Craft a Blanket Poncho for 18" Dolls

Finished fleece, blanket ponchos may also be cut without trimmings and crafted as no sew
projects if you prefer. These Southwestern fashions look great with boots!

        I made two versions of this fun fleece, poncho craft; each one having a different collar and trim work. I use fleece printed with Southwestern indigenous motifs, which was popular in the 1990s and early 2000s.   These warm wraps are so easy to make, you may choose to sew a poncho for each one of your dolls before the day has ended!
       Blanket ponchos are worn on chilly evenings around campfires or sometimes people keep them in their cars for that extra added warmth they may need on a cold night's car ride. In either case, your doll will appreciate the added comfort of a blanket poncho, so why not make one for both your doll and yourself? 

In the Southwest of the United States, fashions are often influenced by Native American
design motifs, similar to those printed on this fleece. I also trimmed this blanket poncho
 with a thick, soft, variegated yarn and buttons at the collar.

Supply List:

• 12"x12" or a 13"x13" square of fleece fabric
• matching needle and thread
• scissors
• ruler
• decorative yarn, buttons, embroidery floss for trim

Step-by-Step Directions for a Doll's Blanket Poncho:

1. Ponchos may be made as no-sew activities if your little ones do not yet know how to sew. However, there's no time or occasion like the present to practice using a needle and thread for a sewing lesson as simple as this one. Cut the fleece in either 12"x12" or a 13"x13" squares, one per poncho.
2. Fold the square of fleece in half, matching tip to tip at corners in the shape of a triangle. 
3. Measure the length of this triangle shape and divide it by half. 
4. Take a ruler and mark the halfway point with a piece of white chalk. Now cut at least a four inch opening alongside this fold, two inches on either side of the chalk mark, for the opening at the neck of the poncho.
5. As you can see by the photos there are two versions of neck openings for the poncho. One of these has a simple band the serves as the collar. For this version you will need to sew a half inch band across the neck opening. This design helps to keep the poncho from stretching with play.
6. The second collar version is made by cutting a "T" shape at the neck line; then folding over the tips of the collar and embroidering all of the edges of the opening with a blanket stitch. (see photos) I also trimmed out this collar version with two tiny buttons. These do not actually attach anything; they are just for decoration.
7. Either trim the lower edges of your dolls poncho or turn these under to finish. I used a thick yarn edging on one of the ponchos and chose to leave my second design version unadorned. 
8. For the simpler version, I made a fleece hat by cutting out a long rectangular shape, sewing a straight seam to attach the end sides together. 
9. Then I turned this inside out, gathered the top edge leaving a wide seam allowance, so that I could cut a simple fringe at the top from it. This replaces a pom-pom.
10. I also turned a cuff up from the bottom edge of the hat and embroidered it to the hat for both decorative purposes and to make the fleece hat durable with play.

A blanket poncho with a straight cut opening around the collar. The fleece hat to match is
made from one rectangular strip of fleece. Measure the dimension of your doll's head
and add a 1/4" seam allowance to make this type of fleece hat.

How to Sew a Blanket Style Poncho for A Child:

• DIY: No-Sew Poncho Blankets
• Car Seat Poncho sewing tutorial
• No-Sew Car Seat Poncho (reversible)