Polar Swoncho: FREE crochet pattern

The swoncho (a mixed shape between the sweater and poncho) has been on my designing list for a couple of years now. And today I am excited to say that I have finally brought this idea to life. Let me introduce – a Polar Swoncho. A comfy and snaggy garment for everyday wear. The pattern is free on my blog below, but if you prefer an ads-free version in one printable pdf file, you can find it HERE on Ravelry and HERE on Etsy. 

Materials: 

Scheepjes Terrazzo (70% Recycled Mulesing Free Wool x 30% Recycled Viscose; 50g/175m) 

You can find Terrazzo via your local Scheepjes shops, and via online retailers: Wool Warehouse* (UK, international shipping), Caro's Atelier* (NL and Europe), Taemombo (US and Canada). 

Here is the list of the colors and yarn amounts for some colors. As you can see, only 1/2 skein was used for some colors, so you can play around and use less colors for your swoncho. Or go creative and use leftovers from your stash.

Yarn A: 741 Cenere (747 Tortora) x8 balls / 13 balls 

Yarn B: 745 Pergamena (740 Piuma) x1 ball /1 ball 

Yarn C: 735 Fontana (749 Caffe Nero) x1 ball (21g) / 1 ball (25g) 

Yarn D: 736 Bolle (746 Sabbia) x1 ball / 2 balls (52g) 

Yarn E: 720 Sangria (710 Pera) x1 ball (25g) / 1 ball (27g) 

Yarn F: 712 Sassolino (756 Guscio d'Uovo) x1 ball / 2 balls (57g) 

Yarn G: 730 Melanzana (748 Cioccolato) x1 ball (30g) / 1 ball (33g) 

3mm, 3.5mm and 4mm crochet hook (or the size to obtain correct gauge) 

Sizes: 1 (2) 

Size 1 will fit XXS-L 

Size 2 will fit XL-3X 

Lower body circumference: 172 (205) cm/68¼ (93¼) in 

Sleeve circumference at elbow: 28 (42.5) cm/11 (16 ¾) in 

Gauge for beginning of the yoke: 24 sts x 22 rows to measure 10 x 10cm/ 4 x 4in, blocked (every sc and every ch1 and will count as 1 st) 

Gauge for lower body: 22 sts x 22 rows to measure 10 x 10cm/ 4 x 4in, blocked (every sc and every ch1 and will count as 1 st) 

Abbreviations (US terms) 

beg begin(ning) 

blo back loop(s) only 

BOR beginning of the round 

ch chain stitch 

cont continue 

corr corresponding 

dc double crochet 

dc3tog double crochet 3 together

prev previous 

RS right side 

sc single crochet 

ss slip stitch 

st(s) stitch(es) 

sp(s) space(s) 

yo yarn over the hook 

pm place marker 

prev previous 

WS wrong side 

Pattern repeats: 

[…] repeat instruction inside […] as many times as indicated in the pattern. 

*…; rep instruction after * as many times as indicated in the pattern. 

Pattern notes: 

The Polar Swoncho (sweater&poncho) is designed in two sizes. It is worked seamlessly top down. First, the ribbing with slip stitches in back loops only is worked vertically, then some short rows are done to raise the back neck. Then the deep and wide mosaic yoke is worked down to separation for body and sleeves. The sleeves are ribbed, and you can make them longer for a cuffed version. Then the lower body is worked in rounds to the desired length and is finished with ribbing. 

INSTRUCTIONS 

An original LillaBjörnCrochet Design (Tatsiana Kupryianchyk). Copyright 2014-2022. All rights reserved. This pattern is for personal use only. It cannot be sold, redistributed or edited in any way. Translations and video tutorials are not allowed. You can sell your finished products, but you cannot use my pictures to promote them. Please, always note me as a designer of this pattern. Thank you! 

 

Purchase ads-free printable pdf with Polar Poncho pattern on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE. the file includes all written instructions and link to the video tutorial without ads.

 

Video tutorial:

 

YOKE

Beg with Yarn A and 3mm hook. 

Row 1: Ch7, 1ss in second ch from hook, 1ss in each ch across, turn – 6 ss. 

Row 2: Ch1 (does not count as a st here and throughout), 1ss blo in each st across, turn. 

Rep Row 2 until you have 68 (84) ridges (or 136 (168) rows in total). 

Join short sides of the ribbing with flat zip method on RS and cont working along the long edge of the ribbing. 

Round 1: Change to 3.5mm hook. Ch1, [1sc in next ridge, ch1] rep around, ss to beg sc – 136 (168) sts counting every sc and every ch1-sp as a st; or 68 (84) sc & ch-sps.

