Abby’s Dolly & Me Poncho was inspired by this lovely young lady with her big smile and bright eyes. The poncho is loose fitting and has a drawstring neckline closure to fit a wider size range so it can grow with your little lady. I made this one in three colors in honor of Valentine’s Day, but I think it would look wonderful in solids too. Can’t you envision it as the perfect cover for an Easter or Communion outfit?
The lacy design is a simple three row repeat that works up super quick once you get going. I added heart beads to the drawstring for a personal touch but there are so many other options such as pompoms, tassels, flowers and more — or leave the ends plain too.
And just for fun, I decided to make a matching poncho for Samantha, a beautiful, 18″ American Doll. 🙂
This little duo is ready for Valentine’s Day or any day and you can make a set for your favorite little girl and dolly too!
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When I first learned to crochet it was with crochet thread and my first project was a small doily. The thread options that were available back then were limited. The threads were somewhat stiff and while they worked well for bedspreads, tablecloths and doilies, they really didn’t have good drape and sheen that would be appropriate for most garments. Well, we’ve come a long way baby!
For Abby’s Dolly & Me Poncho I used Anne by Circulo. This thread is a fingering weight and the manufacturer recommends a 1.75 mm hook, however, for this poncho I wanted a looser, lacy look so I used a 3.75 mm with excellent results. The thread is silky smooth to work with, does not kink or knot up and has a pleasant sheen. It drapes beautifully for garments but is structured enough for doilies and other projects too. Best of all it comes in a wide range of colors and is reasonably priced.
I really enjoyed working with this yarn and look forward to using it in more projects.
Abby’s Dolly & Me Poncho
Size:
Child: Approximately 23″ neck opening and 14″ long
Doll: 18″ American Girl Doll
Materials:
Fingering Weight Yarn – I used Anne by CiRCULO
1 Ball each of Red, Pink and White (approximately 250 yards of each)
Gauge: 20 dc x 9 Rounds = 4”; Hook US F/3.75 mm
Abbreviations:
beg: beginning
ch: chain
dc: double crochet
hdc: half double crochet
sc: single crochet
sl st: slip stitch
st(s): stitch(es)
Special Stitch:
VSt (V Stitch): (dc, ch1, dc) in same stitch
- My patterns are written in US Standard terms.
- Weave ends as you work.
- Stitch count is in ( ) at end of the round.
- Work instructions between [ ] or * as designated.
- When a number precedes a stitch, such as 3hdc, work that number of stitches in the next stitch.
- At end of each round, join with sl st to beg st.
- Start each row in same st as join.
- Fasten off at each color change.
Child – should fit average 5- 8 year old
Round 1: Starting with Red, leave a tail of yarn about 4” long, ch113, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, and each remaining ch to end, join. Using 4” tail, sew first Round closed (opening will be approximately 23”). (112)
Round 2: Ch3 (counts as hdc and ch1), skip 1, [hdc in next st, ch1, skip 1], repeat to end, join. (112)
Round 3: Sl st into first ch1 space, ch4 (counts as dc and ch1), dc in same space (beg VSt made), VSt in each ch1 space around, join. (56 ch1 openings)
Round 4: Ch3 (counts as dc), dc in same st, 2dc in next ch1 space, dc in next 2 dc, dc in next ch1 space, dc in next dc, [dc in next dc, 2dc in next ch1 space, dc in next 2 dc, dc in next ch1 space, dc in next dc] repeat to end, join. (196)
Round 5: Repeat Round 2. (98 ch1 openings)
Round 6: Repeat Round 3. (98 VSts)
Round 7: Sl st into ch1 space, ch4 (counts as dc and ch1), dc in same space, ch2, sc in center of next VSt, ch2, [VSt in next VSt, ch2, sc in center of next V, ch2] repeat to end. (49 VSt)
Round 8: Sl st into center of VSt, ch3 (counts as dc), 4dc into same VSt, ch1, [5dc in next VSt, ch1] repeat to end, join.
Round 9: Ch1 (does not count as st) starting in same st, [sc in first 2 dc, ch1, skip 1, sc in next 2 dc, ch1, skip next ch], repeat to end, join.
Round 10: Sl st to ch1, ch4 (counts as dc and ch1), dc in same st, ch2, sc in next ch1, ch2, [VSt in center ch of group of 5dc, ch2, sc in next ch1, ch2] repeat to end, join.
Repeat Rounds 8 to 10, 2 times in Red, 4 times in Pink, 3 times in White.
Last Round: Ch1, starting in first VSt, *[sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc] in VSt ch1 space, sc in next ch2 space, skip sc, sc in next ch2 space*, repeat between * to end. Fasten off.
Tie Cord
With White, ch230, fasten off.
With Pink, ch25, sl st in 26th st of White cord, sl st in each chain of the White cord until there are 25 chs left, ch25 with Pink, fasten off (this will create 4 loose ends but the cord will be connected for most of its length).
