This free child crochet poncho pattern is the mini version of my popular woman’s poncho, the Sunset Poncho.
I used Caron Big Cakes yarn in color Afternoon Tea for the kid’s crochet poncho pictured. You can now make a Mommy and Me pair.
I was thinking it is going to be a cakewalk designing the child-size poncho as I had already made the woman’s size pattern, but I struggled with the neck sizing.
I had to finally dust my seamstress’s brain and do some real math to figure out a sizing method that would work. I also added a tie around the neck to keep the neckline from stretching on your kiddos.
There are 6 sizes included in this free child crochet poncho pattern and you can make one for every girl in your family. How cool is that?
Free Child Crochet Poncho Pattern
You can pin it for later here.
Materials
1. Caron Big Cakes (size 4) yarn in color Afternoon Tea. It is a self-striping yarn.
2. Hook I(5.5mm)
3. Tapestry needle to weave in the ends.
Finished Size
Age | Measurement from base of neck to hem (inches) |
2 Years | 15 1/2 |
3-4 Years | 18 |
5-6 Years | 18 1/2 |
7-9 Years | 20 1/2 |
10-12 Years | 20 1/2 |
14- 16 Years | 21 |
Yardage
Note: Each skein of Caron Big Cakes yarn includes 603 yards. The smallest size takes only 1 cake and all the bigger ones will take 2. If you want to substitute it with any other yarn, the approximate yards required are given below.
Age | Yards Required |
2 Years | 600 |
3-4 Years | 750 |
5-6 Years | 820 |
7-9 Years | 1000 |
10-12 Years | 1100 |
14-16 Years | 1200 |
Stitch Abbreviations
The pattern is written in US terms.
ch- chain
sc- single crochet
dc- double crochet
sk- skip
fpsc- front post single crochet
YO- yarn over
Gauge
5 pattern repeats= 4 inches
Stitch Explanations
Front Post Single Crochet (fpsc): A fpsc is worked as a regular sc except for the way you insert your hook. Insert hook from front to back and to front again around the vertical post (upright part) of the specified dc st and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 2 loops on hook to complete the fpsc.
For a fpsc, the hook is inserted in the same way as working a front post double crochet. See my tutorial on front post double crochet here: Front Post Double Crochet Tutorial
CROCHET PATTERN
Notes
1. The poncho is worked in one big ‘L’ shape and seamed at the back.
2. Stitch counts for bigger sizes are given in the order 2 Yrs(3-4 Yrs, 5-6 Yrs, 7-9 Yrs, 10-12 Yrs, 14-16 Yrs). I am making the alternate stitch counts bold so it will be easy for you to figure out the one for your size.
3. If there was an abrupt color change in the middle of a dc row, I unraveled it and joined the new color at the beginning of the row. If the color change is in a sc row (Repeat of Row 3), you don’t have to do this as it won’t be visible on your poncho. Again, this is a matter of personal choice and you can choose to let the self-striping yarn do its job of changing colors.
4. When you have to join a new skein, make sure you keep the color sequence the same as your first cake of yarn.
CHILD CROCHET PONCHO-FRONT PANEL
Ch 98(110, 118, 126, 130, 138)
Row 1: 1 sc in 2nd chain from hook, *(Ch 3, sk next 3 chs, 1 sc in next), repeat from * across to end, turn.———24(27, 29, 31, 32, 34)ch-3 loops
Row 2: Ch 3 ( counts as a dc here and throughout), 1 dc in same st as beginning ch-3, sk next ch-3 loop, *(3 dc in next sc, sk next ch-3 loop), repeat from * across and after you skip the last ch-3 loop, 2 dc in last sc, turn. ———23(26, 28, 30, 31, 33) 3dc groups with 2 dc on each end
Row 3: Ch 1, 1 sc in same st as beginning ch 1, *(ch 3, 1 fpsc around the middle dc of the next 3dc group), repeat from * across until you work a fpsc in the last 3dc group, ch 3, 1 sc in last dc, turn.——24(27, 29, 31, 32, 34)ch-3 loops
Row 4: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st as beginning ch-3, sk next ch-3 loop, *(3 dc in next fpsc, sk next ch-3 loop), repeat from * across and after you skip the last ch-3 loop, 2 dc in last sc, turn. ———23(26, 28, 30, 31, 33) 3dc groups with 2 dc on each end
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until your work measures approximately 11(12.5, 13, 14.5, 14.5, 15) inches wide and you end in Row 4. Do not fasten off. Your rectangle will be 19.5(22, 23, 25, 26, 27)inches long.
ADDING THE BACK PANEL
Note: The back panel will be worked as a continuation of the front panel to form an ‘L’ shape.
