V&A

Hand-Knitted Shetland Wool Fair Isle Poncho

1970s · 1970s · British

Designer

Kaffe Fassett

Production

handmade

Material

Shetland wool

Culture

British

Movement

Craft Revival Movement · Hippie / Counterculture

Influences

Fair Isle knitting tradition · 1970s handcraft revival

A triangular knitted poncho featuring intricate Fair Isle-style colorwork in diagonal bands. The piece displays alternating rows of geometric patterns in navy blue, pink, purple, and cream, creating a rhythmic striped effect across the triangular form. Hand-knitted in fine Shetland wool, the garment shows precise tension and even stitching throughout the complex colorwork. The bottom edge is finished with a substantial fringe in matching colors, adding movement and texture. The high neckline creates a cowl-like drape when worn. This represents the era's embrace of handcraft revival and bold pattern mixing within artistic fashion circles.

capetenthigh neckhip length

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