2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Nonnadiluca

Does anyone know how to make a poncho from a throw? I've got a checked pattern throw with fringing, and fancy making a poncho to wear round the house. I'm sure it must be really simple, but not sure of the best way to go about it. Has anyone done this before and have any advice to offer? Thanks

Laura_Elsewhere

Nonnadiluca said:

Does anyone know how to make a poncho from a throw? I've got a checked pattern throw with fringing, and fancy making a poncho to wear round the house. I'm sure it must be really simple, but not sure of the best way to go about it. Has anyone done this before and have any advice to offer? Thanks

I haven't done it before, but it is pretty straightforward IF you are quite sure of what you want...! 

If you literally only want a poncho, then you pretty much just cut a hole in the centre for your head to go through. That is going to look a lot like a throw with a hole cut in it, imo, though... 

Do you have one good big attractive brooch or belt? If so, why not make a gorgeous cape-wrap of it? 

Work out whether you want the corners centre-back/sides-centre-front, or whether you want straight edges CB/sides/CF and if it's patterned, check how you want the pattern to lie. Then mark the centre of the whole thing and mark a line up where you have decided to make the centre-front. Cut up that, and then either cut a hole for your neck, or make a T-slit across the top, whichever you prefer. You could always trim the front right-angle corners of a T-neck to make them curved. Stitch along the cut edges, or bind with ribbon if you prefer. Drape round your shoulders and pin to hold it. 
If you don't have a strong brooch or pin, then put the cape on, and put the belt on so that it goes under the cape at the back but over the two front-pieces. That then holds it firmly onto you, but allows free movement. 

Any help?

thriftwizard

Nonnadiluca, depends on the fabric. From time to time I'll chop into old picnic blankets/rugs to make a poncho; if it's square & fringed all round (or not at all) I'll fold it diagonally once, then again across the long edge to locate the centre & stick a pin in, then back to the single fold & cut a slash along the folded edge for about 5"/12.5cm from the pin in each direction. You can enlarge this to a slight scoop shape, or make the cut a bit longer, or do a small vertical cut in the centre front, depending on what you're comfortable with (and whether you have Big Hair) but 10"/25cm will pull over most heads without leaving too much room for drafts! Then, if it's fleece or wool, blanket-stitch around the cut to stabilise the edge; you might want to zig-zag round it first if the wool's not slightly felted already or the fabric's not tightly-woven, but blanket stitch in a contrasting thread always looks the part.

If your throw's rectangular, I'd just fold it in half widthways, locate the centre with another fold & a pin as before, then make a 10" cut centred on the pin & blanket-stitch round it. You can also stitch the sides together from the bottom to half-way up to exclude more drafts but leave your arms free; on the edge is simplest, but a line of stitching further in towards the body is warmer & looks less blocky. All very simple - but I sell these when I stumble across attractive blankets or rugs at a sensible price, and they usually get snapped up straight away.

Nonnadiluca

Brilliant suggestions, thank you Laura and TW . I will have a look and a think, then out with the scissors!
 I had the idea because my DD broke her arm last year and had problems keeping warm as her usual big cardis were impossible to get on. I found a knitted ponco in a charity shop which worked really well and she still wears it round the house - £4 well spent!  If I can work out how to post a photo, I will show the finished product, (but don't hold your breath, I 'm not the most tech savvy!)

Couldsavemore

thriftwizard said:

I've got a couple of sewing projects in hand for this weekend; I made DD2 some PJ bottoms last week from the pattern I used for OH's PJs, suitably re-sized down, but that pattern's matching top calls for acres of fabric, which I don't have (2m+, there's just 1.5m left) so another, simpler pattern has been invested in & will be picked up from our local W8rose later. There's a cot quilt top to be "sandwiched" & quilted for a young friend's baby, due at the end of the month. Plus I'm going to make myself a sensible winter skirt from some of the browny-green corduroy, with plenty of striding-room & nice deep pockets! (Never got round to listing it online... but will sooner or later, along with acres of vintage Laura Ashley stuff)

So, my leg- & wrist-warmers will be getting some more exercise, as it's mostly straight-stitch stuff, best done in the (slightly-warmer, but still freezing) conservatory. After that - maybe the knickers, at long last?! BUT I can't find that marvellous post pointing me at all those wonderful free patterns; please might someone with superior mastery of the search function point me in the right direction again? 

I feel your pain. Both my machines (vintage hand driven singer and a more useful electric one) are in my conservatory... Ohh its cold in there!!

Couldsavemore

I've brought a flask of hot chocolate made with coconut milk if any one fancies one.
I'll drag a chair towards the heater. My sewing room aka the conservatory is freezing.
Got the waistband and hem tacked and ready to sew tomorrow.
I think I'll break out the knitting.
Sound like you all have plenty of sewing on the go.

PollyWollyDoodle

Well it’s lovely to see the village hall so full, I think we need to get some more chairs out from that space under the stage and put up another trestle table. 

Laura_Elsewhere

After a lifetime living with moths and mice in my Aged Ps' house, we've mostly eradicated them from the flat (we have noticed a fresh outbreak every single time I go back for a visit...)

But the only significant textile damage in the last year had to be bang in the middle of the front of this Alice Starmore design jumper which a friend knitted and kindly passed on to me when she outgrew it...

I shall be attempting to darn in replacated-stitches, which I've never done before. I have a little dark blue gansey yarn which is a reasonable match for the background but for the larger, upper hole I shall need some gold, which means securing it on the back in a few places and then cutting away floats, giving me maybe an inch at a time to use... 

Wraithlady

The hot chocolate sounds nice, Couldsavemore - I've brought some DF biscuits and a few chairs as well.
I've ordered some boots, but as they're a present from my MIL in the January sales, they'll be coming out of her coupons, not mine. 

thriftwizard

Well, things (as usual) haven't exactly gone to plan...

I can't seem to get much beyond the cutting-out stage, thanks to Poppy wanting to "help"...!