Most adults will need a piece of fabric about the dimensions of a normal couch throw, while children will obviously need smaller pieces of fabric. Err on the side of using too much fabric, rather than too little. It’s easier to trim a poncho to make it shorter than to sew extra fabric on to make it longer.
If you’d like an asymmetrical poncho - one that hangs extra-long in the front or back - don’t fold your fabric so that its edges meet, but, rather, so that the bottom half is longer than the top half.
Head holes on ponchos don’t have to be boring slits. To make a differently-shaped head hole, cut a shape into your folded fabric centered at the midpoint of the folded edge. For example, to make a circular head hole, cut a half-circle centered at the middle of the folded edge, to make a diamond, cut a triangle centered at the middle of the folded edge, etc. This is the only part of the process in which it’s possible to make a serious mistake - defects in your head hole may be visible on the finished poncho. Still, don’t worry - as long your hole is big enough to fit your head through and small enough not to let your shoulders through, your poncho will stay on!
Add pockets. Sew small, flat pieces of fabric to the front or sides of your poncho, leaving the top edge open so that you can stick your hands in. These pieces of fabric can be any shape you like - try squares, half-circles, and hearts! Add a pattern to the edges. Try cutting a repeating pattern along the edge of the poncho for a killer “wild west” look! You have many choices here - for instance, a simple zig-zag may suit your purposes, or you may want to create a fringe by cutting thin strips into the edges.
For example, if we wanted to make a 22-inch poncho for our child, we’ll mark the two points along the folded edge that are 22 inches (55. 9 cm) from the central point - one on either side.
Following along with our 22-inch poncho example, we would now mark a series of dots on the upper layer of fabric, all of which are 22 inches (55. 9 cm) from the central point. This will create a half-circle with a radius of 22 inches (55. 9 cm).