Row 1: Ch 1, 1 sc in same st as beginning ch 1, 1 sc in the next 32(35, 38, 38, 41, 44) dc sts, you will now be in the middle st of a 3dc group, *(ch 3, 1 fpsc around the middle dc of the next 3dc group), repeat from * across until you work a fpsc in the last 3dc group, ch 3, 1 sc in last dc, turn.———13(15, 16, 18, 18, 19) ch-3 loops
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as a dc here and throughout), 1 dc in the same st as ch 3, sk next 3 sts, *(3 dc in next fpsc, sk next ch-3 loop), repeat from * across and after you skip the last ch-3 loop, 2 dc in next sc, leave the remaining sc sts unworked and turn. ———12(14, 15, 17, 17, 18) 3dc groups with 2 dc on each end
Row 3: Ch 1, 1 sc in same st as beginning ch 1, *(ch 3, 1 fpsc around the middle dc of the next 3dc group), repeat from * across until you work a fpsc in the last 3dc group, ch 3, 1 sc in the last dc, turn.——13(15, 16, 18, 18, 19) ch-3 loops
Row 4: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st as beginning ch-3, sk next ch-3 loop, *(3 dc in next fpsc, sk next ch-3 loop), repeat from * across and after you skip the last ch-3 loop, 2 dc in last sc, turn. ———12(14, 15, 17, 17, 18) 3dc groups with 2 dc on each end
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until the back extension measures 19.5(22, 23, 25, 26, 27)inches long and you end in Row 4.
SEAMING THE PONCHO
Note: In case you get confused, the front panel is the one in which the lines running across the stitch pattern are longer.
Lay your poncho flat in an ‘L’ shape with the wrong side( with no ribbing or lines) facing up. Using a slip stitch, join the front piece to the long side of the back extension as shown in the picture. Take care not to stretch the fabric while seaming.
FINISHING THE NECK
One side of your neck already has a row of single crochet. Work a row of sc on the other raw edge of the neck, sl st to the base of the “V’ at the back, fasten off.
ADDING A BORDER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CROCHET PONCHO
Notes
1. The left edge of your poncho will already have a scalloped edge from the foundation chain. So we will now add the same to its right edge as shown by the arrow. We will first add a sc row to straighten out the rolled edge.
2. I used blue color yarn for the edging. You can use any of the colors left from your skein.
Row 1: Sl st to the right corner of your poncho, work a row of sc along the right edge as shown in pic above. I worked 1 sc at the end of each ridge and 2 sc between each pair of ridges.
Row 2: Turn and ch 1, 1 sc in the first st, *(ch 3, sk 2 sts, 1 sc in next), repeat from * to end of the side, fasten off.
ADDING THE TIES TO YOUR CROCHET PONCHO
Note: Adding a tie around the neck will make the neck adjustable and keep it from slipping off your kid’s shoulder.
Make a long chain of length 42( 44, 45, 46, 48, 49)inches and fasten off.
Lace the chain around the neck, going in and out a little below the sc row.
Make 2 pom-poms and tie it onto the edges of the chain tie. Trim the remaining tail to match the length of the pom pom strands.
You might also like my Uptown Crochet Poncho pattern and my Kalisha Poncho pattern.
You can also more such poncho patterns featured on Allfreecrochet.com.
GG
Saturday 20th of November 2021
Love this poncho! I made one in shades of purple for my granddaughter's fifth birthday. Thank you so much!
Madhavi Hegde
Monday 30th of November 2020
Hi Shehnaaz, I made a toddler (age 2) sized poncho and am extremely happy with the result. The seaming took a couple tries since I didn;t figure that the back extension's length was calculated without the front panel's height added to it, until I seamed and unravelled a couple times. But after the second try, I understood how it should work and it turned out beautiful! I used Yarn Bee Simply Soft yarn and used almost 3 skeins for the body, and about a half a skein of a matching color to make some elaborately scalloped edging all over, including the neck. Thanks for the pattern!
Shehnaaz
Thursday 10th of December 2020
I am so happy to hear this. Thank you for sharing!
Karin Lewis
Saturday 14th of November 2020
Hello, I by mistake asked a question in the adult size version. I am making the child size for my granddaughter and would like to make it long enough for her. She is 5’3” tall and is 10 years old and thin. How do I make this poncho longer but not wider? I appreciate your help. Thank you, Karin
Shehnaaz
Wednesday 18th of November 2020
My guess is that making it longer without wider will make the neck deeper. The neck hole is the difference between the width and length of the rectangles. You can add length and if the neck turns out too big, crochet around the nexk to make it smaller. Adjusting the sizing for this pattern is a bit tricky.
Angela
Monday 9th of November 2020
I’m doing the back panel for size 5-6 years and it says I should have 16 ch3 spaces, but I only have 14. It seems correct as I started row 1 at the half way point after doing the 39 sc. should I keep going?
Shehnaaz
Wednesday 11th of November 2020
As long as the width of this extension is the same as the width of the first panel, you are good to go.
T Wood
Friday 30th of October 2020
Thank you for this easy to read pattern for a lovely poncho. My granddaughter has been asking me to make her a poncho and she just loves it. I did a hdc row with faux fur around the bottom which finishes it off nicely. Thanks for sharing.