This crochet cover up pattern will make a great layering piece for summer. Worked from a simple rectangle, this a beginner-friendly pattern.
The stitch pattern grows very quickly and it took me just around 6 hours to make the crochet cover up in size Small/Medium. Pretty cool for a clothing item, right?
You can either wear it to the side or to the front. The choice is yours. Personally, I prefer the sideways look.
Crochet Cover Up Pattern
Materials
1. Worsted weight size 4 yarn. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease in color Denim.
2. Size K(6.5mm) hook for the body of the poncho. Size I(5.5mm) hook for the collar.
3. Tapestry needle to weave in the ends.
Finished Size
Notes
1. The below measurements are taken after the poncho is finished.
2. The size of the rectangle before seaming will be mentioned in the pattern.
S/M: 29 inches wide and 20-1/2 inches long
L/XL: 30-1/2 inches wide and 22 inches long
2XL/3XL: 32 inches wide and 23-1/2 inches long
Yardage
Note: Each skein was 197 yards long.
S/M: 5 Skeins
L/XL: 6 Skeins
2XL/3XL: 7 Skeins
Stitch Abbreviations
ch- chain
sc- single crochet
dc- double crochet
tr- triple crochet
sk- skip
sl st- slip stitch
Pattern for Gauge Swatch
Chain 30+4 and follow rows 1- 5 of the pattern. Then measure for gauge.
Gauge
3 shell repeats= 4.75 inches
Stitch Explanations
BL(Back loops only): Working in the back loops only of a stitch means instead of inserting your hook under both the loops of a st, you insert your hook just under the back loop. See pic below.

Shell: 5 dc worked into the same ch-2 space.
Pattern Notes
1. Stitch counts for bigger sizes are given in the order S/M(L/XL, 2XL/3XL)
Using K(6.5mm) hook, Ch 179(194, 209)
Row 1: Work all the sts of this row into the back bumps of your foundation chain. 1 dc in 5th ch from hook, *(ch 2, sk 2 chs, 1 dc in next 3 chs), repeat from * until 4 chs are left, ch 2, sk 2 chs, 1 dc in last 2 chs, turn.———106 (115, 124) dc
Row 2: Ch 1, 1 sc in same st as ch 1, skip next dc, *(shell in next ch-2 space, sk next dc, 1 sc in next dc, sk next dc), repeat from * and after a shell in the last ch-2 space, sk next dc, 1 sc on top of beginning ch3, turn. ———–35(38, 41) shells
Row 3: Ch 5 (counts as 1 tr and ch 1), sk next st, 1 dc in next 3 sts, *(ch 2, sk next 3 sts, 1 dc in next 3 sts), repeat from * and after 3 dc on top of last shell, ch 1, sk 1 st, 1 tr in last sc, turn.—–107 (116, 125) dc
Row 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in next ch-1 space, skip next st, 1 sc in next, *(sk next st, shell in next ch-2 space, skip next st, 1 sc in next), repeat from * and after sc on top of last dc group, sk next dc, 2 dc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, turn. —–34(37, 40) shells with 1 half shell on each end
The length of your strip will be 56(59, 62) inches. The shell border on the side will add a couple more inches.
Row 5: Ch 3 ( counts as first dc), 1 dc in next st, *(ch 2, sk 3 sts, 1 dc in next 3 sts), repeat from * and after 3 dc on lasts shell, ch 2, sk 3 sts, 1 dc in next, 1 dc on top of beginning ch 3, turn.——106 (115, 124) dc
Repeat rows 2-5 until your work measures 20-1/2(22, 23-1/2) inches and you end in a shell row. Do not fasten off yet. We will come back to working with this yarn after seaming the shoulders.
Seaming the Crochet Cover Up
Notes
1. The Right Side of the poncho is where you work the shell rows.
2. You can use a Whip stitch on the wrong side of your crochet fabric or a Mattress stitch on the right side of your fabric to seam the poncho. I prefer a mattress stitch as it gives a very flat seam. You can watch a video on how to work the Mattress st here:
Fold the rectangle along its length, leave an 11-inch opening for the neck, using yarn and tapestry needle, sew for about 6(7, 8) inches. The rest of the length is left open for the sleeve slit.
Adding Shell Edging to the Sides

