Quick and Beautiful Poncho

by cfremming in Craft > Sewing

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Quick and Beautiful Poncho

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Ponchos are a great accent to an outfit or an easy item to throw in your bag in case you get chilly.
This quick and beautiful poncho can be made from whatever fabric you like depending on if you want something heavy and warm or light and airy.
Here I am using some hand dyed handwoven fabric woven by me that is 50% Supima cotton, 50% Tencel. It's a little thicker, with nice drape. The front and back of my poncho transitions to different colors which means it can be worn either way depending on which colors I want to show.
For sizing, you want your fabric to be twice the length than the width, that way when you cut it you will have two squares. Depending on your size anywhere between 25 inches to 30 inches wide works great.

My fabric wasn't quite double the length to width, but it still came out nicely, just more asymmetrical.

Supplies

-Fabric around 26 inches wide by 52 inches long (double the length to width)
-Scissors
-Measuring tape
-Sewing machine or hand sewing needle
-Thread
-Pins or Clips

Cut Your Fabric

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-Fold your fabric in half creating a square.
-Cut along the center fold.
-If you are using woven fabric you can cut a notch at the center fold on one edge, then find a weft thread (thread going to each side) and pull it all the way through. This creates a visible straight line to cut on.

Finish the Cut Edges (optional)

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-If you are using a fabric that may fray or unravel or for a nicer look, finish off the edges by serging or zig zagging over the cut edges. Here I serged my cut edges. The other edges are secured selvedges, I did not serge those because they are secure and I like the way they look.

Measure and Sew

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-Lay your two square pieces of fabric on top of each other with the right sides together lining up the top and side edges.
-Measure over 10 inches from the top left corner and make a mark (I put a clip there) on the top edge.
-Starting at that mark, pin the rest of the top edge together leaving the first 10 inches open (this is the neck opening).
-Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the top pinned edge starting at the 10 inch mark and sewing across to the top right corner.
-Measure down 10 inches from the top left corner and make a mark.
-Starting at that mark, pin the rest of the left edge together leaving those first 10 inches open (this is the neck opening).
-Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the left pinned edge starting at the 10 inch mark and sewing down to the bottom left corner.

Hem the Neck Opening

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-Sew a rolled hem on the raw edges of the neck opening by folding over 1/4 inch and pressing, then folding over another 1/4 inch.
-Make sure the hem rolls toward the inside and taper it to the shoulder seam.

Sew Down Shoulder Seam (optional)

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-I like my seams to stay opened flat so I sew them down.
-Press open/flat the two shoulder seams.
-Sew 1/4 inch on each side of the shoulder seam securing the seam open.

(DIY tag tutorial coming soon!)

Hem the Bottom Edges

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-Hem around the bottom edges by folding towards the inside 1/2 inch and pressing, then folding again 1/2 inch, pressing, and sewing.

Enjoy Your New Poncho

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Enjoy!