Great gift to sew – make a fleece fabric winter poncho with a cowl that doubles as a hood
Hey y’all – today I’m sharing how to make this SUPER easy fleece poncho with a cowl that can also be worn as a hood. This project is perfect for a beginner because you only need to sew two seams. It’s also great for experienced sewists because you can make them quickly, and there’s not much to figure out in the way of sizing so it’s a great handmade gift. Plus fleece is usually pretty inexpensive and tends to go on sale in the fall, and it comes in so many patterns and colors you can surely find something for even picky people on your gift list.
I am a total cold weather wimp. Like bordering on ridiculous. I get out jackets for any temperatures below 70 degrees, basically. Have you ever seen a Chihuahua dog shivering? Yeah, that’s me.
So I am forever looking for variations on sweaters, jackets and other outerwear, because being as cold natured as I am, I don’t always take my jacket off once I get indoors. Which means a fleece poncho in a pattern like buffalo check is the perfect blend of cozy and stylish for me. And I added a cowl to keep my neck warm – because once my neck gets cold, I just can’t get warm again.
Supplies to Sew a Poncho
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To make your own poncho with a cowl/hood, you’ll need:
- 2 1/4 yards of 60 inch wide fleece fabric. If you prefer to use a blanket instead of fleece yardage, check the dimensions below.
- Basic sewing supplies – sewing machine, scissors, thread, etc.
- When working with fleece I prefer to use sewing clips (affiliate link) instead of pins. Clips are better able to handle the bulkiness of fleece fabric
- Optional – Electric scissors (affiliate link). While you can 100% cut fleece with regular sewing scissors, I prefer the electric shears since I have them. You can check out my post about whether electric shears are worth it here.
Dimensions for the poncho fabric are below, BUT make sure to cut and measure the neckline BEFORE cutting out the cowl piece.
Note that I am 5’3″ so even if I wear the 60inch side so that it spreads across my arms, it does not extend to my fingertips. The front and back hang down approximately 27 inches from my shoulders. If you are sewing for a taller or smaller person, you might want to adjust these measurements and you may even need to sew a couple of pieces of fleece together to get a larger rectangle. As a rule of thumb, remember that a person’s height is roughly equal to their measurement from fingertip to fingertip.
I’ve got a video tutorial right below on how to make this poncho; if it doesn’t load for some reason you can also watch it here. Skip over the video to the written tutorial if you prefer that.
How to Make a DIY Fleece Poncho
OK, so in case you’re more of a written tutorial than a video watching kind of person, here are the written instructions.
First, fold the poncho fabric in half along the 60″ width. Then fold it in half along the 54″ width, so you’ve got it folded in quarters.
At the folded corner where there are no raw edges showing (which is the center of the poncho) measure over 4 inches and down 2 inches. Cut in a curved line to connect these two points and create the neck opening.
Measure one side of the neckline 1/2 inch in from the edge (dotted line below). Next, double that number to get the full neckline length. Also make sure that width is enough to fit over your head! You can always trim the opening to make it a little larger if it’s not.
Make sure that your cowl piece is as wide as the neckline measurement plus one inch and 22 inches tall.
Fold the cowl in half, right sides together, matching the 22 inch edges, and stitch along the 22 inch edge. Since most fleece stretches, use a zig zag stitch or other stretch stitch.
Mark quarter points around the cowl (I use pins or clips to mark). Then mark quarter points of the poncho neckline. Open cowl. With the cowl right side out and the poncho wrong side out, stick the cowl through neckline opening so it is inside the poncho and the fabrics are right sides together. Match cowl quarter points to the quarter points of the poncho neckline. Pin cowl in place and stitch with a stretch stitch.
When you pull the cowl back out, it will look like the image below, extending up from the neckline like a very long turtleneck.
Because fleece does not fray, there is no need to finish edges.
Wearing Cowl Neck Fleece Ponchos
Just pop your poncho over your head, push the cowl down or pull it over your head like a hood, and go!