2. Start working along the side of the poncho to add shells.
Now we will go back to the corner where we left the yarn, and start working along the side of the poncho to add shells.
For size S/M

3. Distribute 3 shells across each corner
Place markers to divide this side into 4. Ch 2 at the corner, work 5dc into the point about 3/4 inches away from the corner, leave a gap of 3/4 inches and work a sc.
Keep working (5dc, sc) to distribute 3 shells in each quarter until you reach the arm slit (see pic 3 above).
Continue to work sc distributed evenly along the side of the slit, 2 sc at the base of the slit and sc distributed evenly down the second side of the slit (see pic 2 above), continue to work shells across the backside of the poncho until you hit the hem and fasten off.———12 shells
For size L/XL

4. Distribute 13 shells along the edge
Place markers to divide this side into 2. Since we have to distribute 13 shells across the edge, the middle or 7th shell should be worked right at the marker which divides the side into 2.
Ch 2 at the corner, work 5dc into the point about 3/4 inches away from the corner, leave a gap of 3/4 inches and work a sc.
Keep working (5dc, sc) to distribute 6-1/2 shells in each half until you reach the arm slit(pic 4).
Continue to work sc distributed evenly along the side of the slit, 2 sc at the base of the slit and sc distributed evenly down the second side of the slit (see pic 2 above), continue to work shells across the backside of the poncho until you hit the hem and fasten off.———13 shells
For size 2XL/3XL

