Lolo Poncho. Photo © Noura Sabbagh
Lolo Poncho by Noura Sabbagh is a charming free hooded baby poncho knitting pattern featuring cable braids, seed stitch details and a cozy buttoned neckline.
Designed for little ones approximately 8–18 months, this sweet poncho is worked from the top down in DK-weight yarn. A pointed hood finished with a tassel and decorative cables along the sides give the design its distinctive storybook look.
Lolo Poncho Pattern Details
- Designer: Noura Sabbagh
- Published: January 2019
- Craft: Knitting
- Category: Baby / toddler poncho
- Pattern availability: Free download
- Size: 8–18 months
- Yarn weight: DK / Light Weight #3
- Suggested yarn: Nako Elit Baby
- Yardage: Approximately 246–273 yards (225–250 m)
- Needles: 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needles
- Gauge: 20 stitches × 32 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch
- Construction: Top down, one piece, worked in the round
- Features: Hood, cables, seed stitch, buttons and tassel
- Languages: English and Arabic
A Cozy Hooded Baby Poncho
Lolo Poncho combines the relaxed shape of a knitted poncho with several details normally associated with more structured children's garments.
The hood provides extra warmth around the head and neck, while a short buttoned opening at the front makes the poncho easier to put on and take off.
A tassel at the top of the hood adds a playful finishing touch that works especially well with the vintage-inspired shape of the design.
Beautiful Cable and Seed Stitch Details
Although much of the poncho uses simple stockinette stitch, Noura Sabbagh adds texture with seed stitch and cable braids.
The cable details run along both sides of the poncho, providing a strong decorative feature without covering the entire garment in cables.
This combination allows the smooth stockinette sections, textured seed stitch and raised cable braids to complement one another.
Lolo Poncho Size
The free pattern is written for one baby/toddler size: approximately 8–18 months.
Because children's proportions can vary considerably at the same age, check the designer's pattern information and your gauge before beginning rather than choosing the project based only on age.
Yarn Requirements
The original Lolo Poncho uses Nako Elit Baby, a DK-weight acrylic yarn.
The designer specifies approximately 100 g of lightweight #3 acrylic yarn. The pattern listing gives an estimated yardage of around 246–273 yards (225–250 m).
If you substitute another yarn, choose a suitable DK-weight option and make sure you can achieve the required gauge.
For a garment intended for a young child, softness and practical care are also useful considerations when selecting yarn.
Needles and Gauge
Lolo Poncho calls for 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needles, approximately 80 cm or longer, or the needle size needed to achieve the designer's gauge.
The specified gauge is: 20 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.
Making a gauge swatch is particularly useful for a children's garment because a difference of only a few stitches can noticeably change the finished dimensions.
Top-Down One-Piece Construction
Lolo Poncho is constructed from the top down and is primarily worked in the round as one piece.
This construction allows the poncho to grow outward and downward from the neckline while incorporating the decorative sections into the garment.
It also reduces the amount of traditional garment seaming compared with a poncho made from several large separate panels.
A Buttoned Neckline
Three buttons at the upper front add both decoration and function. They create a short opening near the neckline, making the hooded poncho easier to dress over a baby's head.
Choosing contrasting buttons can make this feature stand out, while buttons close to the yarn color create a more understated finish.
Skills Used in the Lolo Poncho
This project combines several knitting techniques, including:
- Knitting and purling
- Working in the round
- Top-down construction
- Seed stitch
- Cable knitting
- Reading a chart
- Buttonholes
- Shaping
- Finishing a hood and tassel
For that reason, Lolo Poncho is more interesting as a skill-building project than a completely basic first knitting project.
Why Knit the Lolo Poncho?
Lolo Poncho has a distinctive look without requiring an elaborate all-over stitch pattern. The hood, cable braids, seed stitch, buttons and tassel provide plenty of visual interest while leaving large areas of simpler knitting.
The poncho shape also makes it a fun alternative to knitting another conventional baby cardigan or pullover.
It could make a lovely handmade gift for a baby or toddler, especially for cooler autumn and winter days.
About the Lolo Poncho Design
Noura Sabbagh named the pattern after her daughter. It was also her first written knitting pattern.
The pattern is available in both English and Arabic, which makes it especially useful to knitters looking for an Arabic-language version of a baby garment pattern.
Get the Free Lolo Poncho Knitting Pattern
The complete Lolo Poncho by Noura Sabbagh is currently available as a free downloadable knitting pattern from the designer's Ravelry store.
Get the Free Lolo Poncho Knitting Pattern
Pattern availability was checked when this article was updated. Availability on external websites may change over time.