I have a thing about ponchos.
I love them.
I probably love them more than hats.
And I love hats.
Ponchos let you secretly wear a blanket when you go out and get away with it. They let you overeat at a dinner party and undo the top button of your jeans without anyone noticing. You can throw one over your pyjamas when people drop in unexpectedly. And they keep you warm and cosy, while leaving both hands free to crochet or stitch.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that I own well over a dozen ponchos. I have several that Maude crocheted for me…
Over the past year or so, I’ve picked up a couple of vintage suede ones from the 1960s…
In addition, I’ve sewn a stack of them following these truly brilliant instructions from Threads Magazine.
I’ve made them out of vintage silk kimonos..
…old kantha quilts…
…repaired embroidered Indian shawls like the one below, and just about every pashmina I’ve ever owned…
My favourites though – the ones that take me from the supermarket to casual drinks with girlfriends – are made from hemp shawls that I bought from the markets years ago. They’re getting a little soft and shapeless these days, but they’re still incredibly comfortable – perfect for travel wear.
If you’ve never owned a poncho, grab an old pashmina out of the drawer and give it a go – it literally only takes one seam. Here’s a link again to the instructions.
As Noel Fielding said in The Mighty Boosh.. “It’s impossible to be unhappy in a poncho!” ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
‘They let you overeat at a dinner party and undo the top button of your jeans without anyone noticing’ that made me laugh! Thank you for your pearls of wisdom each day..I so look forward to reading your blog every morning with my cup of coffee..sets me up for the day with a smile on my face…take care
They are all equally lovely and i imagine they are a cinch to fold and store.. I’ve always associated ponchos with that ‘I’m here for fun’ style – you wear them well 😀
I’m a fan of ponchos too… loved them since I was a little kid, they were then and still are a fun thing to wear. I have 3, one of which I wore with jeans and boots as my beach wedding outfit when G.O. and I eloped! I’ve been thinking about some wraps and pashminas I have that could be converted… the tutorial is great, thank you. Have a lovely day, hope you get to wear a poncho… I admire all of those pictured but the vintage suede from SF is marvellous. Unfortunately not poncho weather here today, practically it’s coat weather.
They look really better than weird ones I remember from YEARS ago and you look great in them! Thanks for the encouragement, it’s all true :)
I love that kimono silk one!
I love the kantha one, very me! Living in North Qld, though, I’m more likely to make a tube top from a piece of light fabric, as it doesn’t get cold enough for a warm one very often. I do feel, though, that I should have at least one….
katechioconi. I’m in North Qld too. Hi!
The last time I wore a poncho I was in my early teens. Clearly I’m missing out on something here! I need to try one of these again. After all, just the ability to overeat and undo a button is reason enough 😂
I find ponchos and stylish blankets are great to wear in the North Queensland winter. Love the ones you have made. Thanks Celia you have inspired me to actually think about making one.