattern) - 4 st increased on each inc round. This should get you to 10” from base of neckband and to the point at which the fabric will hit full bust aka maximum circumference. At this point you’ll have 11 / 136 / 11 / 136. (Note: I’ve opted to inc the shoulders by 2st per side because I want to retain a semblance of the original proportions of the poncho.)

• Next, to get to at least 13” below base of neck, aka desired length, work 27R or 3” plain. Note - since this yarn will shrink vertically, you could increase this to 32R or even more if it seems necessary. You want the length to be at the elbow bend.

• Split to begin ribbing on front and back body. Follow instructions in the pattern for set up.

• With the same needle size OR maybe 1 size smaller, work 3.75” - 4” of twisted rib on front body (approx 36R but could be more given that you will have gone down a needle size and this yarn shrinks vertically). At desired length, BO in pattern. Note - if you have extra yarn, use it in this segment…

• Work 5” - 5.25” of twisted rib for back body (approx 48R but see note above). At desired length, BO in pattern. Note - if you have extra yarn, use it in this segment…

Gauge Swatch in Stockinette

US 6 Preblocked: 21st and 30 - 31R in 4”
US 6 Postblocked: 21st and 33R in 4”

US 5: Post blocked: 22.5st and 36R in 4”

(Don’t work this particular yarn on needles any larger than US 6…)

US4 Pre-blocked: 25st and 34R in 4”
US4 Post-blocked: 25st and 36R in 4”

Desired post-blocked dimensions:

Neck circumference: 16”
Neck depth: 3” max
Full circumference (by 10” below base of neck): 50” - 51”
Depth to full circ: 10” max
Depth to rib-split (at elbow): 13” (3 inches below full circ)
Depth of front body ribbing: 3.75” - 4” (presuming you have enough yarn) Make this about 75% of the depth of the back ribbing to optimize proportion.
Depth of back body ribbing: 5” - 5.25” (presuming you have enough yarn).
Back body length from base of neck: ~18”