I started with the doll poncho pattern and couldn’t make heads or tails out of this pattern. What I did instead follows.

For the ribbing pattern: sc in back loop of each stitch across, ch 1, turn. Continue in this pattern until piece measures appropriate size.

When I turned the work sideways, I worked an even number of stitches in the ribbing (22 for the doll), making sure that the first and last single crochets were in the very end stitches.

For rows 2 & 3 : Ch 1, turn, sc in first stitch, dc in next st, () sc in next st, dc in next st, rep from () across. Continue in this pattern until piece measures appropriate size.

For the 2nd set of instructions under Shape neck:
1st row: (RS). Count in from the left side however many stitches that you used in row 1 of the right shoulder. Don’t forget that the Hdc2tog counts as 2 stitches. When doing the first pattern stitch, make sure that whatever the stitch beneath it is the one above is opposite (hdc goes in sc and sc goes in hdc). The row should end with a hdc.

3rd row:Should have the same # of remaining stitches as the right side. Then fasten off. For the doll pattern this means 6 remaining st, not 8.

Sc right shoulder seam together. Fasten off. Sc left shoulder seam together. Fasten off.

Collar Ribbing: Collar was worked separately. Followed ribbing pattern above. Continue in this pattern until piece comfortably fits the neck hole.

Attaching Collar: With right sides together pin poncho’s bottom ribbing in place so that the bottom edge is even. Sc collar to neckline.

Unpin the poncho, open it up and lay it flat.

Side ribbing (make 2): Side ribbing was worked separately. Followed ribbing pattern above. Continue in this pattern until piece is the length of of the side when the poncho is opened up and laid out.

Attaching Side ribbing: With right sides together, sc ribbing to poncho.

Sew 2 buttons on each side through all thicknesses. Buttons are decorative only.

For the Girl’s Poncho pattern I made it to fit my 10yo niece. I took her measurements and then sized it to fit from there. I pretty much followed the same changes above.

Back Shoulders: One thing I noticed is that in the child sized pattern there is no instructions for the back shoulders. So I followed the idea of the Doll’s Poncho Back Shoulders.