Sometimes I also like to push fold the sides of the poncho up and under so they’re more like short sleeves.
If you’d prefer not to be pulling polar fleece over your head to get it off and on, you can also check out the tutorial below for a hooded poncho that opens in the front.
Kris
I can do that! Thank you! 🙂
Monica
I love it! I’m going to run out now and purchase some fleece. Thanks!
Carol
This is so cute. I will make this for spring or early summer, it is down coat weather here in Michigan. Thank you for all your tutorials.
pennyfp
So easy and fun!!!! Watch out Joann’s!!! Gotta coupon and I’m goin’ shoppin’!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!
Dara
Sew Very Cute! I see some of these in my future! Thanks sooooo much, Melly
Penny
I, too, absolutely love this!! Love anything buffalo check! Thank you for the pattern – I am so psyched to make one for me and then I already know it will make a great gift for a friend. This should inspire me to get my cutting table cleared off so I can sew this weekend! Love your style – have a great day.
Anne
I hear ya about hating the cold! Except I’m not cute like a little shivering Chihuahua. I’m just mean and cranky, lol. Nobody wants me to be cold! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for later this morning that features your tutorial: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=86428 –Anne
April
Cute! I’m always cold, too, and what a fun way to change up the usual sweaters and jackets! Maybe hubs would be less opposed to me wearing these over my clothes around the house than my giant fluffy bathrobe (he thinks that’s inappropriate day wear for some reason, even over my clothing. Obviously, he isn’t cold and does not understand).
Ginger
You do so well at demonstrating and explaining. Thank you. I’ll be making one real soon……
Barbara
Very well done tutorials …….. THANKS for sharing your teaching gift !
Ginger
I made this poncho. It was quick and easy and I love it. The directions are very well explained. Than you again…….
Jess M
I am making one of these asap!! What an easy tutorial
Nthaby
wow!
I am in Lesotho and winter is near. I am gonna try it for me and my 6yrs old daughter .
Andrea
Hi Melly, the moment I saw your poncho in your pics I fell in love with it. Thanks so much for sharing. What happened to it you can see and read here https://fadenrecht.wordpress.com/2016/03/17/ein-poncho-fleecig-flauschig-fadenrecht/
Andrea
Penny
Hurray!!!! I finally made the poncho! Turned out great! Great directions/instructions – both written and video. Thank you so much for sharing your pattern and your sewing knowledge and for writing your blog!!!.
Missy
I am going to make this–just found fabric–AND I’m going to try to double-layer it so it is both reversible and super warm!
Karen Belta
Love it.? Turned the ends to make a cuff look had some extra length. Used LUXE fleece to make for fall weather.
My first time using fleece fabric.
Both the written and video were extremely helpful.
Thank you for sharing
I have many Christmas presents now in the works
Kerry
Can… I just say… without sounding like a creepster… I LOVE YOU!! Your style, your writing, your patterns. Your site has taught me so much! I have been looking for a poncho tute and of course yours is PERFECT! I am the opposite of you, temperature-wise. No more constricting winter coat!
PamB
Love this!! Never thought of putting a cowl on a poncho! My granddaughter just got her first American Girl doll for her 7th birthday and the first piece of clothing she wanted me to make was matching ponchos for her and the doll. I never would have guessed!! Your tutorial is fabulous, thank you so much for sharing!!
Karen Sullivan
How did you adjust the material dimensions for making the poncho for a child? I’d like to make some for my granddaughters. Thanks in advance!
Val
I can’t believe I’ve found someone with the same problem as me! When I tell people that I can’t warm up if my neck gets cold they look at me like I am an old woman! Thank you for sharing this..can’t wait to get it started! 😉 😉
Susan M.
Thank you for sharing the tutorial on the poncho. I just finished making one today and I love it.
Sandy
I just made this poncho. It is so quick and easy and so cozy. Thanks for such a great pattern. The directions were clear, simple and easy. My poncho came out great. I love it!
Sandy
I’ve been wanting to make something like this. Your instructions make it so simple.
Melanie V Infantino
anyone can answer this – just looking for help. i want to make one of these for my 13 month old to use with her car seat since she’s not supposed to wear a heavy coat in it. i need it lined/reversible bc a single layer won’t be warm enough for here. i can handle that, but i’m wondering if i can get help with changing the sizing and with whether or not doubling the thickness would change the pattern. any ideas on how to alter the dimensions for a baby?
L
Great idea! Great poncho! Are the wide sides (60″) the front and back or the sides?
Thank you for sharing!
Melissa Mora
You can wear it either way.
Elizabeth
I just made a short poncho to wear while I’m reading in bed at night. My shoulders and arms get chilly and I wanted something warm but easy to take off when I was ready to fall asleep. This is perfect, especially the way the cowl adds a cozy feel to my neck. Love it!
This was my first time to use both instructions and a video – what a treat! I wish all patterns could come with a video, especially from someone as good as Melissa is at explaining what she is doing as she shows each step.
Thank you. I’m looking forward to seeing more of the wonderful talent that you are sharing.
Lori Kelly
I found that I had to make the neck opening a little bigger which is funny cuz I have a really small head. Also I did mine in a 52 inch square that seemed plenty big for me. And I made the neck opening round instead of oval so that the Poncho can be worn and the diagonal with a diamond in the front also
Susan August
Just saw this pattern and I love it..I’ve been looking for a poncho and this cowl pattern! I figure that if I make it only as long shoulder to waist it’s fit perfectly under my “fluffy” coat.. I live in Sun Valley (Reno) Nevada and I get cold to the bone..enough so that I have to take a long hot shower or soak in a tub. Thanks
Stephanie
Hi Melly, just finished this poncho, I am such a newby sewer I felt this was something I could actually do, and your tutorial was very easy to follow, and I watched the video twice to make sure before starting. Fleece is so forgiving! I am a plus size gal, only 5’1″ tall with short arms so I made this with the 60″ going forward and aft in a black and white plaid. I have a short, fat neck, so the cowl is too tight and long, I lopped 4″ off the length of it and it feels much better. Yes, I did try the thing on before I measured for cowl, just don’t like that much stuff around the front of my neck. When I make the next one, I will make the neck opening a little bigger, and the back about 3″ longer than the front, and keep the cowl at about 18″. Your instructions are so easy, I really had fun with this! It is 88 degrees here now, but I can’t wait to snuggle in this around the campfire this fall!!! I love it, Thanks again for this excellent tutorial, making it easy for a novice at sewing with a machine. I plan on crocheting an edge around the bottom, with a little extra to cover my derrier better.
Barb Clough
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Thanks!!! Love this pattern – Made one for my pregnant niece!
Robin Ebaugh
Just whipped one up for my husband on our 41st anniversary! He is a big guy and the tutorial was written for a small woman, so I bought extra yardage of the fleece. The poncho was a surprise, so working with fleece is fabulous in that you can make it longer and just hack the extra off, LOL. Happy Anniversary!! He loves it!! #oldpeople #isthereadraftinhere #areyousurethefurnaceison
Lor
I had to come back here and thank you! I just made one of these for my sister – and aside from my dumb fabric choice (very pricey soft soft creamy loveliness – that frays all over the place) it was a quick and easy sew, and looks a million dollars. I have to just hope it holds up to her 2 boys and hectic lifestyle – but I know she’ll feel amazing come Christmas!
Farm Momma
My sister in law and I have been making Christmas gifts for the women in our family for over 18 years. As our family has grown, we are now up to 32 gifts to be made. We loved this idea but had to be creative in keeping our budget in check. What we came up with will work perfectly. We went to Walmart and bought their $2.50 blankets that are almost the perfect size. You buy extras to make the cows and they work great because they already have a finished edge. We are having our family Christmas tomorrow and we are so excited to give this gift to the girls! Thank you for this great idea and great instructions to make these.
