How to Sew a Wrap Poncho

Make several ponchos of different colors to coordinate with jeans, skirts and dresses.

If you use fleece throws around your home to decorate or snuggle in, you already know that almost nothing creates warmth — soft and soothing warmth — better than fleece. Now you can take the solace of fleece with you outdoors by making your own wrap fleece poncho. Even if you’re a novice seamstress, you’ll be able to sail through either one of these poncho patterns. One requires hand-sewing only and the second requires minimal machine sewing. You can finish either one in a jiffy, and both will insulate you with the warmth that only your fleece blanket can rival.

Things You'll Need

• 1 2/3 yards fleece
• Scissors
• 2 spools of 1/8-inch ribbon (in a contrasting color)
• Embroidery needle
• Awl
• Fabric glue
• 2 yards fleece
• Thread
• Straight pins
• Velcro
• Latch hook
• 1/4-inch wide ribbon or fleece strips measuring 4 to 5 inches long

Instructions

Piece-o’-Cake Poncho

1. Cut the fleece into a 56-inch square.

2. Punch holes along the edge of the square at 1/2-inch intervals with the awl.

3. Whip stitch the ribbon through the holes, with the ribbon going up and over the edges to create a decorative border.

4. Sew a few stitches at the end of the ribbon, tie a knot or use fabric glue to secure the ends of the ribbon.

5. Fold the wrap poncho in half and put it on your shoulders so that it opens in front.

Practical Poncho

1. Cut the fleece into a rectangle measuring 26 inches by 70 inches. With 2 yards of fleece, you’ll have enough to cut and make two ponchos.

2. Fold the rectangle in half, wrong sides together.

3. Start stitching 16 inches from the fold and, for 8 inches along one long edge, form the neck opening/shoulder seam with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

4. Put on the poncho and mark with pins where you want Velcro to secure the poncho just below your right or left shoulder. Sew the Velcro pieces in place.

5. Punch holes along the edge of the poncho at 1/2-inch intervals with the awl.

6. Insert the latch hook into a hole, bring a folded piece of fleece or ribbon back through the hole and pull the ends through the loop to create the fringe.

Tips & Warnings

• Decorate the front of your wrap poncho with fabric appliques, if desired. For added durability, hand-sew or machine-stitch them rather than affix them with fabric glue. Or consider using fabric paint and glitter to embellish the poncho with your favorite expression, the name of your favorite musical group or the names of your children.

References

• Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores: Poncho Pattern
• Sewing Made Easy; Dorothy Sara
• Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew, One Project at a Time; Deborah Moebes