Flower Stitch Poncho Crochet Pattern

If you can’t tell from my other patterns, like my Flower Stitch Granny Square Market Bag, I’m really in love with the flower motif! I’ve previously posted diagrams and step by step photos, but for a while now I’ve wanted to make a video tutorial.

The time is finally here! Last week I got on a poncho kick, and I unravelled a blouse I had crocheted using the motif and turned it into a poncho instead.

Please let me know if you find any errors or need clarification on any parts of the pattern!

Video Tutorial

Instructions

Materials & Gauge

Size J crochet hook (6 mm)

6-7 skeins (2.5 oz each) Lily Sugar’n Cream 100% cotton yarn (~720 – 840 yards worsted/medium weight yarn)

Each flower motif should end up ~3 inches across and 2.5″ tall. Instructions are for one size, but the pattern is flexible. To make the poncho larger or smaller, add or subtract in intervals of 18 from the first round. Or adjust your gauge with yarn weight, or hook size.

Abbreviations

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet

tr = triple crochet

ch = chain

yo = yarn over

sls = slip stitch

Pattern Stitches

These are the building blocks of the pattern. Each building block follows particular rules for when/where it can be worked. It might seem overwhelming getting started, but following these rules will keep you on track.

This might look like an overwhelming number of different stitch patterns, but please don’t be discouraged. The first few rounds will be the most difficult, but once you get through them, all the pieces will fit together nicely and make a lot of sense.

The flower motif is constructed over the course of two rounds. The first/bottom rounds I refer to as A Rounds, and they only use “A” stitches, i.e. Flower Motif A, Corner V Stitch A. The second/top rounds are B rounds, and they only use “B” stitches, i.e. Flower Motif B, Corner V Stitch B.

In the pattern instructions I will only use the stitch abbreviations. I suggest keeping Flower Stitch Quick Reference Charts handy while you work, and click/scroll back to the written out stitch instructions in this section if you need additional clarification. Or just follow along with the video tutorial.

FSC – Foundation Single Crochet

Ch 2. First chain counts as the foundation chain. *Insert your hook into the foundation chain. Yarn over and draw a loop through; you will now have two loops on your hook. Yarn over and draw through one loop. This is equivalent to a chain and makes the “foundation” of the FSC stitch. Yarn over again and draw through both loops on your hook to make the “single crochet.”* Repeat from * to *.

Be sure to insert your hook into the right spot in the foundation chain. Please refer to the video tutorial for clarification if needed.

UTC – Unfinished Triple Crochet

This is worked exactly the same as a triple crochet, except instead of yarning over and drawing through two loops 3 times, we only do it twice, and the last loop stays on the hook until we’re ready to finish off the petal cluster(s).

Unfinished Triple Crochet:

• Yarn over twice, insert the hook where you want the stitch,
• Yarn over and draw up a loop,
• Yarn over and pull through two loops,
• Yarn over and pull through two loops again.

You should now have an additional loop on your hook and you’re ready to start the next UTC or finish off the cluster as applicable.

My charting software does not have a specific symbol for an unfinished triple crochet, so in the charts I indicate them with triple crochets joined by an arch or a circle.

FMA – Flower Motif A

Petal 1: Chain 3 (counts as unfinished triple crochet). In the top of the last triple crochet, work 2 unfinished triple crochets. You will have 3 loops on your hook.

Petal 2: In the next chain 3 space, work 3 unfinished triple crochets. You will have 6 loops on your hook. (Please note, throughout the pattern, when working into the “next chain 3 space,” you have the option to either work into the whole space, or work specifically into the second chain only. Your preference.)

Petal 3: In the next chain 3 space, work 3 unfinished triple crochets. You will have 9 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all 9 loops to join petals 1, 2, and 3. Chain 1 (lock stitch).

Petal 4: Chain 3 (counts as unfinished triple crochet). Work two unfinished triple crochets into the chain 1 lock stitch. You will have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.*

Rules: One of three stitches will always follow a FMA depending on where you are in the round: VSA, CVA, or RAJ. If the next space is:

• the chain 3 space between petals 5 and 6 of FMB, work VSA;
• the third (middle) chain 3 space of CVB, work CVA; or,
• the space that started the round, work RAJ.

VSA – V Stitch A

In the ch 3 space between petals 5 and 6 of the previous round, work: triple crochet, chain 3, triple crochet.

Rules: VSA will always be followed by FMA.

CVA – Corner V Stitch A

In the third (middle) ch 3 space of the CVB of the previous round, work: triple crochet, chain 3, triple crochet (this is the same as a VSA), chain 3, triple crochet, chain 3, triple crochet (another VSA).

A CVA is basically two VSA worked in the same space and joined with a chain 3.

Rules: CVA will always be followed by FMA.

FMB – Flower Motif B (FMB)

Petal 5: Work 3 unfinished triple crochets into the Flower Motif A lock stitch. You will have 4 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops. Chain 3.

Petal 6: Work 3 unfinished triple crochets into the same lock stitch. You will have 4 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops.

Rules: One of three stitches will always follow a FMB depending on where you are in the round: VSB, CVB, or RBJ. If the next space is:

• the chain 3 space between the two tr of VSA, work VSB;
• the first chain 3 space of CVA, work CVB; or,
• the first chain 3 space of RAS, work RBJ.

VSB – V Stitch B

Chain 3, single crochet into the next chain 3 space, chain 3.

Rules: VSB will always be followed by FMB.

