Poncho Tutorial

Lavenderlilydesign@gmail.com - By Jamie Lee

Scan QR Code
for Video
Tutorial to
accompany
Baby (6-12 months) these written
Toddler (1-3 years) instructions:
Youth Small (4-6 years)
Youth Medium (7-10 years)
Youth Large (11-13 years)
Adult

https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=t57ypX
wJbLs

NO PART OF THIS PATTERN MAY BE REPRODUCED OR SOLD

100% Satisfaction guaranteed.
If you’re unhappy with the tutorial, please contact me privately with constructive feedback for a full refund.

Materials: all sizes:

● 2 large buttons (only need one if you aren’t making it reversible)
● 4” of ¼” elastic - only needed if you don’t have a sewing machine that will do button holes
● Template - neck opening & gusset for hood @ end of tutorial.
● Optional templates (for curve of poncho body), included in second download
Baby & Toddler Sizes:
● 1 yard for lining (fleece or minky) 58/60” wide (baby size could use 44” wide cotton if desired)
● 1 yard fleece (58/60” wide) (baby size could use 44” wide cotton if desired)
All Youth and Adult sizes::
● 2 yards for lining (fleece or minky) 58/60” wide for the REVERSIBLE PONCHO
○ Non-reversible - 1 ⅔ yards for lining (fleece or minky) 58/60” wide (this lining
would then only be for the circular poncho portion, NOT the hood)
● 2 yards for exterior and hood (fleece or minky) 58/60” wide

Please note: If your fabric has a directional print, please note the special instructions at the end of the
tutorial.

Lavender Lily Design 1

General sewing notions including sewing tape measure. Pre-wash all fabric.

1. Cut fabric according to the chart below:

Baby Toddler Youth S Youth M Youth L Adult

Lining 32” x 32” 36” x 36” 43” x 43” 47” x 47” 53” x 53” 59” x 59”

Exterior 32” x 32” 36” x 36” 43” x 43” 47” x 47” 53” x 53” 59” x 59”

**Hood Two pieces= Two Pieces = Two Pieces = Two Pieces = Two Pieces = Two Pieces =
See note 9” x 16” 10” x 20” 11.5” x 22” 11.75” x 23” 12” x 24” 12” x 26”
below

** If you’re making your poncho reversible, you’ll want to cut one hood piece out of the
lining and one out of the exterior print. If your poncho isn’t going to be reversible, you
may cut two of the same (exterior) print.

2. Prepare templates:
● Necessary templates are at the end of this packet:
✓ Neck Opening size (circle shaped) - cut desired size
✓ Rectangle for gusset for the hood - same for all sizes
✓ There is no template for the hood - you already cut it out in step 1
● Poncho curve template - please note that printing the template “Curve for
poncho” is OPTIONAL - I provide an alternate way to create this curve (see
step 5 to decide how you want to proceed) (see video (QR code pg 1 to
visualize how each of these method work).
✓ Can’t find the templates? Check www.etsy.com/your/purchases
○ You must use a browser window (NOT THE ETSY APP) - make
sure you are logged into your account - there will be a
“download files” link to click on to access the files.
○ If you purchased pattern under “guest mode” you should have
received an email with a link to download all these files)
● If you’re choosing to use the template, each page has a label on it - THERE
IS NOT a 1A page - here’s how the pages will line up. There is a small
overlap of each page, tape together at paper seams and cut along the
black line according to size you’re making..
No 1b 1c 1d
paper

2a 2b 2c 2d

3a 3b 3c 3d

Lavender Lily Design 2

3. Prepare the hood: Do the following steps for each rectangle. Please note that
my example pictures are from an array of different ponchos that I’ve completed -
some pink minky, others from fleece.
● In case you missed it - sizes to be cut for this are listed in step one.

Take each rectangle and fold it in half

one time (right sides should be facing
each other), by bringing the short sides
together.

Top picture, fabric laid flat, right side up.

In my example- I folded the right side over

towards the left side. My finger is
pointing to the fold (fold is going
vertical/up/down).

Right sides are facing each other.

Next, using a ¼” seam allowance, sew

along the top edge, which is adjacent to
the folded edge.

Do this for both pieces of fabric for the

hood (exterior and lining fabric pieces)

Pictured: top edge is pinned and will be

sewn. Right edge is the folded edge. The
bottom and left edges are left unsewn
and are the raw edges of the fabric.

