Crochet Autumn Poncho

You’ll need:

5 (6; 6) skeins of Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca (Weight: 4/medium – 207 yds, 3.5 oz) in Color: Oxford Grey (#150);

Crochet hooks K, L, N;

Stitch markers;

Tapestry needle.

Size: S/M – Circumference around bust/hips: 53” Length: 29”

L/XL – Circumference around bust/hips: 56” Length: 29”

2/3XL – Circumference around bust/hips: 63.5” Length: 30.5”

To make a shorter or longer poncho, simply eliminate or add any multiple of chain stitches in the foundation row. Reference the gauge below for an idea of how many stitches there will be per inch.

Stitches control: 9 hdc x 8 rows = 4”

Instructions

Front and Back

Make 2.

Foundation: With size N hook and ch 56.

Switch to size L hook.

Row 1 (RS): Hdc in third ch, hdc in each hdc; turn. (54 hdc)

Row 2 (WS – increase): Ch 2, 2 hdc in first hdc, hdc in each hdc; turn. (55 hdc)

Row 3 (RS increase): Ch 2, hdc in each hdc until 1 remains, 2 hdc in last hdc. (56 hdc)

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 five (five, six) times ending with a Row 3 (right side). You will have increased a total of 12 (12, 14) times and now have a total of 66 (66, 68) sts.

Rows 14-45: Ch 2, hdc in each hdc; turn. (66, 66, 68 hdc)

Size S/M, move on to row 46. Sizes L/XL and 2XL/3XL, please see specific instructions for your size below.

Size L/XL:

Repeat Row 14 four more times.

Size 2XL/3XL:

Repeat Row 14 six more times.

Row 46 (WS – decrease): Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in each hdc; turn. (65, 65, 67 hdc)

Row 47 (RS – decrease): Ch 2, hdc in each hdc until 2 remain, hdc2tog; turn. (64, 64, 66 hdc)

Repeat Rows 46 and 47 five times five (five, six) times ending with a Row 47 (right side). You will have decreased a total of 12 (12, 14) times and now have a total of 54 sts.

Fasten off.

Pocket

Make 1.

Foundation Row: Using a size N hook, ch 23.

Switch to size L hook.

Row 1 (RS): Hdc in third ch, hdc in each hdc; turn. (21 hdc)

Row 2 (WS – increase): Ch 2, 2 hdc in first hdc, hdc in each hdc until 1 hdc remains, 2 hdc in last hdc; turn. (23 hdc)

Row 3: Ch 2, hdc in each hdc; turn. (23 hdc)

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 five (five, seven) times ending with a Row 3 (right side). You will have increased a total of 6 (6, 8) times per side of the trapezoid and now have a total of 33 (33, 35) sts.

Rows 14-15: Repeat Row 3. (33, 33, 35 hdc)

Fasten off.

Assembly

Shoulder seams: With right sides facing in, use stitch markers to pin the two pieces together at the shoulder. Take care to align each hdc stripe. To mark neck opening in the center of the top edge of the trapezoids, place markers 18 rows apart. Using a doubled over strand of yarn and a tapestry needle, use the mattress stitch to seam from the edge of one shoulder to the neck marker. Fasten off and repeat on the second shoulder.

Side seams: Pin pieces together. Place a marker 8.5” (8.5, 10) down from the shoulder seam to denote the bottom of the arm hole. Place another marker 5.5” below the first to denote the bottom of the seam. Using a doubled over strand of yarn and a tapestry needle, use the mattress stitch to seam the 5.5” between the two markers. Fasten off and repeat on second side.

Turn poncho right side out.

Joining pocket

Pin pocket to front of poncho. (In the sample, the bottom of the pocket is 8” above the bottom of the poncho. Feel free to try your poncho on to verify this is your preferred placement.) Ensure that the pocket is centered by counting the number of rows in the poncho on either side of the pocket.

Using a doubled over strand of yarn and a tapestry needle, whip stitch to seam the top and bottom of the pocket to the poncho.

Cowl Neck

Notes

The cowl neck is worked in the round using hdc. After Round 1, you’ll be only working into the back loop of each hdc stitch, which is abbreviated “hdcblo.” (If you look at the round of hdc from above, this will be the middle (2nd) strand of yarn in each stitch.)

Mentions of “right” and “left” assume the poncho is laid out in front of you.

The ch 2 at the beginning of each round never counts as a st.

Right-handed crocheters, attach yarn at the neck opening of the right shoulder seam. Left-handed crocheters, attach yarn at the left shoulder seam. Work cowl with RS of poncho facing you.

Round 1: With size K hook ch 2, hdc in each hdc around neck opening to create total of 36 hdc; sl st to second ch from beginning of round to join. (36 hdc)

Rounds 2-13: Ch 2, hdcblo in each hdc; sl st to second ch from beginning of round to join. (36)

Fasten off. Weave in any remaining ends.