CVB – Corner V Stitch B

Chain 3, single crochet into the next chain 3 space, chain 3 (this is the same as a VSB); single crochet in the next chain 3 space, chain 3, single crochet in the same chain 3 space; chain 3, single crochet into the next chain 3 space, chain 3 (this is the same as another VSB).

Rules: CVB will always be followed by FMB.

Round Starts and Joins

All A rounds start and end in the middle of a CVA and all B rounds start and end in the middle of a CVB. Joining in the right way eliminates the need for slipping stitches or starting in the middle of a flower motif, which is messier.

I’ve grouped all the starts and joins into one chart, pictured here, then I describe each in more detail below, with more pictures. The stitches are distinguished by color in the charts. To follow, start at the four pointed star and end at the five pointed star.

RAS – Round A Start

All “A” rounds start in the second half of a Corner V Stitch A (CVA):

Chain 6 (counts as a triple crochet + chain 3), triple crochet into the same space.

Rules: RAS is always preceded by RBJ. RAS is always followed by FMA.

RAJ – Round A Join

All “A” rounds end completing the first half of the Corner V Stitch A that started the round:

In the same space that you started the round: triple crochet, chain 3, triple crochet (this is a VSA). Then instead of chaining 3 like you would in a normal CVA, join with: chain 2, then single crochet into the middle of the chain 6 that started the round.

Rules: RAJ is always followed by RBS.

RBS – Round B Start

All “B” rounds start in the second half of a CVB:

Chain 1, single crochet into the same space (draw up a loop around the single crochet that joins the previous A round). Then chain 3, single crochet into the next chain 3 space, chain 3 (this is the same as a VSB).

Rules: RBS is always preceded by RAJ. RBS is always followed by FMB.

RBJ – Round B Join

All “B” rounds end completing the first half of the CVB that started the round:

Chain 3, single crochet into the next chain 3 space, chain 3 (this is the same as a VSB). Single crochet into the next space, which is the same space that you started the round in. Then, instead of chaining 3 like you would in a normal CVB, join with: chain 1, then double crochet into the first single crochet of the round.

Rules: RBJ is always followed by RAS.

Quick Reference Crochet Charts

Rounds

This pattern is worked entirely in the round, from the top down, starting at the neckline.

Round 1

Work 89 FSC. Join on 90th, making sure not to twist the foundation. Sls into the first FSC, then ch 1.

Round 2

Sc into the first FSC, then ch 3. *Skip 2 stitches, sc into the third stitch, then ch 3.* Repeat from * to * around. After the last sc, do not ch 3. Instead, ch 1 then work a dc into the first sc of the round.

If you started with 90 FSC you will have 30 sc at the end of Round 2.

Round 3 (A Round)

Round 3 is the first A Round. It is the hardest round because all of the ch 3 spaces you are working into are identical, therefore the stitch rules cannot guide you. In this case, you have to keep track of the number of the number of FMA you make so the CVA ends up halfway from the start of the round. 

Because it’s an A Round, start with the RAS, followed by FMA. The first four (4) FMA will be followed by VSA. The fifth (5th) FMA will be followed by CVA. The next four (4) FMA will be followed by VSA. The last FMA is followed by RAJ. (If you adjusted the patten to start with a different number of FSC, the number of FMA on each side of the circle will change.)

To summarize, the sequence of stitches is: RAS, FMA, VSA, FMA, VSA, FMA, VSA, FMA, VSA, FMA, CVA, FMA, VSA, FMA, VSA, FMA, VSA, FMA, VSA, FMA, RAJ.

Round 4 (B Round)

Round 4 is the first B Round. It will be easier than Round 3 because the stitch rules will apply.

Because it’s an B Round, we begin with the RBS. RBS is always followed by FMB.

As stated in the FMB rules, it can be followed by either VSB, CVB, or RBJ depending on what the next chain 3 space is a part of in the previous round.

• If it is part of VSA (the ch 3 space between two triple crochets), then work a VSB.
• If it is part of a CVA (the ch 3 space between two VSAs), then work a CVB.
• If it is part of the RAJ (the end of the last round), then work a RBJ.

VSB and CVB are always followed by FMB. RBJ always ends the round.

At the end of this round you will have a total of 10 completed flower motifs, 5 on each half.

In summary, the sequence of stitches is: RBS, FMB, VSB, FMB, VSB, FMB, VSB, FMB, VSB, FMB, CVB, FMB, VSB, FMB, VSB, FMB, VSB, FMB, VSB, FMB, RBJ.

A Rounds

Since we just completed a RBJ, following the rules of the pattern, the next stitch must be a RAS. Then, we know the RAS is always followed by FMA.

Then, as stated in the FMA rules, it can be followed by either VSA, CVA, or RBJ depending on what the next chain 3 space is part of in the previous round. If the next space is:

• the chain 3 space between petals 5 and 6 of FMB, work VSA;
• the third (middle) chain 3 space of CVB, work CVA; or,
• the space that started the round, work RAJ.

The round ends with the RAJ.

B Rounds

Since the last round ended with a RAJ, the next stitch must be a RBS. The RBS is always followed by FMB. Continue following the rules of the pattern, as in Round 4. The round ends with the RBJ.

Finishing

Continue working A and B rounds until the poncho is the desired length. In the poncho pictured I worked 9 A Rounds and 9 B Rounds.

If you want to stop increasing the rounds but continue to lengthen the poncho, on an A Round, replace the CVA with a VSA. Then continue to follow the pattern rules for the subsequent rounds.

To finish, replace the last “ch 1, then dc into the sc that started the round” of the RBJ with “ch 3, sls into the sc that started the round.” Cut yarn and weave in ends.

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