Stephen
Thanks for publishing this DYI. I used this idea on making a fleece poncho for our Boy Scout Klondike derby. The theme is Klondike Gold Rush and this gives the idea of a prospector looking for gold in them thar hills. Thanks again for this DYI
Cindy
Ugh! I followed the video, which told me to go ahead and cut both pieces. My neck was a little bigger somehow, so my cowl piece was too small. I wish I had known I needed to measure that opening before I cut the cowl piece.
I am not posting to complain; I just hope to save someone else from making the same mistake.
Debi
I love that you have both written and video instructions. It really helps to clarify! There will be several of these added to my wardrobe. Like you, I am very cold natured, lol, part refile i think!
El
Wow!! This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! The South African winters can be icy and, like you, I need to be warm and snug. I’m making mine tomorrow 🙂 Thanks for the great pattern! El
Tori
I love this! The video made this so clear and simple. I personally cut down the cowl when I was finished because I didn’t plan to use as a hood and found it too long. I also finished off the hems all around and on the cowl! Thanks for the tip to use a zig zag stitch with stretch fleece!
Nadine
Thank you for the easy instructions! It was super simple to follow. Because the fabric roll was at an end I purchased the rest ( approx 2 3/4 yards) and was able to make a second smaller one for my eight year old daughter. She is excited about our twin look.
Pleun
So easy to make and looks really good! Got a burberry poncho for a change 😉
Alex B
This is a great idea to make this winter, thanks for sharing
Karen
I have made several of these. The first batch I made was for my children who would always drag a blanket to the breakfast table. These ponchos solved that problem. Since then several people have seen them and loved them so I have made many more for gifts. I am NOT talented at sewing but I was able to follow the written directions (mostly the pictures) and every one has come out super cute.
Gaby
Best Christmas DIY gift ever. It looks fashionable and factory-made, even expensive with the correct fleece, but is easy to sew and remarcable cheap and quick. Pair it with a sewn hat and you have a crowd pleaser.
Debbie
Thank you for the pattern and directions. I guess I have an extra big head and short neck because the cowl/hood was way too tight and way too long. I ended up cutting off 11 inches and making a self-faced, folded collar. I made my poncho to my knees and rounded the sides and hemmed it Your directions on cutting the neck were perfect. The collar turned out cute, though not as warm.
Belinda
I absolutely love it. Thank you for making something look so difficult, so easy to make
Jane Alexander
I made this out of a sweater knit and without the cowl. Basically a large square with a hole for the head. the 4 inch hole is too big and next time I make I will make it a 3 inch hold. I also serged the edges and sewed the sides together with a large opening for my arms. I am expecting some flannel fabric from Joanns and will make this again in flannel. Very simple. Takes about an hour to make.
barbara
Oh, this should be fun. In fact, since I’m just average height, two 50×60 fleece blankets (or three so that I can double the thickness) would do just fine. They are less than three dollars each. This would accommodate protecting myself from the cold that kicks back into my apartment when other HVAC units are on!!!!
Thanks much!
Barbara
Sandra G.
This is perfect timing I am seeking ideas for this up coming fall and winter and this is perfect as a gift. .
Cynthia
I love it!! Now to find some fleece. Thank you!
Barbara Rominski
Hi, Melly,
I made two of these ponchos today from nice, thick fleece material. I am having shoulder surgery this week, and I made them to fit over my sling. Thanks for posting these directions/video.
Best regards,
Barb
K Littrell
I made 7 or 8 of these for extra Christmas gifts (and one for me, too).
I gave my daughter hers first and she said, it would really be nice if this had an inside pocket for my phone!
I took a scrap of it and sewed a 7×9″ pocket to the center front inside, like a kangaroo pocket. I stitched along the upper edge, then across the lower edge and up about 2″ on each side so her phone/ID won’t slide out. She loves loves it and that’s what I did with the rest of the ones I made!
Amanda T
Wow, thank you for the easy-to-follow instructions! I used a wool-blend weave instead of fleece and with some minor modifications it worked like a dream! Many thanks!