Asymmetrical Drape Poncho with Tassels

A one-piece worsted poncho with a short front, a dramatically longer back, open sides, a ribbed neckband, and a fringe of tassels. Worked flat in double crochet from the front hem to the back hem, with a split neck opening. Intermediate: neck split and rejoin, front-post/back-post ribbing, and finishing with tassels. Wear the short panel in front, or rotate it slightly off-center for a side drape.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (CYC 4), approximately 1,500 yd (1,372 m) in one color, including tassels. For contrast tassels, use about 1,350 yd (1,235 m) main color and 200 yd (183 m) contrast.
• Hook A (body): US I/9 (5.5 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge
• Hook B (neckband and tassel ties): US H/8 (5.0 mm)
• Yarn needle
• 4 stitch markers
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Stiff cardboard, 7" (18 cm) tall, for wrapping tassels

Suggested yarn: A smooth worsted wool, wool blend, or acrylic with good drape (about 200–220 yd / 100 g per skein). Plan on 7–8 skeins of 220 yd.

Gauge

14 dc and 8 rows = 4" (10 cm) in double crochet with Hook A, blocked.

Work a swatch at least 6" (15 cm) square. Block it the same way you will block the poncho, then measure the center 4" (10 cm).

• Too few stitches in 4" (10 cm): go down a hook size.
• Too many stitches in 4" (10 cm): go up a hook size.

Gauge matters for width and for the neck opening. Length is easy to adjust by adding or removing rows.

Size

One size (generous drape; fits approximately bust 30–46" / 76–117 cm).

Blocked body (before border):

• Width: 36" (91.5 cm)
• Front length (hem to neck split): 18" (45.5 cm)
• Neck opening depth: 6" (15 cm)
• Back length (neck rejoin to hem): 28" (71 cm)
• Total length: 52" (132 cm)
• Neck opening width: 12" (30.5 cm)
• Each shoulder panel: 12" (30.5 cm)

The sc border adds about ½" (1.3 cm) all around. The neckband sits at the neck and does not add body length.

To customize

• Wider: add stitches to the foundation in multiples of 2; keep the neck 42 sts and split the extra stitches evenly onto the two shoulders.
• Longer front: add rows in the Rows 2–36 section.
• Longer back: add rows after Row 50.

Abbreviations (US terms)

Special Stitches

Front post double crochet (FPdc): Yo, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of the next st, yo, pull up a loop, (yo, pull through 2 loops) twice.

Back post double crochet (BPdc): Yo, insert hook from back to front to back around the post of the next st, yo, pull up a loop, (yo, pull through 2 loops) twice.

Tassel: See Finishing.

Pattern Notes

• Pattern uses US crochet terms.
• Poncho is worked flat, in rows, from the front hem to the back hem.
• Ch 3 at the beginning of a row counts as 1 dc. Always work the last dc of the row into the top of the tch.
• Work in both loops unless told otherwise.
• RS = odd-numbered body rows. Row 1 is RS.
• Stitch counts are given in parentheses at the end of each instruction. Count every dc, including the tch.
• Do not join the sides — the long edges stay open as arm openings.
• Work the ch-42 neck bridge loosely (or with Hook A held a bit relaxed) so it matches the 12" (30.5 cm) width of the skipped stitches.
• Weave in ends as you go where practical, especially after the First Shoulder.

Stitch-count map (body):

• Full-width rows: 126 dc (36" / 91.5 cm)
• Each shoulder: 42 dc (12" / 30.5 cm)
• Neck skip / neck bridge: 42 sts (12" / 30.5 cm)
• Check: 42 + 42 + 42 = 126 ✓

Pattern

Body

With Hook A, ch 128.

Row 1 (RS): Dc in 4th ch from hook (sk ch-3 counts as first dc) and in each ch across. (126 dc ✓; 128 − 3 + 1 tch = 126)

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), dc in next st and in each st across, ending with dc in top of tch, turn. (126 dc)

Rows 3–36: Repeat Row 2. (126 dc each row)

36 rows × 0.5" = 18" front length ✓. Piece should measure about 36" (91.5 cm) wide × 18" (45.5 cm) long.

PM in st 42 and st 85 of Row 36 to mark the neck. Shoulder = sts 1–42, neck = sts 43–84 (42 sts), shoulder = sts 85–126. (42 + 42 + 42 = 126 ✓)

First Shoulder

Row 37 (RS): Ch 3, dc in next 41 sts, turn, leaving rem sts unworked. (42 dc)

Rows 38–48: Ch 3, dc in next 41 sts, dc in top of tch, turn. (42 dc)

12 rows on this shoulder (Rows 37–48) = 6" (15 cm) ✓.

Fasten off. PM in both ends of Row 48.

Second Shoulder

With RS facing, sk the next 42 sts of Row 36 (neck opening), join yarn with sl st in the next st (st 85 of Row 36).

Row 37 (RS): Ch 3, dc in rem 41 sts, turn. (42 dc)

Rows 38–48: Ch 3, dc in next 41 sts, dc in top of tch, turn. (42 dc)

Fasten off.

Both shoulders are 42 dc wide and 12 rows deep. Neck gap is 42 sts wide × 12 rows deep (12" × 6") ✓.

Rejoin for Back

Row 49 (RS): With RS facing, join yarn in the first st of First Shoulder (the outer edge, not the neck edge). Ch 3, dc in next 41 sts, ch 42 loosely, dc in each of the 42 sts of Second Shoulder (work across Row 48 from neck edge to outer edge), turn. (42 dc + 42 ch + 42 dc = 126 sts ✓)

Row 50: Ch 3, dc in each dc and in each ch across, ending with dc in top of tch, turn. (126 dc ✓)

If the chain section pulls in, redo the ch-42 more loosely, or work Row 50 dc into the back bump of each ch.

Rows 51–104: Ch 3, dc in each st across, ending with dc in top of tch, turn. (126 dc)

Rows 49–104 inclusive = 56 rows = 28" (71 cm) back length ✓. Total rows 36 + 12 + 56 = 104 = 52" (132 cm) ✓.

Fasten off.

Outer Border

With RS facing and Hook A, join yarn in any st along the front hem, a few stitches away from a corner.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around the entire outer edge, working:

• 1 sc in each dc or foundation ch along the front and back hems,
• 2 sc in each row-end along both long sides (104 rows × 2 = 208 sc per side ✓),
• 3 sc in each of the 4 corners.

Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Do not work a border on the neck opening yet.

Neckband

With RS facing and Hook B, join yarn at one corner of the neck opening (where a shoulder split meets the front or back neck).

Rnd 1: Ch 1, pick up and sc around the neck as follows:

• 42 sc across the back neck (the ch-42 / dc edge),
• 24 sc along the first split edge (2 sc in each of 12 row-ends ✓),
• 42 sc across the front neck (the skipped sts of Row 36),
• 24 sc along the second split edge (2 sc in each of 12 row-ends).

Join with sl st to first sc. (42 + 24 + 42 + 24 = 132 sc ✓)

Do not twist the opening.

Rnd 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), *FPdc around next st, BPdc around next st; repeat from * around, join with sl st to first FPdc. (132 sts; 66 FPdc + 66 BPdc ✓)

Rnds 3–6: Repeat Rnd 2, always working FPdc around each FPdc and BPdc around each BPdc so the ribs stack.

4 ribbing rnds after the pickup ≈ 2" (5 cm) of collar. For a taller collar, add rounds in pairs.

Fasten off loosely. Weave in ends.

Finishing

Block

Wet-block or steam-block the poncho to 36" × 52" (91.5 × 132 cm) for the body, plus the border. Pin the hems straight so the front measures 18" (45.5 cm) from hem to the start of the neck split and the back measures 28" (71 cm) from the rejoin to the hem. Let dry fully before adding tassels.

Tassels (make 14)

Each tassel: Wrap yarn 25 times around a 7" (18 cm) piece of cardboard. Slide a 12" (30.5 cm) tie through the top loops and knot tightly. Cut the bottom loops. Wind a 10" (25.5 cm) wrapping strand around the tassel neck, about ¾" (2 cm) below the top knot, and knot it firmly. Trim the cut ends even so the tassel is about 6" (15 cm) long, not counting the hanging ties.

Placement (14 tassels total):

• 1 tassel in each of the 4 corners.
• 5 tassels spaced evenly across the remaining front hem.
• 5 tassels spaced evenly across the remaining back hem.

On a 36" (91.5 cm) hem, that is a tassel about every 4½" (11.5 cm) including corners (8 intervals × 4.5" = 36" ✓). Mark positions with stitch markers before tying.

Use the long top ties to knot each tassel to the sc border. Thread the ties into the tassel head with a yarn needle and trim.

For extra emphasis on the asymmetry, you may add a second row of tassels on the back hem only.

Wear

Slip the head through the neck opening. The short panel is the front (18" / 45.5 cm) and the long panel is the back (28" / 71 cm). Sides stay open for the arms. For a side-drape look, rotate the poncho slightly so the long hem falls over one hip.

Checklist before you bind off

• Row 1 = 126 dc (foundation ch 128) ✓
• Rows 1–36 = 18" front ✓
• Each shoulder = 42 dc × 12 rows ✓
• Neck skip = 42 sts ✓
• Row 49 = 42 dc + 42 ch + 42 dc = 126 ✓
• Row 50 = 126 dc ✓
• Rows 49–104 = 56 rows = 28" back ✓
• Total = 104 rows = 52" ✓
• Neckband Rnd 1 = 132 sc, even, ready for FPdc/BPdc ✓