Crochet Short Poncho

Here's my latest crochet project that I just finished last night: a short poncho (pattern courtesy of the inside of the Red Heart Yarn label). I literally decided to make this short poncho based on the picture and free pattern on the yarn itself! (Red Heart calls this a short poncho, but I'm going to call mine a short pink asymmetrical poncho). I used Red Heart yarn, Light and Lofty in Antique Rose 9372 (2 balls) with a "P" crochet hook.

The thing about this poncho is that it is wicked warm and soft! This is the first time I've worked with this type of yarn. The yarn itself looks pilly and scraggly when you buy it and it's a little tricky to work with (it gets tangled and hard to pull through the stitches sometimes), but when you crochet it into a pattern, it comes out just looking thick, textured and soft. Also, I noticed that if you want a snugger fitting poncho, then you only need to crochet until it's about 45" from the beginning, instead of the indicated 48", but use your own judgement when measuring for yourself (it all depends on how tightly you crochet). I made mine according to the 48" suggestion and it came out a little big because the yarn itself has a lot of give and stretches out quite a bit. They don't warn you about the stretch factor when you are making it, though. With this poncho, you can turn it to any side and that will change the whole look of how it fits and where the corner point falls when you wear it. I turned mine to the side so it has more of a diagonal look.  It's a fairly quick project (it took me a few nights) and once you get used to the cross-over stitches (row 2), it's easy. (At first, I had a hard time figuring out what they meant in that section, but I fiddled with it and eventually got it. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. It's one of those stitches that's easier to understand if someone shows you, but since I didn't have anyone to show me, I had to figure it out myself).

RED HEART® "Light & Lofty®": 12 Ounces No. 9617 Pheasant.

Crochet Hook: 11.5mm [US P-16]. Yarn needle.

GAUGE: 7 sts = 4"; 8 rows = 7" in pattern. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Ch 25. Row 1 (Right Side): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across; turn – 24 sc.

Row 2: Ch 3, skip first sc, * skip next sc, dc in next sc, dc in skipped sc (this dc encloses the last dc made); rep from * to last sc; dc in last sc; turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each dc across and in top of ch-3; turn. Rep Rows 2 and 3 until 48" from beginning, end by working

Row 3. Fasten off.

FINISHING: Sew the short (beginning) edge to the last 14" of left hand side of the long edge.

Neck/Outside Edging: With right side facing, attach yarn at neck/outside edge; ch 1, work (sc, ch 1) evenly around neck/entire outside edge; join with a sl st to first sc. Fasten off. Weave in loose ends.

Designed by Michele Thompson.

ABBREVIATIONS: ch = chain; dc = double crochet; mm = millimeters; rem = remaining; rep = repeat; sc = single crochet; * = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated.