MEMBERS ONLY: To gain full access to the Half Yard Club projects please login or sign up

No-Pattern Floaty Poncho | Debbie Shore Dressmaking Pattern

Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps

Debbie Shore's simple loose-fitting poncho sewing pattern can be made to measure.

Create a summer top with Debbie Shore’s simple loose-fitting poncho pattern! Perfect for warm weather, this lightweight poncho can be custom to your body shape. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced sewist, this easy sewing project is a great way to craft a breezy, made-to-measure poncho for beach days, casual outings, or layering.

I’ve used rayon fabric, which has a beautiful drape, or you might like to use viscose or cotton lawn, which have the same properties. The fabric either needs to be plain or have a non-directional print as it is used on its side, so the selvedges/selvages are at the hemline. For instance, the horizontal stripes on my top were vertical as they came off the roll. The neckline is bound with bias tape, which is a much easier way to hem a curve than folding over the fabric, and helps the neckline to sit flat.

The length of the poncho will be approximately half the width of the fabric, so 56in (142cm) wide fabric will be 28in (71cm) long before hemming. Most dressmaking fabrics are 56–60in (142–152.5cm) wide: the wider the fabric, the longer the poncho!

A large, flat area is a must for laying out the fabric, and make sure you do plenty of pinning to prevent the material from slipping as you sew.

Note: Use a ¼in (5mm) seam allowance.

MEMBERS ONLY: To gain full access to the Half Yard Club projects please login or sign up

You will need:

Equipment

• Sewing machine
• Fabric shears
• Paper scissors to cut out your neckline pattern
• Pins, plus fabric clips if you have them
• Optional: chalk or erasable fabric marker
• Optional: rolled-hem foot

Materials

• Fabric at least 56in (142cm) wide: floaty works well and rayon, viscose or lawn are ideal.
  To calculate the required length, firstly measure your bust at the fullest point and add 8in (20.5cm) – add an additional 2in (5cm) if you’d like the top to be looser, then divide this measurement by two.
  Finally, add 15in (38cm). So, if you have a 40in (101.5cm) bust, add 8in (20.5cm) to get 48in (122cm), then divide by two – that’s 24in (61cm). Finally, add 15in (38cm). This makes it 39in (99cm), which is the length of fabric you need. Remember, the length of fabric will be the width of the top.
• 28in (71cm) of ¾in (2cm) wide bias binding.

MEMBERS ONLY: To gain full access to the Half Yard Club projects please login or sign up