How to Fringe a Poncho
Despite their size, most ponchos use relatively simple stitch patterns and require little shaping compared to making a fitted garment like a sweater or dress. Because ponchos are medium to large projects, you can almost knit or crochet them on autopilot once you master the basic stitch pattern. A well-made plain poncho can be attractive, but if you're looking for a special touch to make this simple project stand out, try adding some fringe.
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Instructions
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Selecting the Fringe
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Decide how widely you want to space the fringe. This is a style and design choice, so there's no right or wrong answer. However, be aware that bundles of four to eight strands, spaced every few inches apart, usually looks better than just two strands of fringe in every stitch along the edge of your poncho.
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Count how many bundles of fringe you need to cover the entire edge of the garment. For example, if there are 400 stitches around the perimeter of your poncho and you've decided to put fringe in every fourth stitch, you'll need 400 / 4 = 100 bundles of fringe.
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Decide how long you want each bundle of fringe to be and how many strands each bundle should contain. Remember that each strand of yarn you insert in the fringe will be doubled over, effectively counting as two strands once the bundle is attached. If you ultimately want six strands in a fringe bundle, you'll use three double-length strands of yarn to create that bundle. So if you want six strands of 2-inch trim in each bundle, you'll need to cut three 5-inch strands. The extra inch is to accommodate the knot that holds the fringe in place and leaves you a little extra for trimming the fringe even once you're done. If you're using very thin yarn, you can get away with an extra half-inch instead of a full inch, because the knot will be small.
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Multiply the number of strands you need for each bundle by their length. To continue the standing example, three 5-inch strands in each bundle comes to 3 x 5 = 15 inches of yarn per bundle. Then multiply the amount of yarn per bundle by the number of bundles you need to fringe the entire project. Concluding the example, that gives you 15 inches x 100 bundles -- to fringe every fourth stitch -- which equals 1,500 inches or about 41.7 yards of yarn to fringe the entire poncho.
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Measure any leftover yarn from your supplies for making the poncho. If you don't have enough yarn left over to fringe the entire poncho, purchase more of the same yarn or add yarn in a complimentary color or texture. You can mix one or two strands of the new color into every bundle of fringe.
Applying the Fringe
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Lay the poncho out, with the outside -- also known as the "right" side -- facing up.
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Cut enough strands of yarn to fringe the poncho. If you're using multiple types or colors of yarn in your fringe, either separate the yarn by color and type so you can pull a strand from each pile as you form the fringe bundles, or group the strands in bundles right away.
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Poke the crochet hook through the edge of the poncho, passing it under the stitch you want to wrap the fringe around.
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Hold the strands of yarn for one fringe bundle together; the ends should be even. Lay the middle of the bundle crosswise across the crochet hook.
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Hold the ends of the strands as you draw the crochet hook back through the poncho, pulling the middle of the bundle with it. You now have the ends of the fringe sticking out on the near side of the poncho, and the middle loop sticking out the far side of the poncho.
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Tuck the ends of the fringe through the loop you made, then gently pull on the ends to tighten the loop against the poncho fabric. Smooth the fringe with your hand until it lays flat, then move on to the next bundle. Once you've applied all the bundles of fringe, smooth the fringe so the strands lie flat and parallel, then trim it even with a pair of scissors.
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Tips & Warnings
You might have to experiment with fringing small parts of the poncho in different styles, then choose the style that looks best to you.