Lavender Lily Design 3

 If you’re wanting a pointed hood, you
can omit this step. Otherwise, take your
template for the gusset (located on the
last page if you haven’t already cut it
out).
Line the template up to the corner of
the hood fabric. Arrows on the fabric will
direct you where to place it - one edge
will go against the edge with the seam,
another against the folded edge.

Trace around the template.

Cut along the traced lines.

Next, you’ll adjust your fabric so that the

edge with the seam goes up/down
vertically. It should make a triangular
shape (without the point) as shown here.

The sewn seam is down the center of the

triangular shape - the right sides of the
fabric are still facing each other. The
gusset now forms a straight horizontal
edge at the top.

Pin together the top gusset portion so

that the edges are aligned.

Then sew together, using a ¼” seam

allowance.

Repeat these steps on your other hood piece.

Lavender Lily Design 4

 4. Fold poncho body squares to prep for cutting::

Fold each of your squares (lining and

exterior fabric pieces) into fourths by
folding in half, then in half again.

All four raw corners should be stacked,

as pictured.

Place a pin or two at the folded corner

(opposite of the raw corners).

This marks the center of the circle.

Do this for each, the exterior and the

lining pieces of fabric.

5. Trace & cut the curved edges for the poncho lining and exterior. There are two
different ways to do this (with templates or DIY) - please read through the entire
step before you cut anything to decide how you want to complete this step.

TEMPLATE VERSION (the assembly of template is described in step 2):

Keep fabric folded in fourths: mark the curve on the fabric by placing the corner of
the template (marked with an arrow) against the folded corner (marked with a pin from the
previous step) and trace the curved portion, then proceed to step 5d below.

Do this step for both the exterior fabric and the lining.

DIY version is on the next page…

Lavender Lily Design 5

DIY version (helpful if you’re choosing to modify the size of the poncho or if you don’t
want to print/assemble the template.

Keep fabric folded in fourths: mark the curve on the fabric by following steps below.

Do this step for both the exterior fabric and the lining.

5a) Your fabric should still be folded from step 3.

Take your sewing measuring tape and place the
end of it at the corner with the pin in it. Measure
the length between this corner and the adjacent
corner. In the picture to the left, the pink
measuring tape is along the bottom; with the
length of the folded fabric being 26.5”. Yours
should be approximate to below - it’s okay if it’s
not precise!
Baby: 16”
Toddler: 18”
Youth S: 21.5”
Youth M: 23.5”
Youth L: 26.5”
Adult: 29.5”

5b) Keeping a firm hold on the tape

against the pinned corner, move the tape
across the fabric, marking the
measurement (26.5” in my example) until
you get to the opposite corner. In the
picture to the left, you’ll see exaggerated
white dots every 5” or so all the way
around.

5c) Connect the dots with a fabric

marking pen.

Lavender Lily Design 6

 5d) Cut through all four layers of fabric
along the traced line.

Keep the pin that marks the center of the circle in place.
Unfold, your fabric is now a circle.

6. Create the neck opening:

Take your neck opening template, fold it
in half, then in half again so that it looks
like a quarter circle. Crease these folds.

Unfold, the creases created now show the

center of the template.

Lay your two large circle poncho pieces

out on a flat surface (cutting mat) so that
the right sides are facing each other.

The edges of the circles should be in

alignment, the pins marking the center of
the project on each piece should also be
in alignment.

Place your circle template over the center

of your project, matching up the centers
of the poncho body (should still be
marked with the pins) to the center of the
circle template (marked by the folded
creases)

Trace along the circle shape.

Lavender Lily Design 7

 Cut traced area - you’ll be cutting
through both layers (lining and exterior)

7. Sew the hood piece onto the body of the poncho:

Lay your exterior fabric flat, right side
facing upwards.
✓ The hood will be placed over the
circle, with the seam at the back
of the neck area.
✓ The long edge without the seam
will be the front portion that
lines the face.
In the picture, the seam of the hood is
on the interior of the hood with the
right side facing outwards.

With right sides facing, start pinning

the hood form to exterior fabric along
the neck opening;

I chose to start at the seam of the

hood and do each side.

