Inside: Have you been looking for a stylish and easy-to-make poncho? Look no further than this handkerchief hem crochet poncho.
The yarn for this design was provided by 10/5/2020. All opinions are my own.
This pattern was originally published on 10/5/2020. The most recent update was made on 12/15/2024.
Create a fun and stylish crochet poncho with this easy and free pattern. The Penny Poncho employs a classic square design creating a handkerchief hem with tassels at the points to give it a unique look. Whether you’re a beginner or a crochet pro, you’ll love this pattern! Enjoy a cozy and comfortable poncho perfect for all seasons.
Table of contents
With a 3 round repeat, this square poncho is easy to make and is a great project to take with you in waiting rooms, school pick-up lines, road trips, and crochet and knit groups!
Use your scraps of yarn to make magic yarn and turn them into fashion. I made mine with nearly a dozen colors of Lion Brand Heartland yarn that I had in my stash.
I love finding ways to use partial skeins of yarn, and the more you use, the more fun the Penny Poncho becomes. So dig through those bags, bins, closest, and cubbies and find your odds and ends to make some magic.
Penny Poncho
Crochet Pattern
Easy Skill Level
Designed by Jessie Rayot
Supplies
Size
Junior (Regular, Plus)
Neck opening 24 (28, 32)
*Note: The only thing different in the sizes is the neck opening. Therefor someone who is a larger size may still want to make a smaller size, and vice versa. It’s really a matter of preference as to what size neck opening you want.
Yarn
Lion Brand Heartland: (100% Acrylic), Size 4 – Medium/Worsted/Aran, (11 wpi), 251 yds / 142 g, (1.77 yds/g)
Magic Cake, (885 yds / 500 g) used in sample. Amount needed will vary by yarn and length of poncho.
-or-
Magic Cake of nearly any yarn and the coordinating hook.
Crochet Hook
US H/8, (5.0 mm) – Furls Streamline Swirl used for sample
Gauge
Learn about gauge HERE
5 sts x 9 rows = 4” [10 cm] in pattern (vst, ch 1) across
Other Supplies
Yarn Needle
4 Stitch Markers
Stitches and Abbreviations
click on highlighted sts for tutorials
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
fdc – foundation double crochet
pm – place marker
rnd – round
sl st – slip stitch
sp(s) – space(s)
st(s) – stitch(es)
( ) – work step in parentheses in indicated stitch
[ ] – work step in brackets number of times indicated
Get the Ad-Free Printable PDF at These Sites
- Crochet Foundry – You can get bonus printables here!
- Ravelry
- Etsy
- LoveCrafts
Special Stitches
vst – v stitch: (Dc, ch 1, dc) all in the same st.
dch2 – doubled chain 2: Used as first dc of a round or row, in place of a ch 3. Insert hook in stitch, yo, pull through (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through both loops, there is now 1 loop on hook, and 2 loops coming off that loop, insert hook in the farthest of these loops, yo, pull through (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through both loops.
Pattern Notes
- Read through all instructions before beginning
- Rnd counts are at the end of each Rnd after the period, if the count has changed from the previous Rnd. {count here}
- Chs and sl sts are not included in Rnd counts unless specified.
- Learn how to make Magic Yarn HERE.
Handkerchief Hem Crochet Pattern
Rnd 1: Fsc 88 (112,144), sl st to top of first fsc to form a loop. {88 (112, 144) sts}
Rnd 2: (Dch2, ch 1, dc, ch 1, pm, vst) in same st as sl st (counts as first 2 vst), *[ch 1, skip 3, vst in next st] 4 (6, 8) times, ch 1, skip 3 (vst, ch 1, pm, vst) in next st; repeat from * 2 more times, [ch 1, skip 3, vst in next st] 4 (6, 8) times, ch 1, skip 3, sl st in top of dch2, sl st in next ch 1, sl st in next dc, sl st in marked ch 1. {24 (32, 40) vst}
Rnd 3: (Dch2, ch 1, pm, dc) in same st as sl st (counts as first vst here and throughout), *[vst in ch-1 of next vst, ch 1] until 1 vst before marker, vst in ch-1 of next vst, vst in marked ch-1, place marker in vst just made; repeat from * 2 more times, [vst in ch-1 of next vst, ch 1] until 1 vst before marker, vst in ch 1 of next vst, sl st to top of dch2, sl st in marked ch 1. {28 (36, 44) vst}
Rnd 4: (Dch2, ch 1, pm, dc) in same st as sl st, *ch 1, [vst in ch-1 of next vst, ch 1] to marked vst, vst in ch-1 of marked vst, place marker in ch 1 of vst just made; repeat from * 2 more times, ch 1, [vst in ch-1 of next vst, ch 1] to end of Rnd, sl st to top of dch2, sl st in marked ch 1. {28 (36, 44) vst}
Rnd 5: (Dch2, ch 1, dc, ch 1, pm, vst) in same st as sl st (counts as first 2 vst), *ch 1, [vst in ch-1 of next vst, ch 1] to marked vst, (vst, ch 1, pm, vst) in next vst; repeat from * 2 more times, ch 1, [vst in ch-1 of next vst, ch 1] to end of Rnd, sl st in top of dch2, sl st in next ch 1, sl st in next dc, sl st in marked ch 1. {32 (40, 48) vst}
Repeat Rnds 3, 4, & 5 to desired length.
Finishing
- Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Happy Stitching!
FAQs
Not at all! It replaces the starting ch-3 for the first dc, so just replace the dch2 with a ch 3 and you’ll be all good.
Magic yarn is what we call it when you take scraps of old yarn and combine them into a new yarn ball. There’s a linked tutorial listed in the Supplies and in the Pattern Notes.
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cant wait to start.
Thank you for great pattern
Want to try ASAP!
I’m having difficulties.
In rd 2 I keep ending up with 24 Vsts.
{2}-in beginning st
1 V sts in every 4th st (4 v sts) + 2(in one st) x3 = {18}
{4}- individual v st
2+18+4=24
Where am I going wrong?
You did NOT go wrong – I clearly could not math when I calculated the row counts. This pattern just happens to be on my TLC list for this week, so I will get that all squared away. Thank you so much for pointing that out.
I love the Penny Poncho, thank you so much for the free pattern 😀. And I like that the yarn is a 4 ply.