This pattern for a crochet poncho is designed using the gorgeous Caron Cakes yarn. It is a self-striping yarn that comes in gorgeous colorways. You can find the Kid’s Size Poncho here.
I initially planned to design this poncho using 2 rectangles and seaming them together. Later, I realized that the ribbing on the stitch pattern wouldn’t look continuous if I went with the plan.
So I worked the back panel directly on to the front and seamed just at the back. I love how the ribbing looks seamless on the front and really brings out the stitch texture.
I love the colors on this Buttercream colorway, but it was really tricky to photograph. I hope my mediocre photography skills did justice to this beautiful yarn and its colors.
PATTERN FOR CROCHET PONCHO
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Materials
1. Caron Cakes (size 4) yarn in color Buttercream. It is a self-striping yarn.
2. Hook I(5.5mm)
3. Tapestry needle to weave in the ends.
Finished Size
S/M– 22 1/2 inches from the base of neck to hem
L/XL– 25 1/2 inches from the base of neck to hem
2XL/3XL– 28 inches from the base of neck to hem
Yardage
Note: Each skein of Caron Cakes yarn includes 383 yards.
S/M: I used up 2 full cakes of Caron cakes and a few more yards to add the scallop edging.
L/XL: 3 cakes of Caron Cakes yarn.
2XL/3XL: 3-1/2 skeins of Caron Cakes yarn
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 S/M(L/XL, 2XL/3XL)
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.
CROCHET PONCHO FRONT PANEL
Ch 142(162, 182)
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.———35(40, 45)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. ———34(39, 44) 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.——35(40, 45)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. ———34(39, 44) 3dc groups with 2 dc on each end
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until your work measures 16(18, 20) inches wide and you end in Row 4. Do not fasten off. Your rectangle will be 28(32, 36)inches long.
ADDING THE BACK PANEL

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 next dc, 1 sc in the next 47(53, 62) 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.———19(22, 24) 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. ———18(21, 23) 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.——19(22, 24) 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. ———18(21, 23) 3dc groups with 2 dc on each end
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until the back extension measures 28(32, 36)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
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.
Sl st to the right corner of your poncho, ch 1, 1 sc in the corner, *(ch 3, 1 sc in the next ribbing), repeat from * and when you are near the second corner, ch 3 and 1 sc in the corner, fasten off.
You might also like my popular Uptown Poncho Crochet Pattern and my Kalisha Poncho Crochet Pattern.
You can find more such free patterns on Allfreecrochet.com.
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Mel
Saturday 18th of March 2023
I have followed this pattern to a T but I do not have a "back" point that meets the front point. What am I missing?
Brenda Robinson
Wednesday 1st of February 2023
Love this pattern. Easy to follow and turned out great
Natalia
Friday 11th of November 2022
Hello, my mother tried to prepare sample of pattern and it turns out not to be rectangular box but parallelepiped i e all the strip tends to go to side. I read your posts and questions and did not see someone mentioning this problem. Can you think about possible mistake origin? I undersand zero in crocheting and my mother's English is not strong. Thank you in advance. Natalia
Shehnaaz
Friday 11th of November 2022
Ask her to check if she is doing her first and last stitches in the right place. She can use markers if she is getting thrown off.
Janet brown
Wednesday 12th of October 2022
The largest size does not work out right The 182 stitch size. When you do the 62 single ctochets. Then carry on with the back The width of the back is too big to create the v neck. Ive tried it three times. Still find the width too big. What am i doing wrong. The back is 24 clusters The 62 stitches are 21 clusters. When you try to create neck line the back is too wide.
Julie
Monday 26th of September 2022
I couldn’t assemble this to make the front and back the same, so I laid it out and folded it the way it would look if there was a point in the front and the back, and a V shape neck on the front and back. I discovered that the whole back panel with the long point that would go down the back was missing. I added 38 more rows to the “back panel”, and now it’s a perfect match front and back. I took pictures but I don’t see a way to share them here. I hope this helps those who are confused.