Hi all! The weather outside is frightful but wearing a poncho is so delightful! With this cozy new make, I’m well prepared for the possiblity (fingers crossed…) of a white Christmas.
Will it happen? I doubt it, but I’m glad I made this easy poncho. I loved laying out the pattern pieces so that the fabric’s cool weave would shine. What I didn’t like about this project? The Blanket Fringe. Yes, it looks easy, but OMG! The process went on forever. It took so many hours, I blew through my usual ‘sewing’ diet of old movies and binge worthy television series. So what did I watch? Old episodes of the Gilmore Girls. Remember that show? Such a blast from the past, a show full of the optimism that comes from a fictional but perfect small town world. In spite of that cheery back drop, I was pretty cranky by the time this fringe was done. Still, I do love the look!
The inspiration for my poncho was a Missoni original that I’ve worshipped from afar. That makes my poncho worthy of Designin’ December, don’t you think?
Besides the cool fringe, I love the Missoni version’s hood and contrast trim. In rainy Oregon, hoods are not optional, so I was quite pleased to add one.
I trimmed my hood with fleece binding, and used wool yarn for the blanket fringe. Blanket fringe is pretty easy to do. There are lots of U-tube tutorials, but here’s a quick summary. You poke a hole in your fabric then you pull doubled strands of yarn through the hole with a crochet hook. It’s a breeze, really, but I truly underestimated how much time and yarn it would take to fringe this poncho (Slow death by fringe).
The pattern I used is Butterick 5715, View D. The pattern is out of print, but available on Etsy.
I used a wool blend from my stash. I thought the front yoke detail might make this pattern complicated, but it went together quickly. I trimmed the front opening with contrasting fleece, but left off the buttons, opting for a looser, less structured look to mimic the Missoni version.
I love my new poncho so much, we’re destined to be inseparable! This is the way I like to dress- – in warm layers that are comfortable, easy, but that have ‘a look’. And I have to confess. I think the fringe makes it. So maybe it was worth the crazy hours I spent on it? Hmmm….but there must be an easier way. Have you fringed anything? Did you do it the way I did? Was it torture?
I love looking to the designer runways for inpiration, which is why I love Designin’ December. For more about it, visit Linda’s fabulous blog – –Nice Dress, Thanks I made it. And join in!
I hope your holidays are joyful! Happy sewing and thanks for stopping by!
I love it! Then your turned around and I saw the hood and I just loved it even more! 😍 what a great idea! I love the fringe. It just looked so thick on the bottom so I figure that must have been A LOT of holes! I will add it to my blog, etc. Lovely fabric, lovely work! Thank you for contributing! Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and Happy New Year to you!
Thanks so much! Yes, there are lots of holes….and many hours of tv. But it’s worth it. Designer inspired makes are my favorites. glad you inspire us to try each December. Merry Christmas to you too and a fabulous new year.
Double the yarn and make 1/2 as many holes! I have fringed many a knitted scarf 🙂 Love the poncho, Linda!
Okay, you talked me into it, less holes next time. Thanks for the tip:)
Girl you always make such cute things and this is no exception! I have no idea how to make a yarn fringe. Could you please show the process?
Thanks so much! Sure! Next post, I’ll show the process, great idea.
Love this poncho, the fabric is perfect and such a fabulous fringe!! It looks so cosy to wear. I think we are in for wind and rain rather than a white Christmas
Thanks so much! It’s so easy to throw on and I know it will stand up to anything, even (sigh) boring wind and rain.
Love Missoni and love your take on it. Thanks for the advice on the fringe. I have some wool tweed I was thinking I’d fringe and now I may wimp out.
Thanks!It was pointed out to me in a comment that I could have spaced out the holes for the fringe to make the process a little less daunting :). It wouldn’t be quite as thick but still fun. Not sure if that would work for your project?
A lovely cosy make. And I love the fringe 😉
Thanks! Yes, I think the fringe was worth the agony:)
This is fabulous, and I like your fabric way more than the Missoni! What a great way to keep warm, and I think you’re right–the fringe makes it. I’ve fringed a trench coat and a linen jacket, but just with self-fringe. It’s a lot of work, and my hands get kind of crampy doing it, but the end result I think is totally worth it. It’s just not a fast process. and it requires a lot of breaks because, holy cats, repetitive motion pains. These kind of details kind of help make you understand why designer clothes are so absurdly expensive.
Thanks! Yes I totally agree about designer prices. When fringe is involved, it’s labor costs that legitimize their prices. My hand got pretty cramped too, but You are so right. The finished product is worth it. Fringe adds so much. I can’t believe how many garments you’ve fringed! Self fringe is a lot of work too, but it looks really great.
Love the poncho.
Thanks!
So did you end up with a white Christmas? I think your poncho is way more epic than the Missoni version, so good job! The bolder the better, in my opinion. I think the fringe was well worth the work. Super cool.
Thanks! The only white on the ground here today was frost, so bummed! I’m with you…the bolder the better!
You could probably buy fringe trim and sew it on in one big strip. Faster but not as much self satisfaction. I made a large handwoven blanket once. Fringing all the ends took way more time than weaving the blanket.
I can see how doing an entire blanket would be a bit of a time commitment:) yeah, I considered buying fringe trim but just didn’t think it would look right so I went for it. Yes, I had moments of doubt but I’m glad I went for it.