Remix the Patchwork: Genderless Experimental Ponchos (BEGINNER FRIENDLY)

Cover (Instructable Logo, 2014)

The inspiration of this project relies on the fact that we all are unique souls yet we are part of a world that is ruled by survival needs. Our bodies are different and so our perspectives of life.

Something we all share is the mere consequence of expressing ourselves through clothing as well as the fact that textiles are a necessity for societies’ survival. How to keep me warm and safe with my own creation? The power of providing to oneself. Your own hands. Your own version.

We want to share the power to create, without fear of error.

In this particular case we want to explore how each individual can represent their own personality through yarn and how the result can keep them safe from the cold weather. 

We are going to make basic crochet stitches and transform them into experimental patterns of unique and genderless ponchos. All the final results are valid, no matter how different they are from each other or from the one we will show as a final example. 

We want you to be free, to feel that you are not wasting material, you don't need the same colors as we do and it doesn't have to look exactly the same in the end to be correct. IN THE END IT WILL WORK ANYWAY.

1. Yarn: about 11 balls of medium yarn of 100gr.
2. We used a size 5 mm hook, but you can choose the one that fits you and your yarn better
3. Measuring tape/ruler or any measuring device
4. Scissors

(Yarn weights explained, 2021)

(Metal Crochet Hook sizes 2mm to 8mm - Craft Knitting Yarn Needles, n.d)

To begin with, this are the stitches we will be working with:

• Double crochet (dc)
• slip stitch (to join all the pieces together)

Other terms we will be using:

• Chain (ch)
• Fasten off (FO) (which is basically, when you are done, chaining 1 and cutting the yarn to finish the piece)
• Skip (skip certain amount of stitches)
• Yarn over 

Note: If you know any other crochet stitch, you are free to use it. We did in total 6 pieces, however, you can add or eliminate as many as you want. You can also do it the size that you find more comfortable for you. Remember that this design is totally customizable. 

We recommend you to wind your yarn into a ball; this will make it easier to work with. Nevertheless, this is only a recommendation. 

Here’s a video on how to do this:

*All the pieces start this way*

Chain the amount of chains that you’ll need to reach your desired length. Remember to chain two extra chains that you'll be skipping for the height of the stitch.

(we did:

-2 pieces of 70cm x 35cm 

-1 piece of 70cm x 50cm 

-1 piece of 75cm x 100cm 

-2 piece of 50cm x 35cm (one of them is a mesh piece))

Yarn over, insert your hook into the 3rd chain, yarn over and pull through (the stitch). You will have three loops on your hook. Yarn over again and pull through two. Yarn over and pull through the last two loops left on your hook. When you have done these steps you will have created one double crochet. 

(How to Make a Double Crochet, 2017)

(How to Make a Double Crochet, 2017)

(How to Make a Double Crochet, 2017)

(How to Make a Double Crochet, 2017)

(How to Make a Double Crochet, 2017)

For the next double crochet; yarn over, insert your hook into the following stitch in the row, yarn over and pull through two, yarn over and pull through the last two loops left on the hook. Now you should have completed 2 double crochet. 

Continue with this stitch for the rest of the row. 

When you are finished with this row, chain two, and turn your work as shown in the video.

Repeat these steps until you reach your desired length. 

To finish the piece, fasten off by chaining one and cutting the yarn. To give it a better look, weave (hide) the ends by passing it through the stitches. All of these are shown in the video below.

Chain the amount of chains that you’ll need to reach your desired length. Remember to chain two extra chains that we will be skipping for the height of the stitch. Turn your work

Yarn over, insert your hook into the third chain from your hook, yarn over and pull through one (the stitch), yarn over and pull through, yarn over again and pull through the last two loops left. Then since it is a mesh, chain two, skip two stitches and insert the hook into the 3rd stitch from the last stitch you made. Repeat these steps until you reach the end of the row. 

From now on, everytime you start a row you should chain four. Turn your work. Skip the first two chains. Yarn over, insert your hook into the 3rd stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through two, yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops. Continue repeating this until you reach the desired length. 

To finish the piece, fasten off by changing one and cutting the yarn, as shown in the video. 

Once you have all the pieces you are going to need, you’ll have to join them together. 

There are two ways in which you can do this: doing slip stitch with your crochet hook or using a tapestry needle to join them. 

We will be using the first option because we considered it to be easier. 

You will align the two pieces you are going to join. Insert you hook through the chain of the first piece and the second piece. Yarn over and pull through everything. Insert you hook into the next stitch of the first and second piece, yarn over and pull through everything. Continue this step until you reach the length you want to sew.

Once you have everything sewed together, just hide your ends to give it a neater look, as shown in the fasten off video. And you are done!

In the video you can see different examples of how you can arrage the pieces. Our final result is shown ast the end of the video!

And remember, this is only one of the many mixes you can create. Inspire yourself with this patchwork instructable! Free yourself with the use of different colors, stitches, lengths and number of pieces to create your own masterpiece. Remix your own version!!!

Images taken from:

In the cover, Logo Instructables. (2014, noviembre). 3D Print. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://3dprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/logo-instructables-01.png

Supplies, yarn image: D. (2021, November 8). Yarn weights explained. Dora Does. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://doradoes.co.uk/2020/08/22/yarn-weights-explained/

Supplies, hooks image: Metal Crochet Hook sizes 2mm to 8mm - Craft Knitting Yarn Needles. (n.d.). eBay. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://www.ebay.com/itm/201125747884

Step 3, ilustrations: Brittain, S., & Manthey, K. (2017, April 13). How to Make a Double Crochet. For Dummies. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/crafts/knitting-crocheting/how-to-make-a-double-crochet-206570/