"Speedy Gonzales" Poncho pattern part1

Few weeks ago i saw on pinterest this gorgeous poncho that i fell instantly in love with but unfortunately there was no pattern. I found a pattern for this one   but i wanted it to be more simplified so i decided to make my own version. A week later i had made the poncho in the photo above and i was extremely happy. I posted it in a fb group of crochet i follow and it received almost 1160 likes. The comments were so warm and everyone was asking for instructions. I tried to give some but then i realized that i should write a proper pattern if i wanted to be fair to all my friends.So here i am trying to write my first pattern..... so be kind with me as English is not my native language but i will try to do my best.

Materials:
Well the problem is that this poncho was not scheduled.... it was an experiment i started with some scrap yarns i had so yardage is something i can not help you with... Grab your bag with leftovers and start! The yarn i used was dk yarn (mostly stylecraft special dk and robin dk) and the crochet hook was size 4.5mm .
I used many many colors of yarn in both ponchos and that is the reason why i named it "Speedy Gonzales". For me a poncho should be colorful and vibrant that is why i wanted the stitches to be simple so the final result wouldn't be too busy.

General Instructions (Sizing) : The poncho is actually two rectangular identical pieces joined together. In the original poncho (first poncho I made) as i had no experience i started the foundation chain according to the width i wanted and worked through the length... That was a big big mistake if you ask me now. This choice meant too many ends to weave in....and i hate this part of crocheting! In the demonstration poncho i knew .... and the foundation chain was the desired length. How to calculate the dimensions of the two rectangles??? Easy! Measure the distance between your shoulder (weird i know but it works!) that should be the width of your rectangle . Now multiple that by 2 and you have your length! Both my rectangles measured 80-85cm χ 40 cm . It is important, both should measure the same.

Foundation chain: Well the total stitch number should be odd multiples of 3 plus 2 In my first poncho the one i started according to the width i had 68 stitches total so i made 68 chains plus 3 In the demonstration poncho i had total 134 stitches so the foundation chain was 134 chains plus 3... Now you make your foundation chain as big as you have to achieve the length or width (your choice!) because your gauge might be different than mine and also the yarn you will use will also might be different weight .

so here we go

Chain 137 chains 

Row1 (RS) Make a dc to the fifth chain from the hook and to all chains to the end (134 dc at the end actually 133dc and a chain3 which counts as a dc) , to the last dc don't fully complete it change the yarn color to complete it. Chain 2(counts as first hdc for the next row)  with the new color and turn

Row2 (WS) Skip the first stitch and hdc to all dc Don't forget to hdc to the top of the chain 3 that counted as our first dc from the previous row but don't complete the stitch change color and complete it (134hdc) Chain 3 with the new color (counts as the first dc af the next row) and turn.

Row3 (RS) Skip the first stitch and dc to all the stitches to the end Don't forget to dc to the top of the chain 2 that counted as our first hdc from the previous row but don't complete the stitch change color and complete it (134 dc). Chain 3 and turn

Row 4 (WS) Now we are going to make the Vstitch. Skip the first stitch and to the next  *(dc, chain1, dc) skip a stitch* repeat from * to * to the end. To the top of chain3 do a dc (don't complete it change color and complete it) (66 Vstitches plus 2 dc at the edges)

Row5 (RS) Chain1 and turn. Sc to the first stitch (no skipping stitch here) . Do 2 sc to each chain1 space of all v stitches and do a last sc to the top of the chain3 (which counted as our first dc from previous round) Complete this last sc with a new color. Back on track 134 scs As you notice after the v stitch that row seemed a bit bigger than the previous that is why we use in this row sc to tight things up . Your edges should be back straight now :)

Row6(WS) Chain 2  skip the first stitch this time and hdc to all scs (ignore chain1 does not count as a stitch) To the last stitch don't complete the stitch change color and complete it (134hdc)  Here i have to say that all rows of  hdc will be on the wrong side and all rows of dc will be on the right side

Row7 (RS)  Chain 3  and turn. Skip the first stitch and dc to all the stitches to the end Don't forget to dc to the top of the chain 2 that counted as our first hdc from the previous row but don't complete the stitch change color and complete it (134 dc).

Row 8(WS) Chain1 and turn. Make a sc to each stitch to the end (no skipping stitch here also). Do the last sc to the top of the chain3 (which counted as our first dc from previous row) Complete this last sc with a new color. (134 scs)

Row9 (RS) Chain5 (this is actually a dc and the first chain2 space...)and turn. Skip the first 3 stitches and dc to the next. *Chain2 skip 2 stitches and dc to the next* repeat from * to * to the end. You should have one stitch left. Do a dc to this last stitch (chain1 from previous round does not count as a stitch) but complete it with a new color. Donn't worry about symmetry i now you have two dc at the end but that's not a problem and you will understand why when we do the border!

Row10 (WS) Chain 2 and turn. Skip the first stitch, hdc to the next . Make *2 hdc to the chain2 space from previous row 1 hdc to the next dc* Repeat from* to * to the end. Make  2 hdc to the chain5 space and 1 dc to the top of the 3d chain. Back on track 134 hdcs  

Row11(RS) Chain 3  and turn. Skip the first stitch and dc to all the stitches to the end Don't forget to dc to the top of the chain 2 that counted as our first hdc from the previous row but don't complete the stitch change color and complete it (134 dc).

Row12(WS) Chain1 and turn. Make a sc to each stitch to the end. Do the last sc to the top of the chain3 (which counted as our first dc from previous row) Complete this last sc with a new color. (134 scs)

oops forgot to take a photo!!!!

Row13 (RS) Chain 3 and turn. Skip the 2 first stitches dc to the  next 2 go back and dc to the second missed stitch . *skip 1 stitch, dc to the next 2 go back and dc to the missed stitch* repeat from * to * to the end. Make to the last stitch a dc but complete it with a new color Actually this is a variation of the cable stitch from Dedri. You can find the original stitch here. All i did was to modify it by adjusting it so it is not 4 stitches for  the repetition but only 3.

Row14 (WS) Chain2 and turn. Skip the first stitch, hdc to the next stitch and to to all dcs To the last stitch don't complete the stitch change color and complete it (134hdc)

Row15(RS) Chain 3  and turn. Skip the first stitch and dc to all the stitches to the end Don't forget to dc to the top of the chain 2 that counted as our first hdc from the previous row but don't complete the stitch change color and complete it (134 dcs).

Row16(WS) Chain1 and turn. Make a sc to each stitch to the end(we don't skip stitch here). Do the last sc to the top of the chain3 (which counted as our first dc from previous row) Complete this last sc with a new color. (134 scs)

Row17 (RS) Chain 3 skip the first stitch  and dc to all sc To the last stitch don't complete the stitch change color and complete it (134dc)

Row18 (WS)  We are going to make the Vstitch again. Skip the first stitch and to the next  *(dc, chain1, dc) skip a stitch* repeat from * to * to the end. To the top of chain3 do a dc (don't complete it change color and complete it) (66 Vstitches plus 2 dc at the edges)

Row19 (RS) Chain1 and turn. Sc to the first stitch. Do 2 sc to each chain1 space of all v stitches and do a last sc to the top of the chain3 (which counted as our first dc from previous round) Complete this last sc with a new color. Back on track 134 scs

And this what we have so far pretty and easy ha???

Stay tuned for the rest....I assume it will take me a day or two for the next part and there will be 3 parts in total . The second part will be the rest of the rectangle and the third will be the joining and the border. I know your are inpatient about it but as i write it and making it in real time it is not easy to be faster!!! Hope to be back the day after tomorrow  for part2 until then just hook it!

Puccarina ;)