Wool Poncho DIY

This is probably the easiest poncho you'll ever make that you'll actually wear more than once. It's made from a thick woven wool that I found at JoAnn's fabric about a month ago in a graphic herringbone print. I knew I wanted to make a poncho as soon as I saw it but it wasn't until I saw a vintage poncho on Etsy that I realized how I'd be able to do it best. All you need to be able to do to sew your own is cut and sew in straight lines. Easy!

1. Supplies: 1 yard of woolen fabric or a simlarly weighted fabric that will hang nicely, scissors, straight pins, a yard stick, a sewing machine, thread. 2: Cut two pieces of fabric measuring 36" x 18". Note: This poncho fits a medium/large. Adjust your measurements according to get a different size (subtract or add 2" from the width of each piece to get a smaller or larger size). 3. Fold each long side over 1/2" and again 1/2" and stitch down. On one short end, stitch a straight line across about 1/4" from the end to keep unraveling. You may also want to add a zig-zag stitch across the same end. Leave the other short end alone as you'll wrap it under in another step. Repeat with the other piece. 4. Place one piece vertically and the other piece horizontally close to the bottom half of the vertical piece.

5. Place the horizontal piece under the vertical piece about 1" making sure there's about 1.5" of extra fabric from the vertical piece at the bottom as shown above. Pin those together and stitch up and down along the hem of the vertical piece. Unpin. 6. Flip the pieces over and fold the extra bottom edge of the vertical flap in about .5" and again 1" so that it's flush with the horizontal piece. Pin and stitch down. It should look like the image above. 7. Flip it again so that the wrong side is facing you and fold the ends over to meet as they did in the other corner. Pin, stitch, unpin. Finally, fold that last end under and stitch down. 8. Try on your new poncho!

If you'd like to add a little more flair to your poncho I suggest adding a fun fringe to the bottom or maybe you could add brass buttons on each shoulder or embellish with a vintage enamel pin! It's perfect for fall weather and can be worn in to winter when layered with a bright sweater or a comfy plaid shirt. 

When washing your poncho, be sure to wash according to material's needs and probably lying flat to dry to keep it's shape. 

I've also used this template to make a mini version for Ruby. To make one for your little person, use one of their jackets to get an idea for the shoulder size you'll want. Lay your fabric diagonally across the jacket so that the bottom corner hits just below their waistline and pin about 1" above where it hits their shoulder. Then double that length to get the length of each panel. To get the width, measure from the collar of their coat to halfway down their arm. This gives you the measurement for one piece. You'll need two to finish your poncho. Ruby is wearing a 3T and hers measured about 13" x 26". 

Any easy way to see if your measurements are about right is if your length is twice as long as your width. 

As always, I'd love to see any finished pieces used from this tutorial! For more easy clothing DIY's check out my wrap skirt and lace top patterns.

-Rachel