The Syrah Swancho was inspired by fashion, WeCrochet’s Galileo yarn, and named for a grape. It’s designed to be a layering garment for the fall and spring, but could be worn any time of the year since it’s made in a sport weight yarn.

I enjoy finding design inspiration in fashion, and I happened across a burgundy top that instantly caught my eyes. I grabbed my sketchbook to draw out how I thought I could recreate a seamless crochet version… As you read through the pattern, you’ll notice that the Syrah Swancho is not seamless, but thoughtfully constructed. Many crocheters do not enjoy weaving in a lot of ends, so I’m looking out for my crochet friends. ?

If I’m being honest, I had this idea in 2020, but it wasn’t until this year that I sat down to determine how I wanted this design to look. I searched through my stitch dictionaries and checked out a few YouTube videos, just to come back to one of my all-time favorite stitches, the X-stitch, as I call it. Recently, I’ve seen it also called the Crossed Treble stitch. Whatever you may call it, I hope you love it as much as I do.

For the Syrah Swancho, I decided to use simple stitches for the majority of the body, use the x-stitch to draw attention, and a simple ribbing along the hem for the sweater effect. I loved it so much as it was after seaming, I decided to not add the turtle neck. Instead, I designed a coordinating cowl and headband to create a different look, if desired. The cowl add headband pattern is coming soon.

The name, Syrah Swancho, came from a few different things. First off, there’s not a lot of patterns that I came across titled swancho or swoncho. A friend asked why the A instead of an O, and to me, it sounds better. So you get swan (like the bird) – cho, which is sweater + poncho. Swencho definitely didn’t flow, and it’s even more confusing for autocorrect spelling. LOL For the strict English grammar folks, you may cringe at swancho, so I apologize, and I’m open to suggestions. ?

Syrah [see RAH] is a jammy, fruity and spicy grape that can take on different characteristics depending on the terroir and growing conditions. It’s a full-bodied single varietal wine. It can also be referred to as Shiraz, which originated in France. This is the most I have ever known about wine or a grape. LOL I don’t consume much alcohol, so I wouldn’t know the difference between any type of red wine. If you enjoy red wines, here’s 31 different types. I chose this based on the yarn color, Valentine, and it’s fun to say.

Let’s talk about the shape of the Syrah Swancho. Rather than creating a rectangle or square shape for the poncho and just seaming the sides, I wanted something different that would have great drape and follow the natural shape of shoulders. Unfortunately the inspired picture did not offer much help in figuring out the shape, so I decided to go with a trapezoid shape. This sits really well on the shoulders and along the arms, and give it the poncho vibe. The wrist cuffs are easily adjustable for one’s preferred tightness.

If you’re familiar with my garment patterns, you know that I make them to be size-inclusive. The Syrah Poncho is size-inclusive but in grouped sizes to fit a range in bust size. This makes the pattern easier to read, so if you want a different fit, you could choose to make a different size. To assist in the ease of reading the sizes are color coded too.

If you’re loving this design so far, you can 20% off of the PDF for 3 days only! Keep scrolling to find “Release Weekend” to grab the code for Ravelry and Etsy.

YARN

For the Syrah Swancho, I chose to use WeCrochet Galileo in Valentine, which was so kindly provided by WeCrochet. Valentine is a lovely burgundy that appears more red in some lighting, and is always a shade that is in style. I know you have some reds in your closet and shoes. I wanted to choose a color that would blend seamlessly into your current wardrobe, but also make a statement, if you wanted.

Galileo is a sport weight yarn that is 50% Merino Wool and 50% Viscose from Bamboo. This combination creates warmth, smoothness, and wicking to truly make it a workhorse yarn that can work for all seasons. The viscose offers a smoothness and shine that is similar to silk but without the higher price. Trust me when I say that will squeeze and squish this yarn for a few hours before you start crocheting with it.

To make this yarn even better, there are 12 total shades and it’s on sale during WeCrochet’s The Big Sale. Cheryl, pictured below, chose Titan to make her Syrah Swancho. Titan is a gorgeous shade of orange that is warm without being too bright. It reminds be of the leaves changing in autumn. If you would like Valentine or Titan, just click the pink banner below.

While working with this yarn, I used my Odyssey hook, which has a nicely tip. They worked wonderfully together. Everything just glided like a leaf floating down a stream. I did not have much splitting, which was surprising as Galileo is not a tightly wound s-twist yarn. I really do think you’ll love working with for a variety of projects.

