How to Make a Poncho Out of a Sarong
Wearing a sarong is a great way to cover up at the beach, but there are plenty of other uses for the fabric that are more versatile and more wearable. Try remaking your old sarong into a poncho. Fashion designer Marc Jacobs included ponchos in his fall 2009 ready-to-wear line, proving the lasting relevance of these sleeveless capes. Throw your new poncho over a tank top and jeans, or a flirty summer dress. It's fast, easy and a great way to re-use old fabric.
Things You'll Need
- Sarong
- Iron
- Tape measure
- Straight sewing pins
- Scissors
- Needle
- Thread
- Embellished trim, if desired
Instructions
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Prep the Sarong
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1
Iron your sarong to remove any wrinkles or folds.
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2
Lay the sarong on the floor and smooth it out.
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3
Decide whether you want the sarong to be longer in front or longer on the sides. You'll need to know this before you cut the slit for your head. If you want it to be longer in front, you'll cut the neck slit parallel with the shorter side of the rectangle. If you want it to be longer on the sides, you'll cut the neck slit parallel with the longer side of the rectangle.
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4
Measure the sarong from end to end on the side you want the slit. Long-in-front ponchos will have a short measurement; long-on-side ponchos will have a long measurement.
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5
Mark the center of this measurement with a straight sewing pin.
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6
Measure the breadth of your shoulders with the measuring tape. This is how wide you'll want the poncho's head slit to be. If you want a loose off-the-shoulder poncho, add two to three inches to this measurement.
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7
Divide your shoulder measurement by two. This is your shoulder radius.
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8
Measure out your shoulder radius from each side of the pin in the center of the sarong. Mark each end with a pin.
Finish Your Poncho
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9
Cut along the line indicated by the sewing pins. It can be tricky to start cutting when you're not on a fabric edge; if you have trouble, try to pierce the fabric with the point of the scissors and open up a small hole. Slip one scissor blade through this hole and start cutting.
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10
Fold a five-eighths-inch hem along the slit and iron it in place. If pressing along won't hold the hem down, use sewing pins to secure it.
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11
Stitch down the hem.
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12
Trim the poncho by sewing on any desired embellishments: tapestry ribbon, rick rack, sequin trim, or other craft notions.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Be creative with your embellishments! Trim the poncho in faux fur for a decadent look, or make it cheeky with a row of pom-poms.