5. Distribute 14 shells along the edge
Place markers to divide this side into 2.
Ch 2 at the corner, work 5dc into the point about 3/4 inches away from the corner, leave a gap of 3/4 inches and work a sc. Keep working (5dc, sc) to distribute 7 shells in each half until you reach the arm slit (see pic 5).
Continue to work sc distributed evenly along the side of the slit, 2 sc at the base of the slit and sc distributed evenly down the second side of the slit (see pic 2 above), continue to work shells across the backside of the poncho until you hit the hem and fasten off.———14 shells
Adding a Collar to the Poncho
Notes
1. The collar can be seen as 3 parts, the left, middle and right.
2. Always measure the length of the collar along the curved edge as this is the side that we will attach to the neck hole.
Using the I(5.5mm) hook, Ch 22(25, 25).
Left Part
Row 1: 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook(the skipped ch is also counted as a st), 1 hdc in next ch and each ch across to end, turn.——21(24, 24) hdc
Row 2 & 3: Ch 2 (counts as a st here and throughout), 1 hdc in BL of each st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——21(24, 24) hdc
Note: To decrease stitches, we will be skipping one st somewhere in the middle. The decreases are staggered to keep them invisible. No gaps were left in my work from skipping stitches, if you find gaps are left on yours, you might want to go down a hook size.
Row 4: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 10 sts, sk next st, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——20(23, 23) hdc
Row 5: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 7 sts, sk next st, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——19(22, 22) hdc
Row 6: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of each st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——19(22, 22) hdc
Row 7: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 10 sts, sk next st, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——18(21, 21) hdc
Row 8: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 8 sts, sk next st, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——17(20, 20) hdc
Row 9: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of each st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——17(20, 20) hdc
Row 10: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 10 sts, sk next st, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——16(19, 19) hdc
Row 11: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of each st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——16(19, 19) hdc
Row 12: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 7 sts, sk next st, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——15(18, 18) hdc
Row 13: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 9 sts, sk next st, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——14(17, 17) hdc
Row 14: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 7 sts, sk next st, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——13(16, 16) hdc
Now the widest part measured close to 5 1/2 (6, 6) inches and the narrow part close to 3-1/2(4, 4) inches.
Middle Part
The length of the left part of the collar measured along the curved edge was now 5-1/2 inches.
Row 1 of Middle Part: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of each st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——13(16, 16) hdc
Repeat Row 1 above until your collar measures 17-1/2 inches.
If your left part measurement wasn’t 5-1/2 inches, you can repeat Row 1 until it meets the measurement calculated as shown below. Our aim is to make the finished collar 22-1/2 inches long.
Length of Collar before adding Right Part= 22-1/2 inches – (2 x length of left part)
Right Part
Now we will try to mirror the left part of the collar.
Row 1: Ch 2 (counts as a st here and throughout), 1 hdc in BL of next st and each st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——13(16, 16) hdc
Row 2: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 6 sts, 2 hdc in BL of next, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——14(17, 17) hdc
Row 3: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 5 sts, 2 hdc in BL of next, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——15(18, 18) hdc
Row 4: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 8 sts, 2 hdc in BL of next, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——16(19, 19) hdc
Row 5: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next st and each st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——16(19, 19) hdc
Row 6: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 7 sts, 2 hdc in BL of next, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——17(20, 20) hdc
Row 7: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next st and each st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——17(20, 20) hdc
Row 8: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 10 sts, 2 hdc in BL of next, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——18(21, 21) hdc
Row 9: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 7 sts, 2 hdc in BL of next, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——19(22, 22) hdc
Row 10: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next st and each st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——19(22, 22) hdc
Row 11: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 9 sts, 2 hdc in BL of next, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——20(23, 23) hdc
Row 12: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next 7 sts, 2 hdc in BL of next, 1 hdc in BL of each remaining st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, turn.——21(24, 24) hdc
Row 13 & 14: Ch 2, 1 hdc in BL of next st and each st across ending with a hdc on top of beg ch-2, do not fasten off. ———21(24, 24) hdc
Attaching the Collar to the Cover Up
Keep the poncho right side out. Fold the collar in the middle so that your working yarn is on the top right corner, and insert it into the neck hole. Starting from the shoulder seam, use the bigger 6.5mm hook and sl st the collar to the poncho. Make a couple of knots to secure once the collar is fully attached.
Now you can pull the collar to the right side of the cover up. Your seam will now be hidden under the collar.
Finishing the Cover Up
- Weave in any tails left.
You might also like my Kalisha Crochet Cover Up Pattern and my Calming Waves Crochet Cover up patterns.
You might also like the cover up pattern found on mooglyblog.com.
Crochet Cover Up Pattern, Just Beachy Poncho
Patricia Meakin
Saturday 21st of August 2021
The abbreviations don't include tr.(treble) so, I am now confused..I am in UK, but quite okay with using US abbreviations, but after a few rows have noticed a tr. on row 3...and, automatically, not thinking, have been doing a UK treble...which probably means my pattern is all wrong! This would mean me ripping out 10 rows!! Annoyed!! P.
Shehnaaz
Saturday 21st of August 2021
Hi Patricia, I am sorry I didn't include it in the abbreviations. Tr is the double treble crochet in UK. Only the first and last stitches are treble crochet and if your piece has straight edges, you don't have to unravel your work.
Robin
Saturday 28th of November 2020
I have a question about gauge for this project... Is the gauge for rows 1-5 rows (hight) of the pattern to be 4.75 inches? Or is that 3 shells across (wide) to measure 4.75 inches? Or both hight and width to be 4.75 inches? Thanks, Robin
Pattern: With a 6.5 mm hook, Pattern for Gauge Swatch Chain 30+4 and follow rows 1- 5 of the pattern. Then measure for gauge. Gauge 3 shell repeats= 4.75 inches
Shehnaaz
Sunday 20th of December 2020
It is referring to the width.
Nicolette Dorfling
Thursday 7th of May 2020
Hi, I just finished the poncho. It came out realy good. Thanks for the patern.
Jen
Saturday 18th of April 2020
so are the shells directly in the middle of the shells of the previous row? I am getting 1 stitch to the side.
Thanks for the pattern, so pretty!
Shehnaaz
Saturday 25th of April 2020
No, they are not on top of the previous row of shells.
Gramcar
Friday 21st of February 2020
Very nice, thank you for sharing
Shehnaaz
Friday 21st of February 2020
Thank you so much. I am glad you like the crochet pattern.