Wasilla Crochet Poncho Pattern

Ponchos are great to wear for seasonal transition pieces. They’re also great for late night bonfires when the air gets chilly. Dress them up, dress them down. You really can’t go wrong with a poncho!

Yarn

For this crochet poncho, I chose Lion Brand Yarns Mandala, which is a DK weight, self-striping yarn. All of the colorwork was done for me which made this a perfect crochet project for binge watching my favorite TV shows. And I don’t know about you, but my favorite part about this yarn is that I wasn’t left with a bunch of ends to weave in!

If you’ve been following my most recent new releases, you’ll already know that I previously purchased several cakes of Lion Brand Yarns, Mandala, and I’ve been trying to use them for various projects. I’m normally a solid color girl when it comes to most everything in life, especially yarn. But there’s just something about these gorgeous cakes of yarn… I hear them calling my name every time I walk down the yarn aisle! While I love them all, I am ashamed to admit that I’ve been hoarding more cakes than I’ve been using.

Wasilla Crochet Poncho – Free Pattern

The crochet poncho pattern is free below, but if you love to work offline, I’ve got a couple other great options for you.

Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF, (that includes all photo tutorials + size options for girls and women in one pdf), on Ravelry, or Etsy (aff).

Purchase the crochet poncho kit (aff): Lion Brand has a full kit of the Wasilla Crochet Poncho Pattern, available on their website. The crochet poncho kit includes your choice of 5 colorways and a digital copy of the crochet pattern.

Save this pattern to your Ravelry favorites.

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Gauge

• In sc: 11 sts = 3″ + 5 rows = 1.25″

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch(s): chain(s)
• sl st: slip stitch
• st(s): stitch(es)
• sc: single crochet
• dc: double crochet
• puff st: see special stitches below
• RS: right side
• yo: yarn over
• rep: repeat
• sp: space
• 2dc-cl: 2 double crochet cluster
• Alt-dc-cl: alternate double crochet cluster

Finished Size

• Adult Poncho Size: 25″ (neck opening) x 22″ L (at sides) x 32″ L (at center point)
• Child Sizes

Special Stitches

• Single Crochet Puff Stitch (puff st): Yo, insert your hook into the indicated stitch/space, yo and pull up a long loop, (yo, insert your hook into the same stitch/space, yo, and pull up a long loop) 4 more times, yo, pull through all 11 loops on your hook. Note: You typically close a puff stitch with a ch 1, but for this design, it is written to ch-1 after the stitch. This ch-1 is used to close the puff stitch and create the next ch-1 space in the design. So only work one ch 1 after each puff stitch, not 2 like you may be used to.
•  Alternate Double Crochet – Double Crochet Cluster (alt-dc-cl): After turning your work, do not ch, instead, insert your hook into the first st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull thru both loops, insert your hook between the legs of the st just made, yo, pull up a loop, yo, insert your hook into the same stitch/space, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull thru 2 loops, yo, pull thru remaining loops.
• 2 Double Crochet Cluster (2dc-cl):  Yo, insert hook where indicated, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull thru 2 loops, yo, insert hook in same st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull thru 2 loops, yo, pull thru remaining loops.

Pattern Notes

• I tend to crochet on the tighter side. You may need to go down a hook size (or two) to meet gauge if you crochet on the looser side.
• Turning chains are not included in stitch count.
• Yarn: Yarn used for the sample shown here is Lion Brand Yarns Mandala in Centaur, 3 / DK Weight Yarn (150 g / 5.3oz / 590 yards / 540 meters / 100% acrylic). You’ll need 3 cakes for an adult size poncho, or approximately 1,770 yards. Yarns similar in fiber content and weight can be substituted.
• Chains (for chain spaces) are included in stitch count. When reading the instructions, skipped stitches can be chains or stitches.
• Adjusting Length: You can easily adjust the length of your poncho. The measurements given above are the length of my poncho shown in the photos in this post. If you choose to lengthen or shorten your poncho, I suggest ending with 2 – 4 repeats of round 3.
• Construction: The Wasilla Crochet Poncho is worked in joined and turned rounds, from the neck opening down.

Wasilla Crochet Poncho – Written Pattern

Set-Up: Using a 6.00mm crochet hook, 100, being careful not to twist the chain, join with a sl st to the 1st ch.

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, working into the back hump of the chain, sc in each ch around. Join. (100 sts)

Rnd 2 (RS): Ch 1, sc in the first st, ch 1, skip the next st, (sc in the next st, ch 1, skip the next st) 11 times, (sc, ch 2, sc) into the next st, ch 1, skip the next st, (sc in the next st, ch 1, skip the next st) 24 times, (sc, ch 2, sc) into the next st, ch 1, skip the next st, (sc in the next st, ch 1, skip the next st) 12 times. Join. Turn. (106 sts) *Chains (not including turning chains) are counted as stitches.

Rnd 3 (WS): Sc in the 1st ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip the next st, [ (sc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip the next st) rep around to the next ch-2 sp, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the next ch-2 sp, ch 1, skip the next st ] work from [ to ] twice, then (sc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip the next st) rep around to the end. Join. Turn. *Stitch count increases by 4.

Rnds 4 – 6: Repeat Round 3.

Rnd 7: Alt-dc-cl in the first ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip the next st, [ (2dc-cl in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip the next st) rep around to the next ch-2 sp, (2dc-cl, ch 2, 2dc-cl) in the next ch-2 sp, ch 1, skip the next st] work from [ to ] twice, then (2dc-cl in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip the next st) rep around to the end. Join. Turn. *Stitch count increases by 4.

Rnds 8 – 10: Repeat Rnd 3.

Rnd 11: Ch 1, puff st in the 1st ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip the next st, [ (puff st in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip the next st) rep from ( to ) around to the next ch-2 sp, (puff st, ch 2, puff st) in the next ch-2 sp, ch 1, skip the next st ] work from [ to ] twice, then work (puff st in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip the next st) rep around to the end of the rnd. Join. Turn.  *Stitch count increases by 4.

Rnds 12 – 14: Repeat Rnd 3.

Repeat Rnds 7 – 14 until your poncho is the desired length. I ended mine when it measured 32″ along the center point and 22″ at the sides.

Adjusting the Length: You can easily adjust the length of your poncho. The measurements given above are the length of my poncho shown in the photos in this post. If you choose to lengthen or shorten your poncho, I suggest ending with 2 – 4 repeats of round 3.

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Block, if desired. Blocking isn’t mandatory, but it does add a nice finished look to crochet wearables.

Add a little fun to your crochet poncho by embellishing with yarn tassels!