Starburst Crochet Toddler Poncho | Free Crochet Pattern
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Below is the free pattern for this adorable Starburst Crochet Toddler Poncho!
If you have a toddler, had a toddler, been in the same room with a toddler, or even come so close as to see one on a YouTube video, you know that a toddler’s life phrase is “I WANT TO DO IT MYSELF!” or some savage variant thereof.
My tiny toddler wants to do everything just like her big brother who has barely escaped toddlerdom himself. Since big brother can get dressed and put his coat on by himself, she wants to as well.
Unfortunately, sleeves are a little tricky when you are 2 years old and don’t have full control over all moving parts of your body.
Since it is warming up here in the frozen north, a toddler poncho (the glory of the poncho being that it is sleeveless) seemed in order for spring and for success getting the tiny tot out the door. She can easily slip this over her head and we can mercifully avoid the “I wanna do it myself, I can’t do it, help me now, no I do it myself” meltdowns. Amazing.
This pattern uses the Starburst stitch also known as the Catherine Wheel stitch and is based on my favorite scarf pattern by People Webs. (Check it out -you will not regret it.) Hopeful Honey has a similar chunky infinity scarf pattern and an awesome tutorial on the Catherine Wheel Stitch. (Please note: This pattern does not require doing a foundation row of single crochets like shown in the video)
Now that my little gal pal is no longer a toddler, I’ve been wanting to make her a larger poncho and provide additional sizes.
Come to find out, this pattern works great in the toddler size range but not so much in the larger sizes. As you move to the larger sizes, the neck hole becomes too large especially for a kiddo who is on the petite size anyway like my daughter.
I still made her the larger poncho sized for a 4 year and added some rows of single crochets and double crochets to the neck hole. I will add the starting chain numbers for the 4-year-old size in parenthesis within the pattern.
Don’t forget to save the Starburst Crochet Toddler Poncho on Pinterest!
Starburst Crochet Toddler Poncho
Materials:
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- US-Size I/9 (6mm) Crochet Hook (Clover Amour Crochet Hook, Size I)
- #4 Medium Worsted Weight Yarn
- Samples used 2 skeins Caron Simply Soft (6oz/315 yds) in Blackberry (toddler crochet poncho) and soft pink (child crochet poncho.)
(I used Caron Simply Soft in Blackberry-6oz/skein)
Abbreviations:
dc4tog – double crochet 4 stitches together
dc7tog – double crochet 7 stitches together
yo – yarn over
ch(s) – chain(s)
sc(s) – single crochet(s)
dc(s) – double crochet(s)
st(s) – stitch(es)
Stitch Instructions:
dc4tog
- yo, insert hook into the stitch, draw up 1 loop (3 loops on hook), yo, draw through 2 loops (2 loops remaining)
- yo, insert hook into the next stitch, draw up 1 loop (4 loops on hook), yo, draw through 2 loops (3 loops remaining)
- yo, insert hook into the next stitch, draw up 1 loop (5 loops on hook), yo, draw through 2 loops (4 loops remaining)
- yo, insert hook into the next stitch, draw up 1 loop (6 loops on hook), yo, draw through 2 loops (5 loops remaining)
- yo and draw through all 5 loops.
dc7tog
- yo, insert hook into the stitch, draw up 1 loop (3 loops on hook), yo, draw through 2 loops (2 loops remaining)
- yo, insert hook into the next stitch, draw up 1 loop (4 loops on hook), yo, draw through 2 loops (3 loops remaining)
- yo, insert hook into the next stitch, draw up 1 loop (5 loops on hook), yo, draw through 2 loops (4 loops remaining)
- yo, insert hook into the next stitch, draw up 1 loop (6 loops on hook), yo, draw through 2 loops (5 loops remaining)
- yo, insert hook into the next stitch, draw up 1 loop (7 loops on hook), yo, draw through 2 loops (6 loops remaining)
- yo, insert hook into the next stitch, draw up 1 loop (8 loops on hook), yo, draw through 2 loops (7 loops remaining)
- yo, insert hook into the next stitch, draw up 1 loop (9 loops on hook), yo, draw through 2 loops (8 loops remaining)
- yo and draw through all 8 loops.
The poncho is worked making 2 rectangles and joining them together. If you don’t mind the pattern going in different directions, you can make two identical rectangles. I made one rectangle with the pattern going vertical and the other with the pattern horizontal so the poncho would look a little more seamless. Each rectangle will be roughly 10″ wide by 20″ long.
Pattern Notes:
Starting chain values are provided for a 4-6 year old sized poncho, but you will need to add stitches around the neck hole after the poncho is sewn together to make it smaller. The size of the neck hole increases significantly from the toddler size to the larger size.
End each rectangle on a row 2 repeat or a row 4 repeat once the rectangle has reached the desired length/width.
Toddler Crochet Poncho Pattern Instructions:
Vertical Rectangle:
Ch 42 (52) turn
Row 1: sc in second ch from hook, sc in next st, *skip 3 chs, 7 dc in next st, skip 3 chs, 3sc, repeat from * ending with 2 sc. ch 2, turn
Row 2: dc4tog (over sc, sc dc, dc), *ch 3, 3 sc, ch 3, dc7tog (over dc, dc, sc, sc, sc, dc, dc), repeat from * ending with 4dctog (over dc, dc, sc, sc). Ch 2, turn.
Row 3: 4 dc in dc4tog, *skip ch 3, 3 sc, skip ch 3, 7 dc in dc7tog, repeat from * ending with 4 dcs in dc4tog. ch 1, turn
Row 4: 2 sc, *ch 3, dc7tog (over dc, dc, sc, sc, sc, dc, dc), ch 3, 3 sc, repeat from * ending with 2 scs, ch 1, turn
Row 5: 2 sc, *skip 3 chs, 7 dc in next st, skip 3 chs, 3sc, repeat from * ending with 2 sc. ch 2, turn
Repeat rows 2-5 until rectangle measures about 20″ long
Horizontal Rectangle:
Ch 82 (102) turn
Row 1: sc in second ch from hook, sc in next st, *skip 3 chs, 7 dc in next st, skip 3 chs, 3sc, repeat from * ending with 2 sc. ch 2, turn
Row 2: dc4tog (over sc, sc dc, dc), *ch 3, 3 sc, ch 3, dc7tog (over dc, dc, sc, sc, sc, dc, dc), repeat from * ending with 4dctog (over dc, dc, sc, sc). Ch 2, turn.
Row 3: 4 dc in dc4tog, *skip ch 3, 3 sc, skip ch 3, 7 dc in dc7tog, repeat from * ending with 4 dcs in dc4tog. ch 1, turn
Row 4: 2 sc, *ch 3, dc7tog (over dc, dc, sc, sc, sc, dc, dc), ch 3, 3 sc, repeat from * ending with 2 scs, ch 1, turn
Row 5: 2 sc, *skip 3 chs, 7 dc in next st, skip 3 chs, 3sc, repeat from * ending with 2 sc. ch 2, turn
Repeat rows 2-5 until rectangle measures about 10″ wide.
Lay the rectangles in a “V” shape on top of each other making sure the pattern is flowing in the same direction. Fold the top of the rectangle on the bottom down so it meets the long end of the top rectangle. Fold the top of the top rectangle back so it meets the long end of the bottom rectangle. Sew or single crochet the rectangles together.
Sewing the rectangles together means you end up with a crochet toddler poncho which is completely reversible (a big win when wanting to give your little one some independence), but it isn’t quite as secure as single crocheting it together.
Optional: Add a row of single crochets around the neck hole.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
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