For Part 8 please visit Amy’s post: Crochet With Us – Fall Poncho CAL – Part 8, at The Stitchin’ Mommy

Crochet With Us | Fall Poncho CAL Part 9

In this part of the CAL I will explain how you assemble your rectangles into a poncho.  This is a pretty easy step once you see how it is done.

Before you can begin to assemble your poncho you will need 2 rectangles completed to size (whichever size you chose to make) and all the yarn ends will need to have been woven in securely.

If you are just joining us, please start by reading the Introduction Post.

Resources and Things You Can Do To Get Ready

• Add this CAL to your Ravelry Queue and join the Crochet with Us Ravelry Group
• Pick your size (see below) and yarn to get ready for our first post
• Share your progress on Instagram using #CWUPonchoCAL2015
• Join the Crochet With Us Group on Facebook for assistance with the CAL – it is a lovely group filled with helpful and caring Crocheters who are happy to help each other.

Yarn and Hook Used

This post will show the poncho using Red Heart Soft and a 6.0 mm (J) hook. Colours used are as follows:

Row 1-5: Berry
Row 6-9: Off White
Row 10-15: Grape
Row 16-23: Off White
Row 24-29: Teal
Row 30-33: Off White
Row 34-37: Berry
Row 38-41: Off White
Row 42-45: Grape
Row 46-49: Off White
Row 50-55: Teal
Row 56-63: Off White
Row 64-69: Berry

Option 1: Worsted Weight (Red Heart Soft) – 6.0 mm (J). Instructions are for Child Size 6.
Option 2: DK Weight (Knit Picks Gloss) – 5.0 mm (H). Instructions are for Child Size 4.

Assembly

Step 1: Place both rectangles on a flat surface with the right sides (good sides) facing up toward you.

Here’s an assembly image with the actual fabric rectangles so you can see what it looks like with a real example. I’ve indicated where Row 1 is on each rectangle and Row 69 (the final row of my rectangles).

and just a visual with the fabric (no color overlays)

 

Once you have folded the pieces over it will look like this:

It makes a bit more sense when you see it start to take shape.

You need to seam the two edges together where the rectangles meet (as indicated by the pinned section above), on both the front and back of the poncho. I used small backstitches (when you visit the link for the back stitch, you need to scroll down to back stitch for a visual example) in the same colour of yarn as Row 1-5 were crocheted. I went around the posts of the stitches, not through the stitches – the same way I sew the eyes and other embellishments on my amigurumi toys. I find the stitches are hidden and the finished fabric is very secure. Plus if done properly it does not buckle or pull the stitches out of shape.

Once you have completed this you need to add the edging and the neckline.

Neckline

Abbreviations Used:

U.S. Crochet Terminology is used

bphdc – back post half double crochet
fphdc – front post half double crochet
R – round
sc – single crochet
st(s) – stitch(es)
* – Repeat the instructions between the asterisks the number of times indicated. This repeat will contain of multiple instructions.
() – Repeat the instructions between the parentheses the number of times indicated.
(Option 1 Stitch Count, Option 2 Stitch Count) – end of row stitch counts

Special Stitches

Front Post Half Double Crochet:

Yarn over the hook and insert the hook from front, to back, to front, around the post of the specified stitch. Yarn over the hook and pull up 1 loop. You now have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over the hook and pull through all three loops to complete the stitch.

 

Back Post Half Double Crochet

Yarn over the hook and insert the hook from back, to front, to back, around the post of the specified stitch. Yarn over the hook and pull up 1 loop. You now have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over the hook and pull through all three loops to complete the stitch.

Pull through all three loops on the hook to complete the back post half double crochet stitch.

Helpful Tutorials:

How to Join New Yarn with a Single Crochet Stitch

Invisible Join

Notes

• You may wish to use a stitch marker to mark your place.
• Do not join with a sl st unless specified
• The samples below are in brown yarn from my adult sample poncho

R1: Join your new yarn with a sc. Work an even number of sc around the neckline. My neckline has 64 sts (80 sts for DK). It is fine for you to have a different number of stitches so long as it is divisible by 2.

R2: 1 hdc in each st around 64 (80)

Note:  I have used blue yarn in the example below so you can see the stitches more clearly. 

R3: *fphdc in the next st, bphdc in the next st**. Repeat from * to ** around. 64 (80)

Depending on the size Poncho you are working you will want to do a different number of rounds.

Repeat R3 as follows (or to your own desired neckline height – if you prefer a higher neckline/turtle-neck style poncho)

Baby: 2 more times
Child: 3 more times
Adult: 5 more times

Finish off with an invisible join and weave in all ends.

 

When you are finished it will look something like this:

Continue to Part 10 (post date September 2, 2015)