Need Poncho Pattern Ideas for Plus-size Sister

[Yearnin' for Yarn]

Hello, all. As my title states, my sister wants me to make her a poncho for her birthday, and I am glad to do it, but we are having a hard time finding a pattern to use. She is a plus-size--and she is worried about a poncho being short and accenting her pooch (don't we all have one!). She is also worried about finding a drape that is nice and flattering, not tentlike. She said something about not wanting to look like a couch. I know it sounds like she has lots of concerns, but she does love ponchos.

We looked over all the patterns at the crochet pattern central site and we're just not sure what would be the most flattering. She also likes the looks of the novelty yarns, but I would like to not spend a small fortune.

So, does anyone have any guidance for me on this matter?

Thank you so much! :D

Nicole

[donnalynn2]

IMHO the Coming Home Poncho is very nice and flattering for plus sizes. I also made the Patons Poncho for my sister who is also plus sized by adding more rows of the pattern until joining it to get the right size.

Shades of blue poncho (http://www.geocities.com/craftscrochetnmore/poncho2.htm)

If one of these doesn't work, find a pattern your sister likes and just add to the beginning chain in order to make it the right size. I've done this for several projects as I'm plus size and many times the pattern I'm making doesn't have options for that size... GOOD LUCK!

[mariyel]

I have a free pattern for a Plus sized poncho on my site. It's my own original pattern and done with 4 ply yarn.As with all my patterns, it's FREE.
www.CrochetMaryEllen.com (http://www.CrochetMaryEllen.com) follow the links to "Gently Gathered Poncho".

[hudelei]

If you don't mind the idea of buying a pattern, I'd recommend what they sell at stitchdivas studios as the Hiawatha poncho. Check it out here:

http://www.stitchdiva.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=SDS-009

I've made a couple of those, and the instructions include sizes up to 5X (and measurements so you don't have to guess what they mean by 5X either). It's sort of fitted at the shoulders and bust so it isn't like someone dropped a tent over you, but it can be made any length by just increasing some rows).

It's easy too, if your sister likes like look of it.

[crochetingfool]

try one of these.....I usually just use a bigger hook for a bigger size. :hook

http://faerycrafty.blogdrive.com/archive/199.html

[Yearnin' for Yarn]

IMHO the Coming Home Poncho is very nice and flattering for plus sizes. I also made the Patons Poncho for my sister who is also plus sized by adding more rows of the pattern until joining it to get the right size.

Shades of blue poncho (http://www.geocities.com/craftscrochetnmore/poncho2.htm)

If one of these doesn't work, find a pattern your sister likes and just add to the beginning chain in order to make it the right size. I've done this for several projects as I'm plus size and many times the pattern I'm making doesn't have options for that size... GOOD LUCK!


Donna--thanks so much for that link. I hadn't seen the Paton's pattern yet. It looks like it might be a good possibility.

I also thought the Coming Home Poncho would be nice and flattering, but Jacki didn't like the collar on the one from the Lion Brand site, but I have seen other interpretations of it with different collars.

Thanks again for your reply and the link to your site! I love looking at others' work.

Take care, Nicole

[Yearnin' for Yarn]

I have a free pattern for a Plus sized poncho on my site. It's my own original pattern and done with 4 ply yarn.As with all my patterns, it's FREE.
www.CrochetMaryEllen.com (http://www.crochetmaryellen.com/) follow the links to "Gently Gathered Poncho".

Mariyel--thanks so much for your reply and the link to your site. I'm going to be poking around it some more. I'll send my sister that link, too. I just love free patterns!! All of you who have the gift to design patterns and write them up are doing a great service to those of us who don't have that gift.

Take care,,
Nicole

[Yearnin' for Yarn]

If you don't mind the idea of buying a pattern, I'd recommend what they sell at stitchdivas studios as the Hiawatha poncho. Check it out here:

http://www.stitchdiva.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=SDS-009

I've made a couple of those, and the instructions include sizes up to 5X (and measurements so you don't have to guess what they mean by 5X either). It's sort of fitted at the shoulders and bust so it isn't like someone dropped a tent over you, but it can be made any length by just increasing some rows).

It's easy too, if your sister likes like look of it.

Hudelei--thanks so much for that link. I think it is a very pretty poncho, and I can see that it would be flattering for a plus size. I will ask Jacki what she thinks of it. She has a thing for assymetrical designs, too, I am going to look on that site for an assymetrical design.

Thanks,
Nicole

[Yearnin' for Yarn]

try one of these.....I usually just use a bigger hook for a bigger size. :hook

http://faerycrafty.blogdrive.com/archive/199.html

Wow--I hadn't found this site, either. Lots and lots of patterns there. A few look like they might be possibilities. I am going to go looking some more on there.

Thanks so much,
Nicole

[wyldflrs]

try one of these.....I usually just use a bigger hook for a bigger size. :hook

http://faerycrafty.blogdrive.com/archive/199.html

Great link, thanks for sharing!