Lavender Lily Design 8

 Pin around the base of the hood

You should end up with a ~2-3” gap

between each side of the hood in the
front of the poncho - the size of the
“gap” will vary - small deviations of
cutting around the circle template can
make a difference, stretchy fabric can
also make a difference.

Sew together (¼” seam allowance),

starting and stopping the seam ½”
from the edge of the hood form
(shown by my thumb and pointer
finger in this picture).

Repeat these steps for your exterior fabric poncho and hood.

You’ll want to make sure your “gap” at the front of the neck area is the same
distance for both your exterior and lining piece.

8. Assembly:

Place your two poncho pieces together

so that their right sides are facing each
other and the hoods also line up (are
facing the same way).

Pictured: minky lining, right side inwards,

with the exterior (right side outwards)
being inserted into the middle of the
minky.

Lavender Lily Design 9

Go ahead and pin each corner of where
the hood starts/stops - this will assure
that your poncho hood is lined up
accurately.

You only need to pin the base of the

hood.

Open up your poncho and lay it flat so

that it’s one big circle - double check to
make sure the right sides of the fabrics
are facing each other.

Pin around the perimeter of the

circle/poncho.

Sew around the entire perimeter of the

poncho, using a ¼-½” seam allowance.

Remove all the pins (even the ones at the

base of the hood)

Turn the project right side out through

the neck/hood area.

Pin edges so that they lay flat - to

prepare for top stitching.

Top stitch the perimeter of the poncho - I

chose to go about 1” from the edge.

Lavender Lily Design 10

9. Make the neck slit:
Lay your poncho out flat, using a ruler
and rotary cutter (scissors works too),
make cut/slit for the neck opening:

-3” slit (for baby/toddler

-4” slit/cut for all other sizes

You can do this by simply cutting a line

straight down from the center of the space
between where the hood starts and ends.

10. Finish edges around hood/neck: Next, with a little patience, you’ll tuck inwards
the raw edges of the hood by about 1/2”. The neck/slit portion will be tucked
inwards by ~¼-½”. Pin together as you work your way around. Do not sew yet if
you plan to use an elastic loop for the buttonhole..

Fleece example picture-

11. If you do not have a sewing machine that has the ability to sew a buttonhole,
take your 4” piece of elastic, fold in half and tuck both raw edges into the seam
on the left of the slit, about 1.5-2” down from the upper edge. The picture below
shows placement, please note that your neck area will still have pins in it and
isn’t yet sewn. The raw edges of the elastic will be sandwiched in-between the
lining and the exterior fabric. Skip this step if you have a sewing machine that
can sew a buttonhole.

Lavender Lily Design 11

 12. Sew/Top-stitch along neck opening and hood using a ¼” seam allowance.

The inside angle of the “V” of the slit can

be a pain - I opt to do a satin stitch
(incredibly narrow zig-zag stitch) over the
section to secure it better.

13. Attach the button:

Attach the button - if doing a

reversible poncho - you’ll sew on
button on the exterior and interior
side (right on top of eachother with
the fabric sandwiched in-between the
buttons).

Make your button hole in the

appropriate spot on the other side of
the slit.

You’re finished!

Thank you for your tutorial purchase. I sincerely hope you love your finished project!
○ If you love it, please take a minute to leave me a formal review.
○ If you aren’t happy with your purchase, please reach out to me privately with constructive
feedback for a full refund.
- Jamie Lee
LavenderLilyDesign@gmail.com

Lavender Lily Design 12

 If you have a directional print for your fabric - please follow
these directions for the body of the poncho so that one side
doesn’t end up - upside down.
Take your square and cut in
half as pictured here.

Take the top section/rectangle

and turn it around so that the
print is facing the opposite
direction as the lower
section/rectangle.

Take the top section/rectangle

and flip it down above the
lower section (with right sides
facing) and then pin together
along the top edge Sew
together using a ¼” seam
allowance.

When unfolded, it should look

like this.

Lavender Lily Design 13

 Youth Medium (second largest)
Youth Small = dotted line
Youth Large &
Adult Toddler

Baby

Circle sizes for hood:

Baby: 5.5”
Toddler: 6.76”
Youth Small: 7”
Youth Med: 7.24”
Youth L & Adult: 7.4”

Folded Edge

Gusset Template
Raw edge with

for hood
seam sewn