It is the season of boho outfits, comfy clothes, and colorful patterns! And what better way to embrace these summer trends than with a beautiful pom pom poncho! You can use it as a regular top or as a DIY beach cover up. Either way, it is cute, comfy, and easy to make!
I always try to use things I already have at home and save some money with every project and this one is no exception. The poncho itself is made from an old sheet. In addition, I used lace trim and some pom poms (see links below).
1. Determine the desired length and width
To start, make sure that the fabric is ironed and flat. Then, decide how long and how wide you want your DIY beach cover up to be. For example, I used a 36″ wide by 54″ long piece of fabric from an old sheet. It reached my waist and the sleeves were at my elbows. If the fabric is not hemmed, leave an extra half an inch on each side for a hem.
2. Set aside fabric for a belt
Set aside at least 4″ wide piece of fabric for a belt. The length will depend on your measurements. For example, if you want the belt to be around your waist, add 14″ to your waist measurements. The extra inches will be used to tie the belt.
3. Shape the neckline
Fold the fabric in half and mark the midpoint on its folded edge. Then, draw a 7″ by 7″ by 7″ triangle. The midpoint mark should bisect the base of the triangle.
Cut the triangle to make a V-shaped neckline.
4. Cut holes for the belt
To make the belt work for closing the DIY beach cover up, you will need to measure:
- X” = the distance between your shoulders and your waist
- Y” = your waist measurements divided by two
Use a seam ripper to make two 1″ long holes in the folded fabric. These holes should be X” below the folded edge of the fabric and Y” apart. The distance between the holes and the mid point of the fabric should be the same.
To attach the belt, pull it through the resulting 4 holes.
5. Hem the fabric (optional)
If you have a sewing machine, hem the fabric using a matching thread. You can also sew the lace trim along the two sides of the cover up.
For the belt, fold the fabric and sew the rough edges together. Do not sew over the two ends of the belt.
Then, attach a safety pin to one of the ends and pull the fabric through to reverse it. Finally, sew the rough ends.
If you want, you can also add a trim to the belt.
6. Decorate with pom poms
Use pom poms to decorate the neckline of the DIY poncho. To make sure you love the final result, pin the decorations on the cover up before starting to sew.
Below is my brand new DIY beach cover up. Now I am just counting the days until our vacation! I paired it with cute DIY flip flops I made a few weeks ago!
Shop this project: