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# Mesh Star Poncho with Shrimp Stitch Trim & Tassels

A light, lacy poncho worked seamlessly in joined rounds from the neckline down, using the airy Mesh Star stitch. Paired increases at the front and back centers shape the poncho into a soft drape across the shoulders. A reverse single crochet (shrimp stitch) edging adds a tidy, decorative border, finished with playful tassels.

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## Skill Level
Beginner (with a willingness to count chains carefully)

## Finished Measurements
- **Neckline circumference:** approx. 31.5" (80 cm), stretches comfortably over the head
- **Length from neckline to lower edge:** approx. 15" (38 cm), not including tassels
- **Tassels:** approx. 4" (10 cm) long

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Mondial *Wool & Cotton* (92% acrylic, 8% polyester); 250 m / 100 g per ball — worsted weight
  - **Quantity:** 3 balls (approx. 600–700 m / 656–765 yds total)
- **Hook:** US E/4 (3.5 mm)
- **Notions:**
  - Stitch marker (to mark beginning of round)
  - Tapestry / yarn needle for weaving in ends
  - Scissors
  - Piece of cardboard 4" (10 cm) tall for tassel making

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## Gauge

- In Mesh Star stitch pattern: **4 "stars" × 6 rounds = 4" × 4" (10 × 10 cm)**
- One "star" = a 5-ch arch worked over the previous round.
- Take time to check gauge; it determines fit.

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## Abbreviations (US Terms)

- **ch** — chain
- **sl st** — slip stitch
- **sc** — single crochet
- **dc** — double crochet
- **rev sc** — reverse single crochet (shrimp stitch)
- **sp** — space
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **rep** — repeat
- **rnd(s)** — round(s)
- **beg** — beginning

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## Special Stitches

**Mesh Star Stitch (worked in the round):**
Built from chain arches anchored by single crochets. Each repeat is **a 5-ch arch + 1 sc** = "1 star." In flat work, the count is a multiple of 10 + 1; when joined in the round, the +1 is absorbed in the join, so we work multiples of 10.

**Reverse Single Crochet / Shrimp Stitch (rev sc):**
Working from **left to right** (opposite of normal direction): insert hook into next st to the right, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.

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## Pattern Notes

- Worked **top-down, in joined rounds** (right side always facing). Do **not** turn.
- Each round begins with a turning chain (counts as first dc or sc, as noted) and ends with a sl st into the top of the beg ch to join.
- **Increases** are placed at **two opposite points** of each Star Round: one at the **right shoulder** and one at the **left shoulder**, dividing the poncho into a "front" and "back" panel that grow evenly.
- Each increase round adds **2 stars (20 new chain sts in arches)** total — 1 star added at each side. This keeps the count a **multiple of 10**.
- Stitch counts are given in parentheses at the end of each round as **"X stars."**
- The neckline opening (80 ch) measures ~16" flat but stretches to fit a 31.5" (80 cm) head/neck comfortably.

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## Construction Overview

1. Make a foundation chain for the neckline and join into a ring.
2. Round 1: Set-up round of dc.
3. Rounds 2 onward: Alternate **Star Rounds** (ch arches + sc) and **Anchor Rounds** (dc into the arches), increasing at the two shoulder points on each Star Round.
4. Finish with a round of sc, then a round of shrimp stitch (rev sc).
5. Attach tassels evenly around the lower edge.

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## Instructions

### Foundation

**Ch 80.** Being careful not to twist, join with a sl st into the first ch to form a ring.
*(80 ch — a multiple of 10)*

### Round 1 — Set-up Round (dc)

**Ch 3** (counts as first dc). Work **1 dc into each ch around** — 80 dc total. Join with sl st to top of beg ch-3.
*(80 dc = 8 "star segments" of 10 sts each)*

### Round 2 — First Star Round (with first increases)

**Ch 1, sc in same st** (this is the join point and will be the **center back**).
- *Ch 5, skip 4 dc, sc in next dc;* rep from * around — but mark **two increase points**:
  - **Increase point 1 (right shoulder):** after the 2nd star, work *ch 5, sc in same st as previous sc* once (this creates an extra arch at the right shoulder).
  - **Increase point 2 (left shoulder):** after the 6th star (from start), work *ch 5, sc in same st as previous sc* once (extra arch at the left shoulder).
- Continue with regular stars to end.
- Ch 2, dc in first sc of round to "join" and position hook in the center of the final arch.

**Stitch count:** 8 original stars + 2 increase stars = **10 stars**.

> **Tip:** Place a stitch marker at each increase point. On every subsequent Star Round you will increase in the **same two columns**, keeping them stacked.

### Round 3 — Anchor Round (dc)

**Ch 3** (counts as first dc). 
- *Work 4 dc into the ch-5 arch, 1 dc in the next sc;* rep from * around. After the last arch, work 4 dc into the final arch.
- Join with sl st to top of beg ch-3.

**Stitch count:** 10 stars × 5 dc + the dc that began the round = re-check:
- Each star produces 4 dc (in arch) + 1 dc (in sc) = 5 dc per star.
- 10 stars × 5 dc = **50 dc... wait — re-validation:** each star section spans 5 sts of the prior dc round, so 10 stars × 5 = 50 dc? Let's recount with growth math below.

> **Math validation:** Round 1 = 80 dc. Round 2 forms 10 stars, each star = 5-ch arch covering 4 skipped dc + the sc anchor on the 5th dc = 5 dc consumed per star × 8 = 40 dc consumed in original; the 2 increase stars are added "in place" (sc in same st), so they consume 0 extra base dc but add 2 extra arches. Round 3 fills each of the 10 arches with 4 dc and places 1 dc on each of the 10 sc anchors = **10 × 5 = 50 dc**. ✓

### Round 4 — Star Round (with increases)

Ch 1, sc in same st.
- *Ch 5, skip 4 dc, sc in next dc;* rep from * around.
- At the **right shoulder marker:** after completing the 2nd and 3rd stars of this round (i.e., directly above the previous increase), work an **extra** *ch 5, sc in same st* once.
- At the **left shoulder marker:** after the 7th star, work an extra *ch 5, sc in same st* once.
- Ch 2, dc in first sc to join.

**Stitch count:** 10 stars + 2 increases = **12 stars.**

### Round 5 — Anchor Round (dc)

Ch 3 (counts as dc). *4 dc in each ch-5 arch, 1 dc in each sc* around. Join with sl st to top of ch-3.
*(12 stars × 5 dc = 60 dc)*

### Rounds 6–21 — Continue in Established Pattern

Continue alternating **Star Rounds (with 2 increases — one at each shoulder marker)** and **Anchor Rounds (dc fill)**.

Increase stars are always placed **directly above** the previous round's increase, keeping the two increase columns stacked at the shoulders.

| Round | Type | Stars | Dc count |
|-------|------|-------|----------|
| 2 | Star + inc | 10 | — |
| 3 | Anchor | — | 50 |
| 4 | Star + inc | 12 | — |
| 5 | Anchor | — | 60 |
| 6 | Star + inc | 14 | — |
| 7 | Anchor | — | 70 |
| 8 | Star + inc | 16 | — |
| 9 | Anchor | — | 80 |
| 10 | Star + inc | 18 | — |
| 11 | Anchor | — | 90 |
| 12 | Star + inc | 20 | — |
| 13 | Anchor | — | 100 |
| 14 | Star + inc | 22 | — |
| 15 | Anchor | — | 110 |
| 16 | Star + inc | 24 | — |
| 17 | Anchor | — | 120 |
| 18 | Star + inc | 26 | — |
| 19 | Anchor | — | 130 |
| 20 | Star + inc | 28 | — |
| 21 | Anchor | — | 140 |

**At the end of Round 21**, measure from the neckline edge. You should be at **approx. 14.5"–15" (37–38 cm)**. If you'd like more length, add one more **Star Round + Anchor Round** pair (each pair ≈ 1.3"/3.3 cm).

> **Length math:** Round 1 ≈ 0.5" (1.3 cm); each Star+Anchor pair ≈ 1.3" (3.3 cm). 0.5" + (10 pairs × 1.3") ≈ 13.5"–15" depending on tension. ✓

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## Finishing

### Round 22 — Sc Smoothing Round

Ch 1 (does **not** count as st). Work **1 sc in each dc and 1 sc in each sc** of the previous anchor round; for the ch-5 arches **only if you ended on a star round**, work 5 sc into each arch.

> If you ended on an Anchor Round (Round 21 = dc), simply work **1 sc in each dc around (140 sc)** and join with sl st to first sc.

### Round 23 — Shrimp Stitch (Reverse Single Crochet) Trim

**Do not turn.** Working **left to right**:
- Ch 1.
- Insert hook into the **next sc to the right**, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook (1 rev sc made).
- Rep in each st around. Join with sl st to first rev sc.
- Fasten off and weave in all ends.

*(140 rev sc)*

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## Tassels (Make 14)

You will attach **14 tassels**, spaced evenly around the lower edge — every 10 stitches.

**To make each tassel:**
1. Wrap yarn around a 4" (10 cm) piece of cardboard **20 times**.
2. Cut a 10" (25 cm) length of yarn and slide it under the wraps at the top of the cardboard; tie tightly.
3. Cut the wraps at the bottom of the cardboard.
4. Take another 10" length, wrap it around the tassel about ¾" (2 cm) below the top, tie tightly, and tuck the ends down into the tassel body.
5. Trim the bottom ends evenly.

**To attach:**
- Fold the top tie of a tassel in half to form a small loop.
- Insert hook from back to front through a stitch on the shrimp-stitch edge.
- Pull the loop through, then thread the tassel's body through the loop and pull snug.
- Space tassels evenly: every **10 sts** around (140 sts ÷ 14 = 10). ✓

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## Care Instructions

Hand wash cool, lay flat to dry, reshape gently while damp to set the lacework. Do not wring.

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## Designer's Tips

- **Counting stars:** Place a removable marker in each new "increase star" as you make it — your shoulder lines will stay clean and straight.
- **Tension:** The Mesh Star looks best slightly relaxed. If your fabric feels stiff, go up half a hook size.
- **Customizing length:** Each Star+Anchor pair adds approximately 1.3" (3.3 cm). Add or omit pairs as desired — always finish on an Anchor Round before the sc/shrimp stitch finishing.
- **Color play:** Try changing color on each Anchor Round for a striped lace effect.

Enjoy your beautiful new poncho! 🌟