Snow Leopard Poncho: Free Tapestry Crochet Poncho Pattern

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Snow Leopard Poncho: Free Tapestry Crochet Poncho Pattern

Be stylish and comfy this winter with the Snow Leopard Poncho, my latest free crochet pattern! If you’re like me, you can never own too many sweaters. Anything that feels like I’m wearing a blanket is a win for me, especially when it looks stylish too! This cozy crochet poncho pattern is like wearing a blanket, is made using tapestry crochet, and is a great beginner crochet color work pattern. I think you’re going to love it!

Inspiration

I am obsessed with leopard print, especially when it’s crocheted! I’ve been having my eyes on creating a swancho pattern, a combination of a sweater and a poncho. I could never find the right print for it though, or the right yarn. One day, it all clicked. I saw the We Crochet cream and tan yarn I used next to each other, and I fell in love with the color combination. What colorwork could go with this combination? Why leopard print of course! Thus this pattern was born, and I love it so much!

Want to save this pattern for later? Save it to your favorite Pinterest board! (Save it from mine here!)

Sizing

One of the biggest goals with my garment designs is to be size inclusive. I want to make sure that no matter what size you are, you can crochet beautiful clothing that will look amazing on you! This pattern is sized from women’s sizes XS-5XL in 3 different size groupings: XS-L, XL-3XL, and 4XL-5XL. The written pattern and the video tutorial include all of these sizes, and you can even adjust it by adding more stitches to each side before the chart.

Construction

If you’re new to crochet color work or crocheting garments, this is a great beginner pattern! If you can crochet a rectangle you can make this pattern! The poncho is made up of a front and back panel that are worked off of each other in one piece. The front panel has the tapestry crochet color work on it, and then the back panel is plain. The color and sleeves are worked off of the poncho to add some texture with crochet ribbing. There’s virtually no seaming with this pattern, which is always a plus!

To do the color work, you can use the written pattern or the crochet color work graph to see how to do it. You can find the graph pattern in the discounted PDF version of this pattern in my Etsy and Ravelry stores!

I’ve also created a step by step video tutorial about how to crochet this poncho. You can find the video tutorial on my Youtube channel at: Snow Leopard Poncho Tutorial.

New to Tapestry Crochet or Crochet Crochet Color Work?

When I was first learning how to do crochet color work, I often felt so lost having to learn how to do color changes and reading crochet graphs. It can seem so intimidating to learn a new crochet skill! If you’re new to tapestry crochet or color work, then I’ve got just the resource for you.

Here on my blog, I’ve got a two free crochet tutorial for how to do tapestry crochet and intarsia crochet, which are the two most common crochet color work techniques. They’ll walk you through what each technique is, how to read crochet graphs, how to change colors in crochet, and a bunch of other tips I have for color work! You can find them here on my blog at:

The Beginner’s Guide to Tapestry Crochet: (This technique is used when you would like to carry your yarn, and the color work is close together.)

The Beginner’s Guide to Intarsia Crochet: (This technique is used when you don’t want to carry your yarn, and instead would like to use yarn bobbins. I used this for the Your Sunday Best Sweater)

I’ve also created a step by step tutorial for how to crochet this sweater pattern! You can find it on my Youtube channel at:

Snow Leopard Poncho Pattern Tutorial

E’Claire Makery Winter Fashion Blog Hop

As a part of my latest blog hop, this pattern is available as a FREE PDF download till 11/10 at 8am PST! Head to my round up blog post to get the coupon code, and then click the button below to download it for free on Ravelry!

 

Gauge: 4” x 4” square = 15 dc x 7 rows

Sizes:

  • XS-L (XL-3XL, 4XL/5XL)

Finished Width Measurement:

  • 33 (40, 47)”

Finished Length Measurement:

  • 25 (26, 27)”

Hook: US I/5.5mm

Yarn: 

  • We Crochet Mighty Stitch (Worsted Weight 4, 80% Acrylic, 20% Superwash Wool, 208yds/190m, 3.5oz/100g) in Cream (MC)
  • We Crochet Upcycle Reserve Worsted (Worsted Weight 4, 100% Upcycle Wool, 219yds/200m, 3.5oz/100g): in Amarillo (CC)

Approximate Yarn Yardage:

  • MC = 1500 (2000, 2600)yds
  • CC = 400-600yds

Abbreviations:

  • ch = chain 
  • st(s) = stitch(es) 
  • rnd = round
  • dc = double crochet 
  • bpdc = back post double crochet
  • fpdc = front post double crochet 
  • sk = skip 
  • MC = main color 
  • CC = contrast color

Pattern Notes:

  • This pattern uses US crochet terminology.
  • The ch 2 at the beginning of the row of rnd does not count as a stitch.
  • The pattern is made with the front panel, neckline, and back panel all worked in one piece. The sleeves and collar are worked off of the panel.
  • This pattern involves color changes using the tapestry crochet technique. When working the body of the front panel, carry the unused color till you need it again.

Snow Leopard Poncho Video Tutorial:

Front Panel:

Ribbing:

Starting with CC, ch 127 (152, 177).

Row 1: starting in the third ch from the hook, dc 125 (150, 175) [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 2: ch 2, turn, *dc 1, bpdc 1, repeat from * to last st, dc 1 in last st [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 3: ch 2, turn, *dc 1, fpdc 1, repeat from * to last st, dc 1 in last st [125 (150, 175) sts]

Rows 4-5: repeat rows 2-3, on row 5 on the last yo of the last st switch to MC [125 (150, 175) sts]

Rows 6-7 (9, 11): ch 2, turn, dc across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Body:

Continuing off of the ribbing, we will begin using the chart to do the color work for the pattern. Row 1 of the written pattern corresponds to row 1 of the chart.