[mia's momma]

hi i am a big girl myself an i have made the easy peasy poncho from crochet pattern central. i used one huge skein of sensations rainbow boucle yarn a jo-ann exclusive(awsome stuff) and 3 skeins of fuzzy Yarn Bee Brand yarn from hobby lobby. The yarn the pattern calls for would cost around $100 dollars(ack) Mine cost $20 dollars. it looks great and fits well. its easy to change the size with your hook size. also it is not to hot. i made the comming home homespun poncho and i about die from the heat and weight of it.hope this helps Mia's momma

[Yearnin' for Yarn]

hi i am a big girl myself an i have made the easy peasy poncho from crochet pattern central. i used one huge skein of sensations rainbow boucle yarn a jo-ann exclusive(awsome stuff) and 3 skeins of fuzzy Yarn Bee Brand yarn from hobby lobby. The yarn the pattern calls for would cost around $100 dollars(ack) Mine cost $20 dollars. it looks great and fits well. its easy to change the size with your hook size. also it is not to hot. i made the comming home homespun poncho and i about die from the heat and weight of it.hope this helps Mia's momma


Thank you! The Easy Peasy Poncho is actually one she had written down as one of the ones she liked. I might give it a try; thanks for letting me know that it worked out well for you. I really apppreciate it.
Nicole

[mia's momma]

here are a few tips if your going to make the easy peasy poncho. use a big hook i used a size 6.50mm. i wear a size 18-20 and this fits just right. go with something bigger if you need to. i was worried it would be to short until i put the fringe on it really pulled it down and opened up the stitch. I used a very soft furry fuzzy yarn. i dont think thin long eyelash yarn will look as good but it might be worth a try to use up some scraps you have with some cheap acrilic to make a sample chain. veregrated yarn looks wonderful with it mine was pink, black, gray then to white. it looks so rock star. dont work your chains to tight. i had to rip out alot because i was to tight and it looks much better with medium to loose tension.i think your sister will just love it. let me know what type of fuzzy yarn you use. also this works up FAST. I made it start to finish in one day. good luck mia's momma

[Yearnin' for Yarn]

mia's momma,

Wow, thanks for the tips! Tension is sometimes a problem with me--I tend to have a tight stitch and have to rip out sometimes to fix it. You said you used the big Joann sensations boucle--I thought that only came in blue, purple, green and red. Which color did you use to get the pink, black, gray and white colors? My sister does like the look of the varigated, but she also likes neutral colors like khaki and beige. I think that color you used would be great, though, because I think she would like that look, too.

Thanks so much!
Nicole

[mia's momma]

Here is what the wrapper says( Rainbow Boucle-Black art number 07639388 color number 1001) look online if your store does not have it. it is shades of black gray and white and was 7.99 per skien. one skein was WAY more than enough i have so much left over i could make a whole other poncho with it. The pink black and gray stuff came from hobby lobby and was on sale last week for 3.99 usually it is 6.28. the wrapper on it says(Yarn Bee Brand type Luscious color black raspberry number 78 art number 190) it is so yummy and soft and easy to work with. the strand is nice and thick unlike most eyelash yarn. i will try to get a picture of the poncho on here tomorrow. i am a computer idiot so bare with me it may take me some fiddling with. oh and also the pattern calls for 300 gm of each yarn well that is 1 big ball of boucle and 3 balls of yarn bee. hope you can find it it looks so rock star. good luck. Mia's momma

[Yearnin' for Yarn]

mia's momma--thanks so much for the detailed info. My town doesn't have a joann's or a hobby lobby, but we are going to a town that does next week--I am going to have a look at those yarns and see if they are something my sister would like.


I really appreciate all your help---thanks so much. :)

Nicole

[Melissa]

I have to chime in here about what is possibly the most beautiful poncho pattern I've ever seen. It's called the Petal Stitch Asymmetrical Poncho, and you can find it here (http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art24740.asp). I made it last year in black, and it's GORGEOUS! I get compliments whenever I wear it, and most people can't believe I made it. Heeheehee.

I did have to do more than the 19 pattern repeats called for in the directions (although I can't remember how many more, and now that I understand better how it's put together, I see that I could have made a few less) but it looks great, and the TLC amore feels lovely without costing an arm and a leg.

[donnalynn2]

Donna--thanks so much for that link. I hadn't seen the Paton's pattern yet. It looks like it might be a good possibility.

I also thought the Coming Home Poncho would be nice and flattering, but Jacki didn't like the collar on the one from the Lion Brand site, but I have seen other interpretations of it with different collars.



You can make the Coming Home Poncho without the collar if you wish! I actually made one without it for a friend. You just do ONE row of the collar for foundation and then start the pattern from there... Most any pattern can be modified from the original pattern by adding-subtracting the beginning chain or by using a different sized hook. The sky's the limit with crochet!