Weave in and out of openings in Round 2.
Tie ends of cords into a knot or attach beads, or other decorative embellishment to ends of ties if desired.
Dolly – made to fit American Girl Doll or similar 18” doll
Round 1: Starting with Red, leave a tail of yarn about 4” long, ch57, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, and each remaining ch to end, join. Using 4” tail, sew first Round closed. (56)
Round 2: Ch3 (counts as hdc and ch1), skip 1, [hdc in next st, ch1, skip 1], repeat to end, join. (56)
Round 3: Sl st into first ch1 space, ch4 (counts as dc and ch1), dc in same space (beg VSt made), VSt in each ch1 space around, join. (28 ch1 openings)
Round 4: Ch3 (counts as dc), dc in next ch1 space, dc in next 2 dc, dc in next ch1 space, dc in next dc, [dc in next dc, 2dc in next ch1 space, dc in next 2 dc, dc in next ch1 space, dc in next dc] repeat to end, join. (96)
Round 5: Repeat Round 2. (48 ch1 openings)
Round 6: Sl st into ch1 space, ch4 (counts as dc and ch1), dc in same space, ch2, sc in center of next ch1 space, ch2, [VSt in next ch1 space, ch2, sc in center of next ch1 space, ch2] repeat to end. (24 VSt)
Round 7: Sl st into center of VSt, ch3 (counts as dc), 4dc into same VSt, ch1, [5dc in next VSt, ch1] repeat to end, join.
Round 8: Ch1 (does not count as st) starting in same st, [sc in first 2 dc, ch1, skip 1, sc in next 2 dc, ch1, skip next ch], repeat to end, join.
Round 9: Sl st to ch1, ch4 (counts as dc and ch1), dc in same st, ch2, sc in next ch1, ch2, [VSt in center ch of group of 5dc, ch2, sc in next ch1, ch2] repeat to end, join.
Repeat Rounds 7 to 9, 2 times in Pink, 1 time in White.
Last Round: Ch1, starting in first VSt, *[sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc] in VSt ch1 space, sc in next ch2 space, skip sc, sc in next ch2 space*, repeat between * to end. Fasten off.
Tie Cord
With White, ch120, fasten off.
Weave in and out of openings in Round 2.
Tie ends of cords into a knot or attach beads, or other decorative embellishment to ends of ties if desired.
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Hi
Fairly new to crocheting. Have trouble with round 4. Not getting the increase in stitches that I should.
I’m sorry you are having trouble. It’s difficult for me to say where you might be going off track without seeing your work, but perhaps it’s in the 2dc in the ch1 space that is causing the problem?
How wide should the opening for the doll be?
Gauge is 20dc = 4″, so the 56 stitches would equal about 11.25″
Would you consider this beginner? Is there a video? Thsnks
My testers rated it as dedicated beginner and no, there isn’t a video at this time.
Hello .I’m starting to learn how to crochet and I would like to do this poncho for a ten year old girl.
If up to 8 years old we crochet 113 stiches, how many more should I do ?
The sizing on this poncho is quite forgiving and it would depend how big your 10 year old is. I have not worked up the pattern in other sizing but in this pattern gauge is approximately 5 dc per inch and you will have to increase in multiples of 2, so I would say for every inch increase you want at the neck, add 4 to 6 sts. You will have to adjust stitch counts and repeats in further rounds too. Good luck with it, I’d love to see your finished project.
Hello,
I have just started this poncho and am a little stuck at round 9. Can you please explain your instructions?
‘sc in first 2dc’ does that mean do a single crochet stitch in between the first 2 double crochet stitches from the previous row? Then just continue to sc,ch 1, skip 1 chain to the end? It isn’t adding much to the length.
Thank you for your help.
Kind Regards
Sonja
You would work a sc in the first two dc of the 5 dc grouping from the previous round, then ch1, skip 1 and work a sc in the last 2 dc of the group of 5 from the previous round. I hope that helps.
Thanks!
Thank you for the abdolutely lovely poncho patfern. I was just wondering if by chance you knew how I could make these smaller?
I have 3 new granddaughters( I have 11 all together) but my 3 younger granddaughters one just turned 2 today, another turned 1 in January and the other will be 1 in March. The 2 yr old wears a 2t or 3t and the other two are in 18 to 24 month size.
If you could help me out that would be so wonderful, even if it’s just maybe how to convert the size.
Thanks in advance! I so want to make these for them, it’s beautiful.
Dawn
Hi there Dawn, I haven’t tested it in other sizes, but you would adjust the starting chain to make the opening smaller based on the size you wanted, and you would have to play with the stitch count after the increases to make sure the stitch count accommodates the 5double crochet shells row, once that’s done it just follows the same pattern. I may add other sizing in the future, but don’t have any timeline at this point. Good luck!
so adorable! love these matching ponchos. What sweet models too!
Thank you for the yarn review and especially for the patterns! The ponchos are so pretty and will be the perfect gifts for my niece.