Easy All Double Crochet Hooded Poncho – Free Crochet Pattern Using Caron Big Cakes

Looking for a cozy, beginner-friendly poncho pattern? This Easy All DC Crochet Hooded Poncho is made entirely with double crochet stitches and works up quickly with colorful, self-striping Caron Big Cakes yarn. Whether you’re new to crochet or just want a relaxing project, this free pattern is a great way to create something warm and wearable with minimal shaping. Plus, the addition of a hood makes it extra cozy for chilly days! There is a children’s version of this pattern HERE!

Yarn Used: Caron Big Cakes

For this poncho, I used Caron Big Cakes – a soft, self-striping worsted weight yarn that comes in generous 300g cakes. One of the best parts of working with Big Cakes is the effortless color changes. There’s no need to weave in extra ends or plan your striping – the yarn does all the work for you! It’s a 100% acrylic yarn, making it easy to care for and perfect for outerwear like ponchos, shawls, or blankets. Plus, the large cakes mean fewer joins and a smoother finish overall.

Reasons to try self-striping yarn:

1. Saves time and effort – Instead of manually changing colors by attaching new strands of yarn, self-striping yarn does the job for you. This drastically reduces the time spent on color transitions, also minimizing the number of yarn tails to weave in at the end of the project.
2. Offers a variety of colors – Self-striping yarn is available in a plethora of color combinations. It can elevate your crochet projects by incorporating multiple hues that blend seamlessly into one another, thus creating an interesting visual appeal.
3. Enhances creativity – Using self-striping yarn sparks innovation. It is exciting to witness how different colorations emerge and intermingle. This spontaneous display of colors can result in unique and surprising patterns, adding an element of wonder to your crochet journey.
4. Eliminates color matching dilemmas – Picking the right color combinations can be tricky. Self-striping yarn takes away those concerns by providing pre-matched color palettes, minimizing the risk of color clashes.
5. Convenient for beginners –For those new to crocheting, using self-striping yarn is a great starting point. It allows them to focus on mastering the stitches without worrying about the intricacy of color transitions.

Stitches Used: All Double Crochet

This pattern uses only double crochet (dc) stitches throughout, making it perfect for beginners or for anyone who wants an easy, TV-friendly project. Double crochet creates a soft, flexible fabric with a nice drape, especially when paired with a larger hook.

Why You’ll Love This Pattern

• ✅ Beginner-friendly: uses only one stitch
• ✅ Quick to make: works up fast with worsted weight yarn
• ✅ Colorful results: the yarn stripes for you!
• ✅ Cozy and practical: includes a hood for extra warmth
• ✅ Size-inclusive: easy to adjust for any size

Making the Easy All DC Hooded Poncho Crochet Pattern

Get the full free pattern below or purchase the ad-free, printable PDF

Materials
Caron Big Cakes in Toffee Brickle (2 for S/M, 3 for L/XL/2X/3X)
H/5.0 mm hook
yarn needle
scissors
stitch markers

Level
easy

Pattern notes & stitches to know
ch – chain
sl st – slip stitch
dc – double crochet
fdc – foundation double crochet (optional)

· written in US terms

· ch 2 does not count as dc

· This poncho is made with joined rounds. The hood is made with turned rows and then sewn to the poncho.

Sizes:
(S/M, L/XL, 2X/3X) – The pattern is written in these sizes consecutively.

Approx Finished Size
To fit bust: S/M (32-38”) L/XL (40-46”) 2X/3X (48-54”)
Width across bust: S/M (21”) L/XL (25”) 2X/3X (29”)
Length w/out fringe: S/M (25”) L/XL (28”) 2X/3X (31”)
Size S/M pictured. I am 5’0” with 34” bust.

Gauge: 12 dc x 8 rounds = 4” x 4”

CROCHET PATTERN WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS

PONCHO

ch 3

Round 1: starting in 3rd ch from the hook fdc (80, 90, 100) join to first dc with sl st (80, 90, 100 dc)

Starting chain alternative: ch 82, 92, 102 dc in 3rd ch from the hook and across (80, 90, 100 dc)

Round 2: ch 2, dc in next (19, 21, 23) stitches, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next, dc in next (39, 44, 49) stitches, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next, dc in remaining stitches, join to first dc with sl st (86, 96, 106 dc)

Round 3: ch 2, dc in each stitch to ch-2 space, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, dc in each stitch to next ch-2 space, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, dc in remaining stitches, join to first dc with sl st (94, 104, 114 dc)

Round 4 – Round 32, 40, 46: repeat round 3 (each round will increase by 8 stitches)

Or until desired length.

Fasten off. Weave in the ends.

HOOD

ch 3 (leave a long end for sewing)

Row 1: starting in 3rd ch from the hook, fdc 75 (75 dc)

Starting chain alternative: ch 77 dc in 3rd ch from the hook and across (75 dc)

Row 2: ch 2, turn, dc in each stitch across (75 dc)

Row 3: ch 2, turn, dc in each stitch across (75 dc)

Row 4 – Row 21: repeat row 3

Or until desired length.

Fasten off. Leave a long end for sewing.

SEWING

Fold the hood in half so the rows run vertically. Sew the back closed (row 1) with a whip stitch.

Line the hood along the top of the poncho. Line up the center back of the hood to the top center of the back of the poncho and then the end of the hood lined up 3 inches from the center front. Bunch it up slightly. Use stitch markers to keep it in place. Use the long end to sew the hood to the poncho with a whip stitch.

FRINGE

Add three 8” strands of fringe every 4th stitch along the bottom row.

Trim to your liking

HOW TO ADD FRINGE VIDEO TUTORIAL

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