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to products that I use, and think you will enjoy using too. Should you decide to use any such link, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting this small business.

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MATERIALS

• WeCrochet Galileo (50% Merino wool, 50% Viscose from Bamboo, 131 yds/ 120 m; 1.76 oz/ 50 g): Valentine x 13 (16, 20) skeins or 1580 (1970, 2500) yds total
• Hook US G-6 / 4.00 mm or size needed to meet gauge. I used my Furls Crochet Turquoise Odyssey.
• Scissors
• Yarn Needle
• Measuring Tape
• Stitch Markers

GAUGE

Approx. 17 dc x 9 rows = 4” x 4” [10 cm x 10 cm]

SIZES

• Size 1: to fit bust 28-38” [71-96.5 cm]; when flat, 35” wide x 22” long including ribbing
• Size 2: to fit bust 40-50” [101.5-127cm]; when flat, 40” wide x 24” long including ribbing
• Size 3: to fit bust 52-62” [132-158 cm]; when flat, 45” wide x 26” long including ribbing

PATTERN KEY

BPedc: back post extended double crochet

Ch: chain

Cnr: corner

CSDC: chainless starting double crochet

Dc: double crochet

Dc2tog: double crochet 2 together

Dc3tog: double crochet 3 together

Fdc: foundation double crochet

FL: front loop 

FPedc: front post extended double crochet

FO: fasten off

Hdc: half double crochet

M: stitch marker(s)

Prev: previous

Rem: remain(s) 

Rep: repeat

RS: right side

Sl st: slip stitch

Sc: single crochet

St(s): stitch(es)

Sk: skip

Tr: treble crochet

WS: wrong side

X-St: x-stitch

YO: yarn over

SPECIAL STITCHES & TECHNIQUES

BPedc: YO, insert hook from back to front to back around next st post, YO, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), YO, pull through 1 loop, [YO, pull through 2 loops] twice

CSDC: pull up a loop to row height, holding loop in place and wrap yarn around hook (yarn over), insert hook in first st, YO, pull up a loop, [YO, pull through 2 loops] twice

CSTR: pull up a loop to height of row, holding loop in place and wrap yarn around hook 2 times (yarn over), insert hook in first st, YO, pull up a loop, [YO, pull through 2 loops] three times

FPedc: YO, insert hook from front to back to front around next st post, YO, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), YO, pull through 1 loop, [YO, pull through 2 loops] twice

First-Tr2tog: Pull up a loop to height of row, holding loop in place, wrap yarn around hook 2 times, insert hook in first st, YO, pull up a loop, [YO, pull through 2 loops] 2 times (3 loops on hook), YO 2 times, insert hook in next st, YO, pull up a loop, [YO, pull through 2 loops] 2 times (4 loops on hook), YO, pull through all loops.

Tr2tog: *YO 2 times, insert hook in next st, YO, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), [YO, pull through 2 loops] 2 times (3 loops on hook)*, rep from * to *, YO, pull through all loops 

X-st: YO 2 times, insert hook in next st, YO, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), YO, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), sk 2 sts, YO, insert hook in next st, pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), [YO, pull through 2 loops] 4 times, ch 2, YO, insert hook from right to left in center of X, pull up a loop, [YO, pull through 2 loops] 2 times

*hyperlinked special stitches will take you to a tutorial.

EXPERIENCE LEVEL

Intermediate

NOTES

• Pattern is written US terms.
• Read the entire pattern before beginning.
• The Syrah Swancho is made in 13 parts: Right Front, X Rows, Left Front, Front Edging, Right Back, Neck Opening, Left Back, Back Edging, Seaming, First Wristband, Second Wristband, Front Ribbing and Back Ribbing.
• If one number is listed, it applies to all sizes. 
• Each piece, the Front and the Back, is made in one piece, and then will be seamed together.
• The ad-free PDF includes pictures at the end for reference and easy printing.

Grab the ad-free PDF that includes tutorial pictures and color-coding for each size from your favorite pattern shop.

Release Weekend!

Grab the Syrah Swancho PDF from Ravelry or Etsy with code JAMMY. Code expires 11:59p ET on Monday, November 15, 2021.

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1. Crossroads Ruana
2. Draped in Diamonds Vest
3. Wrapped in Waves Cape