There are a few of you that have had questions about the poncho on various rounds.  I figured it would be easier if I answered them all in once place so there was a reference.

Below you’ll find some tips and/or questions asked regarding the poncho.  Keep in mind that I’ll update this post if necessary.

Southern Diamonds Poncho Tips/FAQ:

1.  In the special stitches, you’ll see brackets and parentheses. What do you do? You will start with the information in the bracket first, when you come to the parentheses you’ll do what it tells you to do in that however many times then ending what it says until the bracket. For example:

Shell: [dc, (ch 1, dc) 2 times]. This mean start with the dc then you will ch 1, dc twice then you end after the bracket. It saves writing for me but basically I am saying: (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) All those stitches add up to 5.

7 St Shell: [dc, (ch1, dc) 3 times]. This mean start with the dc then you will ch 1, dc 3 times then you end the bracket. It saves writing for me but basically I am saying: (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) All those stitches add up to 7

9 St Shell: [dc, (ch1, dc) 4 times]. This mean start with the dc then you will ch 1, dc 4 times then you end the bracket. It saves writing for me but basically I am saying: (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) All those stitches add up to 9

2. How many shells should I have on each side let’s just say for Round 2?
Look at your stitch count at the end. You see that it says (24 shells and 4 corner 9 St Shells). You have 4 sides to this project right? If you take 24 and divide it by 4 what do you get? 6. This means you should have 6 shells on each side. You will do this with all the sides.

Just like on Round 1 it says 120 dc and 4 corner sts. 120/4=30. So you should have 30 stitches on each side plus your 4 corner stitches. If you have trouble with the corner stitches, I recommend that you use a stitch marker or even a snippet of yarn to mark it.

3.  I can’t get my stitch count right.  Help!

The first thing I would say is to make sure you have the correct stitch count on all sides.  The next thing is maybe you do have your stitch count right….let’s break it down.  For instance, Round 3 states (168 dc, 4 corner sts).  Are you coming up with 172 stitches instead of 168?  Well you are right but let me show you what’s happening.  I am NOT counting the corner st in the 168, hence the reason it says 4 corner sts at the end of the count but……if you add 168 plus the 4 corner sts, you get 172 right?  So….if this is your problem, no more worries.  Now you’ll know how to count from here on out!

4.  Can I use a different yarn and/or hook size?

Yes. I think this pattern will be adaptable to most yarn types. However, you gotta know that when you use something different from what I used….your results COULD be different and may even have a different look to the project.

Having said that…..I think we’ve seen with the shawl, wrap and blanket it is a very versatile stitch pattern that will most likely work with other types of yarn.

At the end of the pattern, I will have you crochet a round of single crochet stitches at the top which can pull in the neck a little if yours is too large. If this happens, I’ll help you…..but if you are really disappointed in the size, the project is multiples of 16….HOWEVER….I have NOT done the math to ensure that my pattern will easily accommodate the exact stitch pattern sequence. Changing it will be up to you, and I can’t guarantee the success.

Maybe try out this Yarn Sub website!

5. A Stitch Diagram is now available for Rounds 1-15.  Click HERE.

6. Be sure to note that you will always sl st at the end of the pattern, but that I tell you to sl st in the next st or even in the next ch-1 sp and dc. What this means is that you are basically slip stitching to the “middle” of the stitch. So for a shell, you’ll be sl st to the middle double crochet st or if it’s just 5 double crochet stitches, you’ll sl st over to the 3rd double crochet stitch.

One more tip….if you are having trouble reading the pattern…don’t read the entire round all at once. Read it one stitch at a time. Read what it tells you to do first….put the pattern down…crochet that part then come back to read the next part and the next part only. Continue doing this process until you’ve reached the end of the pattern instructions for that round. One.Stitch.At.A.Time

Happy Crocheting everyone! I hope this helps.

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