Round 2: Ch1, [1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st] rep around, ss to beg sc.   

SHORT ROWS 

Short row 1: Ch1, 1sc in next sp (pm for BOR – centre back), [ch1, skip 1 st, 1sc in next sp] rep 16 (18) times, ch1, skip 1 st, 1ss in next sp, turn. 

Short row 2: Ch1, skip ss, 1sc in next sp, [ch1, skip 1 st, 1sc in next sp] rep to BOR, ch1 (pm), skip BOR, 1sc in same sp as BOR, [ch1, skip 1 st, 1sc in next sp] rep 16 (18) times, ch1, skip 1 st, 1ss in next sp, turn. 

Short row 3: Ch1, skip ss, 1sc in next sp, [ch1, skip 1 st, 1sc in next sp] rep to 4sc and 3 ch1-sps left before edge of prev short row (moving BOR m up to corr st/sp), ch1, skip 1 st, 1ss in next sp, turn. 

Rep Short row 3 three more times. 

Next row (RS): Ch1, skip ss, 1sc in next sp, [ch1, skip 1 st, 1sc in next sp] rep to last sc before marked BOR sp, ch1, skip 1 st, 1ss to marked sp, turn. 

Resume working in rounds. 

Next round (WS): Ch1, 1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st, [1sc, ch1, skip 1 st] rep around skipping the bumps/steps on the edges of the short rows and working sc in same sp as ss; at the same time work (1sc, ch1, 1sc) in any space at centre front, join with ss to beg sc, turn – 68 (84) sc & ch-sps.

IMPORTANT! Gauge check: at this point the gauge should be 24 sts per 10cm/4in (slightly stretched or blocked) – to Mosaic Panel 5. 

INC SET 1 (RS): Ch1, [1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st, (1sc, ch1, 1sc) in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st] rep around, ss to beg sc, turn – 102 (126) sc & ch-sps. 

Next round (WS): Ch1, 1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st, [1sc, ch1, skip 1 st] rep around, ss to beg sc, turn.

MOSAIC PANEL 1 

Round 1 (RS): Ch1 changing to Yarn B (do not cut Yarn A), 1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st, [1sc, ch1, skip 1 st] rep around, ss to beg sc, turn. 

Rounds 2-4: Cont with Yarn B and rep Round 1 alternating RS and WS. 

Round 5 (RS): Ch1 changing to Yarn C (do not cut Yarn B), [1sc in next sp, 1dc in skipped st from 3 round below, 1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st] rep around, ss to beg sc, turn. 

Round 6 (WS): Cont with Yarn C. Ch1, [1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st, 1sc in next st, ch1, skip 1 st] rep around, ss to beg sc, turn. 

Round 7 (RS): Ch1 changing back to Yarn B by grabbing it up on WS (make sure the float of yarn does not pull) and cut Yarn C leaving approx. 25cm/10in tail for safe weaving, [1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st, 1sc in next sp, 1dc in skipped st from 3 rounds below] rep around, ss to beg sc, turn. 

Round 8 (WS): Cont with Yarn B. Ch1, [1sc in next st, ch1, skip 1 st, 1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st] rep around, ss to beg sc, turn. 

Round 9 (RS): Change back to Yarn A (cut Yarn B), rep Round 1. 

INC SET 2: Ch1, *[1sc in next st, ch1, skip 1 st] twice, (1sc, ch1, 1sc) in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st; rep from * around, ss to beg sc, turn – 136 (168) sc & ch-sps. 

MOSAIC PANEL 2 

Rep Rounds 1-9 from Mosaic Panel 1 using Yarn D and Yarn E for contrast color. Then rep round 9 once more. 

MOSAIC PANEL 3 

Rep Rounds 1-9 from Mosaic Panel 1 using Yarn F and Yarn G for contrast color. 

INC SET 3: Ch1, *[1sc in next st, ch1, skip 1 st] three times, (1sc, ch1, 1sc) in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st; rep from * around, ss to beg sc, turn – 170 (210) sc & ch-sps. 

MOSAIC PANEL 4 

Rep Rounds 1-9 from Mosaic Panel 1. Then rep round 9 once more. 

MOSAIC PANEL 5 

Change to 4mm hook or stay with 3.5mm and work a little looser. The gauge should change to approx. 22sts per 10cm/4in, slightly stretched, or blocked. 

Rep Rounds 1-9 from Mosaic Panel 1 using Yarn D and Yarn E as contrast color. 

