Darla Ruana – Free Crochet Pattern

The Darla Ruana crochet pattern is fun and easy to make! You can get the free pattern below (scroll down) or purchase the ad free, printable PDF version here.

Darla Ruana - Free Crochet Pattern
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What Is A Ruana?

A ruana is a layering piece a bit like a poncho, shawl or cardigan it is worn for added warmth, they are also normally made in a rectangle shape. Typically a ruana has an opening at the front like a cardigan and drapes elegantly over the shoulders but it is also open at the sides.

Design 

The Darla Ruana is an oversized ruana made with a larger hook and and a less fancy style stitch but still really elegant looking, basically without all the fuss of a fancy stitch. This stitch pattern is crocheted in vertical stripes using double crochet stitches with chain spaces in between which works up in no time. I wanted the ruana to turn out lighter and more drapey than a heavy fabric so this is why a size 8mm crochet hook was used with an aran yarn.

An oversized ruana is a perfect piece to add for the colder months as you can just throw it on over a sweater or a long sleeved top and it will look great on but it is also great for the cooler summer evenings.

What Size Does The Ruana Fit?

With the ruana being oversized it means it can fit a range of sizes from Small to XX Large depending how oversized you wanted the ruana to look! If you wanted the ruana to fit a bit smaller especially if you are a size small you can always use a hook that actually corresponds to the yarn like a 5mm this will make the ruana smaller but still oversized but this will make it less drapey.

Darla Ruana Crochet Pattern

How Do I Crochet This Ruana?

This oversized ruana garment is made by crocheting the back panel first and then crocheting the first panel without fastening off. Once those two are done you will reattach your yarn for your second panel and then it is blocked to lay completely flat. There is no shaping involved which gives it more of a drapey boxy fit and can be done in no time and in any color to suit you.

Is It Easy To Crochet?

This crochet pattern is a fairly easy crochet pattern using basic crochet stitches, you do need to pay attention on where to attach your yarn for your second panel but apart from that it is very straightforward.

What Are The Multiples?

  • No multiples are available for this pattern.

Other Patterns You May Like:

Truly Crochet Patterns

  1. Darla Ruana
  2. Darla asymmetrical poncho
  3. Bella Asymmetrical Poncho
  4. Bella Ruana

Yarn:

For this ruana pattern i used Hayfield Bonus Aran which has some lovely natural colors to choose from. It is made with 80% acrylic and 20% wool and it comes in a huge 920 yard ball!

You will need 1790 yards for this ruana pattern.

Buy the wool for this project HERE

** I would highly recommend using a 100% acrylic or 80% acrylic and 20% wool yarn, i don’t recommend using a yarn that is a 100% natural fibers as the ruana will end up smaller because the yarn will be a lot thinner than acrylic **

Yarn Substitutions:

You can easily substitute the yarn i used for a different one, here are some suggestions below to help you choose your perfect yarn.

Free Crochet Pattern - Darla Ruana

Why A Premium AD Free PDF Pattern?

Below you will find the full free crochet pattern with ads, but i also like to offer a nicely formatted ad free PDF version of the pattern as i know many of you like to crochet whilst out and about, in the car, at the beach, in a cafe and lots of other places. This way you can print out the PDF version and pop it in to your bag or you can also save it to files on your phone and have it wherever you are without having to worry about if you can access the pattern online.

The premium PDF version of this pattern can be purchased HERE!

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Materials:

Size – One Size Fits Most (S-XXL)

Width of back panel – 47 inches approx

Width of single panels – 22 inches approx

Length  – 66.75 inches approx

If you wanted the ruana to fit a bit smaller especially if you are a size small you can always use a hook that actually corresponds to the yarn like a 5mm this will make the ruana smaller but still oversized but it will make it less drapey.

Gauge N/A

Hook  8mm US L/11

Yarn Weight Any aran yarn

I would highly recommend using a 100% acrylic or 80% acrylic and 20% wool yarn, i don’t recommend using a yarn that is a 100% natural fibers as the ruana will end up smaller because the yarn will be a lot thinner than acrylic.

