Baby version of the homecoming poncho

For a very long time, I was intrigued by the pattern for the lion brand homecoming poncho. It was beautiful, and I wanted to make it for myself. Infact, that was the pattern that first got me interested in crocheting five years ago.

But somehow, I never got around to crocheting clothes for myself. Took toon long, too much yarn needed and too much work. So I made grannies, doilies and such, but never any clothes. And never a project that took more than 3 hours of crocheting.

When Anjali came, it was different. i had a desperate urge to make clothes and stuff for her, never mind that I had an equal ly strong urge to buy clothes and stuff for her. So, I made a baby blanket before she was born, but never used it because the yarn was acrylic and the weather was too warm. Now the blanket sits on top of the kitchen table as a base for the buddhe statue.

Then the halter top was made and Id ecided to take up something proper, and asked myself, could I make a baby version of the coming home poncho? I am not fond of buying yarn from the web, shipping costs a fortune. And yarns here dont match the gauge required. Besides the pattern is for adults. And I wanted to make a baby version.

Crocheting is a lot about mathematics, and there are an infinite number of things you can do with a piece of yarn, and thats one of the things I love about it. Another thing I love about crochet is that it really makes me relax and when my fingers are occupied, I ger less of an opportunity to worry or think of wierd things.

So, I found a ball of mohair at daiso at $2 per ball and said, why not. The color was beautiful, a varigated dark blue, the kind husband liked. I started the project with one ball and then bought three more to complete it.

So here's the pattern, intuitively modified to fit my requirements. I can make a larger version if I wanted to, much later, but granted, it will take much more yarn. This one used 120g of mohair.

==========
STITCH EXPLANATION:
Block 3 dc in indicated st or sp.

Shell Work (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in indicated sp.

PONCHO

Beginning at neck edge, ch multiple of 44 until he chain when closed can go comfortably over the head, with about an inch of space for the collar. Taking care to not twist ch, join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 3, work 2 more dc in same ch as join (first Block made), sk next ch, *3 dc in next ch (Block made), sk next ch; rep from * around; join with sc in top of beg ch

Rnd 2: Sl st in sp between last dc made and beg ch (working around the post of the joining sc), ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same sp (first Block made), (3 dc in next sp between Blocks) until about half the length of the chain, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next sp between Blocks (point made), (3 dc in next sp between Blocks) until the end, 3 dc in same sp as first Block; join with sc in top of beg ch; 2 points.

Rnd 3: Sl st in sp between last dc made and beg ch, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same sp (first Block made), (3 dc in next sp between Blocks) across to point, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp of point, (3 dc in next sp between Blocks) across, 3 dc in same sp as first Block; join with sc in top of beg ch; 2 points.

Rnds 4 onwards: Rep Rnd 3; 2 points. until poncho measures 2 inches less than desired size. Do not fasten off.

EDGING Rnd 1: Sl st in sp between last dc made and beg ch, ch 3, dc in same sp (beg Shell started), ch 3, sk next 2 dc, sc in next 5 dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc, *(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next sp between Blocks (Shell made), ch 3, sk next 2 dc, sc in next 5 dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc; rep from * all around, 2 dc in same sp as beg Shell; join with sc in top of beg ch (beg Shell completed)

Rnd 2: Sl st in sp between last dc made and beg ch, (ch 3, dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in same sp, ch 3, sk next sc, sc in next 3 sc, ch 3, *(Shell, ch 1, Shell) in next ch-1 sp, ch 3, sk next sc, sc in next 3 sc, ch 3; rep from * all around, Shell in same sp as beg Shell; join with sc in top of beg ch.

Rnd 3: Sl st in sp between last dc made and beg ch, ch 3, dc in same sp, Shell in next ch-1 sp, ch 3, sk next sc, sc in next sc, ch 3, *Shell in next 3 ch-1 sps, ch 3, sk next sc, sc in next sc, ch 3; rep from * around, Shell in next ch-1 sp, 2 dc in same sp as beg Shell; join with sc in top of beg ch -.

Rnd 4: Sl st in sp between last dc made and beg ch, ch 3, dc in same sp, Shell in next ch-1 sp, ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3, *Shell in next 3 ch-1 sps, ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3; rep from * around, Shell in next ch-1 sp, 2 dc in same sp as beg Shell, ch 1; join with sl st in top of beg ch. Fasten off.

COLLAR: Keep single crocheting all around the top, I crocheted two rnds and after that crocheted the remaining rows with a slit in front, ie. crochet all the round, ch turn, sc in the inverse direction.

I also made a button and button hole for the slit. I used the one found here.