One poncho, 4 ways to wear it! Which is your favorite?

Made out of Briggs and Little's DK weight, Regal, this poncho is SO warm it could easily serve as a replacement for a fall or winter jacket. I don't usually follow crochet patterns: I learned from my grandmother who could look at a picture and replicate the item. So if anything seems confusing, feel free to let me know! But I think us crocheters are usually the free spirits of the crafting world anyway ;) .

Materials:

5 skeins Briggs and Little Regal, color Quoddy Blue or desired color. Available here: www.maritimefamilyfiber.com

Size J and G hook. Body is worked with J hook and everything else with the G hook.

4 Pretty buttons

I could film you a tutorial for the mini bean stitch, but you can just watch this one from Hopeful Honey right here on youtube, because she has a cute accent and I just have a downeastah accent.

Body:

Foundation: With J hook, chain 35 stitches. In 3nd loop from the hook, work a mini bean stitch. *Chain 1, skip 1, work mini bean* repeat between ** to end for a total of 17 beans. Chain 2, turn work. Work the reverse side of the mini bean stitch. Repeat this row until you have 70 rows of mini bean stitch, break yarn and pull yarn through loop.

The poncho is fairly oversized and should fit most, but if you feel you need a bigger size, chain more multiples of 2, but don't go longer than 70 rows or you will have an enormous neckline to deal with!

Repeat so that you have 2 rectangular pieces. These will need to be sewed or slip stitched together. You will need to fold each rectangle in half, bringing them together into a poncho shape and then sew where necessary using the photo as your guide. I even drew a sketch for you, don't laugh though!

Cowl Neck:

Join yarn to neckline, picking a V which will become known as 'back' for simplicity's sake, though it's reversible, this will be the button side of the poncho.

Row 1: Chain 1, single crochet around the edge of the neckline, which should come out to about 95 stitches. Chain 2, TURN your work

Row 2: work a Half-Double crochet in each stitch around, without chaining 1 between stitches. When you reach the end of the round, skip your last stitch and turn your work.

Row 3: Chain 1, work invisible decrease (pick up the outside loops of 2 stitches, pull yarn through both loops, 1 stitch decreased), single crochet until last stitch, do not work last stitch.

Row 4: Chain 2, work invisible decrease, half-double crochet to the last stitch, skip the last stitch.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until you have 72 stitches left, approximately 10 rows. Continue in pattern, alternating rows of single crochet and half-double crochet for about 17 rows, ending with a single crochet row. Break yarn and thread through loop. On V-neck side, sew up the seam to the end of the decreases as pictured, leaving the work even section free for the button band.

Button Band:

Joining yarn to the short edge of your cowl neck in the back, pick up and work 20 single crochet stitches. Turn work.

Chain 2, half double crochet in next 2 stitches, chain 1 and skip next stitch (button hole), half double crochet in next 3 stitches, chain 1 and skip next stitch, half double in next 3 stitches, chain 1 and skip next stitch, half double crochet in next 3 stitches, chain 1 and skip next stitch, half double crochet in last 3 stitches, chain 1 and turn work. This should give you a row of 4 button holes as pictured.

Single crochet in all stitches. Break yarn and thread through loop. Use a sewing needle to sew on 4 buttons opposite of your button holes.

Cabled Edging:

Edging is worked separately and then crocheted on at the end.

Chain 12 stitches. Work a double crochet in 3nd stitch from hook. Double crochet to the end, chain 2 and turn. (10 stitches)

Row 1: Work 2 double crochet stitches. Skip the next 3 stitches, work 3 long front post double crochet stitches. Work 3 long front post double crochet stitches in the 3 skipped stitches. Double crochet last 2 stitches, chain 2 and turn.

Row 2: Double crochet in each stitch. Turn.

Repeat these rows until you have 32 pattern repeats, or cables. Break yarn and thread through loop. Repeat this strip except this time make 34 pattern repeats. 

Finishing:

Slip stitch the cable band to the outer edge of your poncho, making sure that the shorter strip matches the shorter side of your work, as pictured.

Slip stitch around the front of the button band and sides of your v-neck to make it look more finished.

Tassels:

Begin by single crocheting around the tassel edge of your poncho. Cut and measure 1 million strands of yarn. Just kidding, but it kind of feels like it. I put 138 tassels on mine, 3 strands each in every other slip stitch. I wrapped the yarn around a 5 inch notebook and cut them to make the tassels. Then attach the tassels, fold the 3 strands in half,  thread your crochet hook through the stitch, pick up the center of the strands, bring through the stitch then thread the ends through the loop with your hook, tighten and adjust by hand, then trim if desired to even them up.

Give the whole thing a good blocking, even if you just soak it and lay it flat to dry, it will drape much better.

Enjoy!

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