Recommended Yarn Hayfield Bonus Aran – Light Natural

Yardage 1790 yards

Other Supplies

Scissors

Tapestry Needle – Weaving in ends

Stitch Markers

Blocking Boards

Blocking Pins

Tape Measure

Abbreviations:

Ch Chain

Dc Double Crochet

St(s) Stitch(es)

Beg Beginning

Written In:

This pattern is written using American standard crochet terminology.

Darla Ruana Pattern

Notes:

  • Model is a size US 8/10 or UK 12/14 and 1.70 meters or 5ft 6in
  • Ch1 at the start of each row does not count as a stitch from here and throughout.
  • When blocked this rectangle will stretch quite a bit, mine went from 60″ to 66.75 length.
  • If you have a fuller bust you can always crochet more in length to make the ruana longer, remember you will need more yarn to do this.
  • If you change the hook size to make the ruana smaller, yarn amounts will change.

Let’s get to the pattern!

Remember that you can choose the neat ad free, printable PDF version HERE.

Back Panel:

R1. Ch150, 1dc in 4th ch from hook, 1dc in next ch * Ch2, skip next 2chs, 1dc in next 5chs * Repeat across to last 5chs, ch2, skip next 2chs, 1dc in last 3chs, turn

R2. Ch1, 1dc in first 3dc * Ch2, skip ch2 space, 1dc in next 5dc * Repeat across to last ch2 space, ch2, skip last ch2 space, 1dc in last 2dc, 1dc in top of turning ch, turn

R3. Ch1, 1dc in first 3dc * Ch2, skip ch2 space, 1dc in next 5dc * Repeat across to last ch2 space, ch2, skip last ch2 space, 1dc in last 3dc, turn

Repeat row 3 until 43 rows have been completed or until back panel measures 29.5 inches approx. Do not fasten off.

Place Stitch Markers:

  • Count across the top of the back panel in the direction you will be working in, count 73 stitches which includes all dc stitches and all chain stitches and place stitch marker in the 73rd stitch – This will be where your first panel will end.
  • Where you placed your stitch marker in the 73rd stitch which should be a dc stitch, skip next ch2 space and place a stitch marker in the next dc stitch – This will be the start of your second panel.

First Front Panel:

R1. Ch1, 1dc in very first dc, 1dc in next 2dc * Ch2, skip next ch2 space, 1dc in next 5dc * Repeat across until you reach your first stitch marker, turn

R2. Ch1, 1dc in very first dc, 1dc in next 4dc * Ch2, skip ch2 space ** 1dc in next 5dc * Repeat across from 8 to * ending last repeat at ** 1dc in last 3dc, turn

R3. Ch1, 1dc in very first dc, 1dc in next 2dc * Ch2, skip next ch2 space, 1dc in next 5dc * Repeat across, turn

Repeat rows 2 & 3 until 43 rows have been completed or until first panel measures 29.5 inches approx. Fasten off and weave in ends. 

Schematics for Darla Ruana

Second Front Panel:

R1. Locate second stitch marker, join yarn, 1dc in same dc stitch as stitch marker, 1dc in next 4dc * Ch2, skip ch2 space ** 1dc in next 5dc * Repeat across from * to * ending last repeat at ** 1dc in last 3dc, turn

R2. Ch1, 1dc in very first dc, 1dc in next 2dc * Ch2, skip next ch2 space, 1dc in next 5dc * Repeat across, turn

R3. Ch1, 1dc in very first dc, 1dc in next 4dc * Ch2, skip ch2 space ** 1dc in next 5dc * Repeat across from 8 to * ending last repeat at ** 1dc in last 3dc, turn

Repeat rows 2 & 3 until 43 rows have been completed or until second panel measures 29.5 inches approx. Fasten off and weave in ends. Move on to blocking.

Blocking:

Soak finished rectangles for 20 minutes in cool water and squeeze excess water out gently. Do not twist. Lay damp rectangles on blocking boards and stretch back panel to 47 inch width, first and second panel to 22 inch width x 66.75 inch length (or to your desired width and length) use blocking pins to hold in place. Let your rectangles dry completely before unpinning.

Terms of use:

For personal use only. Do not copy, share or sell the pattern in part or whole.
You may sell the finished item made using this pattern.

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