I love this time of year when there’s a nippiness to the air. It also heralds the poncho sewing season at our house. We’ve been sewing these for years not only for my girls but also as gifts. They are easy to sew, taking only 1 hour for the inexperienced sewer. All sizes are girls’ American.

Supplies needed:
2 coordinating flannel or fleece fabric pieces (see chart for size measurements)
1 circle to trace (see chart to see what size circle you need)
Pencil
Scissors
Ruler
Yard Stick
Pins
Thread
Sewing Machine

Step 1: Mark the very center of one square of fabric on the wrong side. To do this, fold one square of fabric in half with right sides together. Fold in half again the other way to make a square. Mark the point where both folded sides meet. (see photo above)

Step 2: Open fabric up. Place the circle exactly in the middle and trace around it. To help with placement I measure out from the center mark half the width of the circle. In the top picture I am measuring for a 7 inch circle, so I place my measuring tape so the center mark is exactly on the 3.5 inch and mark at the beginning of the ruler and at the 7 inch mark. I do the same going vertically so there are four marks. Place the circle on top lining up the edge of the circle with the marks. Trace around it.

Step 3: Using a yard stick line up the center mark with one of the corners on the fabric. Draw a 2-3 inch line starting at the edge of the circle and going towards the corner. (see photo above)

Step 4: Measure 1/4 inch from each side of the line on the circle. Draw a line from this mark down to the end of the line. You will stitch on the line around the circle and then on these lines you just drew. The 2-3 inch straight line you drew in step 3 will be your cutting line after you sew. (see photo above)

Step 5 : Lay other square of fabric on table right side up. Place marked fabric on top wrong side up so that the right sides of the fabric squares are together. (see photo above)

Step 6: Pin fabric together just inside the circle. Sew around the circle right on the pencil line and on the straight lines you drew in step 4. Cut out the middle of the circle 1/4 inch away from the stitching line. Carefully cut on the straight line in between the straight stitches. Clip corners. (see photo above)

Step 7: Gather up top fabric and push through the center turning the fabric so right sides are out.

Step 8: Press the stitched seams making sure to push the corners of the neckline out to make them crisp. Topstitch 1/8 away from the edge on the neckline.

Step 9: Sew 2 inches away from the bottom edges of the poncho all the way around. Clip up to the stitch line to create a fringe. (see photo above) You’re done!!

Optional sewing:

On the neckline you can either sew ribbon to both corners to tie or sew a button to one corner and a loop to the other.

Walmart has a huge selection of flannel fabric right now. Only $2.44 a yard. This poncho cost $5 to make!

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