Row 1: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 17, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 4, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 2: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 3, (CC) dc 6, (MC) dc 11, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 1, repeat from * across 

Row 3: (CC) ch 2, turn, *dc 6, (MC) dc 10, (CC) dc 1, (MC) dc 4, (CC) dc 1, (MC) dc 3, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 4: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 3, (CC) dc 3, (MC) dc 1, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 8, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 3, (CC) dc 1, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 5: (CC) ch 2, turn, *dc 2, (MC) dc 3, (CC) dc 3, (MC) dc 8, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 5, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 6: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 5, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 11, (CC) dc 7, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 7: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 1, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 20, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 8: (MC) ch 2, turn, dc across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 9: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 12, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 9, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 10: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 7, (CC) dc 3, (MC) dc 2, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 11, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 11: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 12, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 3, (CC) dc 1, (MC) dc 7, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 12: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 7, (CC) dc 1, (MC) dc 2, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 6, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 3, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 13: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 3, (CC) dc 6, (MC) dc 5, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 7, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 14: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 8, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 5, (CC) dc 3, (MC) dc 2, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 3, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 15: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 3, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 3, (CC) dc 3, (MC) dc 14, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 16: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 3, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 6, (CC) dc 3, (MC) dc 3, (CC) dc 3, (MC) dc 3, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 17: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 4, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 3, (CC) dc 3, (MC) dc 5, (CC) dc 6, (MC) dc 2, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 18: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 2, (CC) dc 1, (MC) dc 4, (CC) dc 1, (MC) dc 5, (CC) dc 7, (MC) dc 5, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 19: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 7, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 6, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 1, (CC) dc 3, (MC) dc 2, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 20: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 4, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 17, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 21: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 19, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 4, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 22-23: (MC) ch 2, turn, dc across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 24: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 14, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 7, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 25: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 5, (CC) dc 7, (MC) dc 8, (CC) dc 3, (MC) dc 2, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 26: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 1, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 1, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 5, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 3, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 5, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 27: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 6, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 3, (CC) dc 3, (MC) dc 5, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 2, (CC) dc 2, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 28: (CC) ch 2, turn, *dc 2, (MC) dc 2, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 6, (CC) dc 7, (MC) dc 6, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 29: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 7, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 8, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 1, (CC) dc 1, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 30: (CC) ch 2, turn, *dc 3, (MC) dc 22, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 31: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 23, (CC) dc 2, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 32: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 8, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 10, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 1, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 33: (CC) ch 2, turn, *dc 5, (MC) dc 7, (CC) dc 6, (MC) dc 7, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 34: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 7, (CC) dc 1, (MC) dc 4, (CC) dc 1, (MC) dc 6, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 3, (CC) dc 1, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 35: (CC) ch 2, turn, *dc 2, (MC) dc 2, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 6, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 1, (CC) dc 3, (MC) dc 7, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 36: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 9, (CC) dc 4, (MC) dc 6, (CC) dc 5, (MC) dc 1, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 37: (MC) ch 2, turn, *dc 3, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 9, (CC) dc 2, (MC) dc 9, repeat from * across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Fasten off CC. Do not fasten off MC, you will be working the neckline off of this section.

Neckline:

Continuing off of the front panel, do the following to form the neckline.

Row 1: (MC) ch 2, turn, dc 47 (57, 67), ch 31 (36, 41), sk 31 (36, 41), dc to end of row [125 (150, 175) sts]

Do not fasten off, you will be working the back panel off of this section.

 

Back Panel:

Continuing off of the front panel/neckline, do the following to create the back panel.

Row 1-39 (41, 43): (MC) ch 2, turn, dc across (on row 1, work 1 dc into each ch of neckline) [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 40 (42, 44): (CC) ch 2, turn, dc across [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 41 (43, 45): (CC) ch 2, turn, *dc 1, fpdc 1, repeat from * to last st, dc 1 in last st [125 (150, 175) sts]

Row 42 (44, 46): (CC) ch 2, turn, *dc 1, bpdc 1, repeat from * to last st, dc 1 in last st [125 (150, 175) sts]

For next two rows: repeat rows 39-40 [125 (150, 175) sts]

Fasten off and weave in ends.

 

Seaming for Armholes:

To create the armholes, we will be seaming the sides of the swancho part way. Before starting, measure around your arm below your elbow. This will help you determine how big your armhole will be.

Once you have your measurement, fold the swancho in half with right sides together. Measure 5 ( , )” down from the top, and mark it by pinning the two panels together there. Repeat on the other side.

Join MC with a sl st through the two panels at the pin, and do a sl st seam along the edge approximately 4-6” depending on how far down you’d like the seam to be. Repeat on the other side. Fasten off and weave in ends.

 

Sleeves:

Rnd 1: ch 2, dc around armhole with approximately 2 stitches in each row around, make sure to end on an even number, join with sl st to ch-2 at beginning of rnd

 

Rnd 2: ch 2, *dc 1, fpdc 1, repeat from * around join with sl st to ch-2 at beginning of rnd

 

Repeat rnd 2 till your sleeve reaches the desired length. You can continue rnd 2 till it reaches to your wrist, or a few inches above it.

 

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Collar:

Join CC with a sl st through either the first or last ch st on the neckline.

 

Rnd 1: ch 2, dc around the collar through each ch st from the neckline and skipped st from the neckline, join with sl st to ch-2 at beginning of rnd [62 (72, 82) sts]

 

Rnd 2: ch 2, *dc 1, fpdc 1, repeat from * around, join with sl st to ch-2 at beginning of rnd [62 (72, 82) sts]

 

Repeat rnd 2 till your collar reaches the desired length. 

Fasten off and weave in ends.