INC SET 4: Ch1, *[1sc in next st, ch1, skip 1 st] four times, (1sc, ch1, 1sc) in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st; rep from * around, ss to beg sc, turn – 204 (252) sc & ch-sps. 

MOSAIC PANEL 6 

Rep Rounds 1-9 from Mosaic Panel 1 using Yarn F and Yarn G for contrast color. Then rep round 9 once more. Then rep Round 1 from Mosaic panel 1 – seven more times, alternating RS and WS in the following order of colors: C, A, E, A, G, A, C. 

INC SET 5: Ch1, *[1sc in next st, ch1, skip 1 st] five times, (1sc, ch1, 1sc) in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st; rep from * around, ss to beg sc, turn – 238 (294) sc & ch-sps. 

Cont with Yarn A and rep Round 1 from Mosaic Panel 1 until yoke is approx. 50cm/20in measured on front down from neck opening (should be just below elbow). Work last round on WS. 

SEPARATION for BODY and SLEEVES 

Separation round (RS): Ch1, 1sc in next st, [ch1, skip 1 st, 1sc in next sp] rep 45 (53) times for half back, ch7 (13), skip 55 (81) sts for one sleeve, 1sc in next sp, [ch1, skip 1 st, 1 sc in next sp] rep 91 (106) times for front, ch7 (13), skip 55 (81) sts for another sleeve, [1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st] rep 46 (53) times, ss to beg sc, turn – 380 (452) sts for lower body counting both ch-bridges. 

LOWER BODY 

Round 1 (WS): Ch1, [1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st] rep around treating every underarm ch as one st, ss to beg sc, turn – 190 (226) sc & ch-sps. 

Round 2: Ch1, [1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st] rep around, ss to beg sc, turn. 

Rep round 2 until lower body is approx. 20 (25) cm/7¾ (9¾) in measured down from the underarm, or 2cm shorter than desired length. Then proceed to ribbing. 

Ribbing for lower body 

Work horizontally (side to side) around the bottom of the body with 3mm hook. 

Row 1 (RS): Ch8, beg in second ch from hook, 7ss, 1ss in next sc lower body, turn – 8 sts. 

Row 2 (WS): Ch1, skip ss worked on lower body, 7ss blo, turn – 7 sts. 

Row 3 (RS): Ch1, 7ss, 1ss in next sc lower body, turn – 8 sts. 

Row 4 (WS): Ch1, skip ss worked on lower body, 7ss blo, turn – 7 sts. 

Rows 5-8: Rep Rows 3-4 twice. 

Row 9: Ch1, 7ss blo, 1ss in next sp on lower body, turn – 8 sts. 

Row 10: Ch1, skip ss worked on lower body, 7ss blo, turn – 7 sts. 

Rep rows 3-10 around. Join short sides of ribbing with flat zip method, fasten off. 

SLEEVES (both alike) 

With RS facing you, attach Yarn A with ss in a central space in the underarm. 

Round 1: Ch1 (doesn’t count as a st), 1sc in same sp as join, ch1, skip 1 st, [1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st] rep around, ss to beg sc, turn – 31 (47) sc & ch-sps. 

Round 2: Ch1, [1sc in next sp, ch1, skip 1 st] rep around, ss to beg sc, turn. 

Rep round 2 until sleeve is approx. 13cm/5in measured from underarm. Proceed to Ribbing. 

Ribbing for sleeves 

Work horizontally (side to side) around the bottom of the body with 3mm hook. 

Row 1 (RS): Ch32 (or more if you prefer a cuffed sleeve), beg in second ch from hook, 31ss, 1ss in next sc of lower body, turn – 32 sts. 

Row 2 (WS): Ch1, skip ss worked on lower body, 31ss blo, turn – 31 sts. 

Row 3 (RS): Ch1, 31ss, 1ss in next sc of lower body, turn – 32 sts. 

Row 4 (WS): Ch1, skip ss worked on lower body, 31ss blo, turn – 31 sts. 

Rows 5-8: Rep Rows 3-4 twice. 

Row 9: Ch1, 31ss blo, 1ss in next sp on lower body, turn – 32 sts. 

Row 10: Ch1, skip ss worked on lower body, 31ss blo, turn – 31 sts. 

Rep rows 3-10 around. Join short sides of ribbing with flat zip method, fasten off. 

Purchase ads-free printable pdf with Polar Poncho pattern on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE. the file includes all written instructions and link to the video tutorial without ads.

Congratulations! Your Polar Swoncho is now finished! 

  

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