DIY Rain Poncho Out Of Vinyl
Sewing with dressmaker vinyl is easier than you would expect. Sewing a poncho is even suitable for a beginner sewists. With a rectangle of fabric, you can stitch up fashionable rain gear that is compact for travel, but looks much better than a clear plastic “trash bag” poncho. Follow along as we explore how to sew a rain poncho with vinyl.
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The Pattern
This is a DIY pattern, just a simple rectangle with a head hole cut out for the hood.
Measure your arm length from fingertip to fingertip – or however wide you want your poncho to be. I’m short, so I only needed 1.37 meters of vinyl for my poncho – and I used every scrap. If you are taller than 5′ 4″, I would order 1.5 meters or more.
Once you determine the width, you need to determine your desired length. Mine ended up a little short so I added a contrasting band to the bottom hem from the extra I cut off from the width.
To draft a hood, start with a piece of scrap fabric to perfect your design. Make the hood large enough to cover your head and hang over your face for coverage.
Fold the cut poncho in quarters and draw a circle for the neck opening. The moment of truth – grab some sharp scissors and cut! I stitched the hood to the opening and covered the exposed front edge with bias binding for a nice finished look.
Use a long ruler and rotary cutter to get a nice clean edge — No hemming on this rain poncho!
Need a pattern? You can easily use one of the plethora of poncho patterns if that fits your personal comfort zone. Minerva has a nice selection of ponchos.
The Fabric
I used Minerva Core Range Waterproof Rubber PVC Vinyl Fabric in Air Force Blue. I love the color, it has a subtle hint of blue, just enough to take the edge off the gray. The white backside is a pretty contrast. I like the way it brings a pop of brightness. I used the wrong side on the border as trim. It gives the wrap a little style.
The vinyl was super easy to sew. I used a basic universal needle in my sewing machine.
I overlocked the internal edges (outside edges are simply cut with a rotary cutter). Then stitched the seam allowance. Finally, I ran top stitching down the seam allowance on each side of the seam.
The vinyl handled straight pins well. Since the fabric is a little slippery, pinning gives you more control. It is self healing, but I would keep them close to the edge and use them sparingly. Also, don’t leave the straight pins in the fabric for too long – just pin and sew.
Pro Tip: Start sewing the first stitch in from the edge of the vinyl. Sew a few stitches, then backstitch to the beginning edge and finish sewing your straight line. This way you fabric doesn’t get jammed into your sewing machine throat plate.
Sewing Machine Settings
The stitch length should be around 3. A simple straight stitch works well. Begin sewing a practice seam on a scrap to see what works best for your sewing machine. Most sewing machines should handle the vinyl easily. No hand sewing required!
The Storage Pouch
After I was finished with the poncho, I had a few pieces of fabric leftover. I made a little storage pouch to keep it all contained when it’s in my travel bag
Cut a rectangle (or two squares) and a long strap. Sew the strap on one side with a box and a large “X” inside. This will secure the tie.
The rectangle is sewn up two side seams (three if its made from two pieces); right side together. Your storage pouch is ready. Simple — easy to create!
Other Beginners Projects You Can Sew
Do you love simple beginner projects? Here is my list of Easy Beginner Sewing Projects. I hope you find some sewing inspiration to create your own DIY sewing projects.
Sew A Rain Poncho
This project was inspired by a fabric gifted from Minerva as part of the Minerva Ambassador Program. Check out my Minerva review for all the details.
With a small amount of rain proof fabric, you can make a rain covering in very little time. You don’t always need a pattern, sometimes it is fun to experiment with your own personal style. If you are unsure, use scraps of old fabric to test out your design — it’s like having your own free pattern! I hope you add How To Sew A Rain Poncho to your stash of patterns to try.
Happy Sewing,
Sandi
PIN IT FOR LATER
PS
Here is what I know about fashion. Everyone’s taste is different. The opinions expressed here are mine alone. I’m just a girl who loves to sew. Here is a list of some of my favorite tools, techniques, and sources.
Barrett’s Custom Design YouTube Sew Alongs, tips, tricks, and a few laughs
Sewing With Sandi Etsy Shop where you can shop with patterns and other sewing items
Bernette 38 Sewing Machine
Rowenta Steam Iron for the best finishes