I love being warm and comfortable. If that isn’t obvious yet by the amount of blankets and pillows making their way into these Handmade Holiday crafts! So three years ago before we went on our honeymoon I knew I wanted a blanket to take on the plane, and I wanted it to stay connected with my luggage. I also thought it’d be great if it could be like a snuggie and not fall off my shoulders. Thus the Poncho Snuggie was born! This page contains some affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
Project Time: 45 minutes
To make this you’ll just need two fleece blankets. You can get also purchase fleece from the craft store. I recommend 2 cuts of 1.5 yards (54″x60″) These blankets I purchased are 50″ by 60″ and were actually on sale for $2.50 each but I was prepared to pay $5 each! I found them at Dollar General but I have seen them in the past at most big retailers like Target, Walmart etc.
Lay your fleece blanket out, taking note if it’s directional. You can see I have polar bears on mine and they are all, “upright” so I put it right side down, and then folded it in half. I cut this at the fold to make two pieces. Then I opened up my second blanket and I laid it right side up, then took the top section of the blanket I cut and laid it right side down.
Next you’ll want to pin the top but leave a hole for your head to go through. I decided on an 11″ gap. Since this was 50″ wide I knew at 25″ would be my middle point. From that middle point I just needed to measure out 5.5″ on either side. The trick to this opening is more about making sure you aren’t making it too big so it slips off shoulders and not too small that you can’t fit it over a head. I have a small/normal size head for an adult woman, which is 21.5″ This blanket is kind of stretchy. After I did sew it I found out that I could have made it a bit bigger and it would still be fine on my shoulders.
But anyways, at 25″ I did set a pin to temporarily mark my middle and then I measured out 5.5″ on each side of that pin. Then I added a second pin so I would know when to stop sewing and when to start sewing!
Now that the top is pinned you take it to your sewing machine and sew a straight line, making sure to not close the neck and head spot!
Next you’re going to lay your blanket with the half blanket down. Now you’ll fold it into thirds and then starting at the top of your blanket fold it to create a square. Flip your square over. Now with your extra blanket that you haven’t used yet, you’ll cut a square out for this size that is folded and that will become your pillow pocket. It can also double as a foot pocket when your poncho snuggie is in use!
You will pin the pocket onto the blanket but pinning along the bottom, where I’m pointing, then the left and right sides. Don’t pin the top! Now if you want to add a strap so you can loop this onto luggage DON’T sew yet! If you don’t want a strap, go ahead and sew!
To add a strap I cut another square that is similar to the size of the one I had made for the pocket. Then I folded about 4″ in, 3 times. I cut a little bit above that so I could tuck in that seam. I did lay the strap on top of the poncho snuggie to make sure I was getting the right width/length and because it was easier to take pictures. It will end up underneath the pocket.
As you can see in the third picture I have the strap folded towards itself, I take the top of the strap (folded over part) and fold it towards the bottom so the cut section ends up inside the strap! Now you’ll un pin some of the left and right sides of your pillow pocket if you’ve already pinned them . Now you’ll pin your strap in with the seam facing the blanket and the non seam side facing the pocket.
Now you can sew the pocket!
Once your pocket is sewn you’ll fold it up like you did before, Then in the pocket put your hand in and reach for a corner. Now flip your pocket right side out! Then if you made it with a strap you’ll move that to the other side of your pillow! No more seam is showing!
BONUS! x2! Project Time: 10-20 minutes
Since you still have some leftover fabric from that bottom section, you can make a sleep mask and maybe a little stuffy? I used a wide band of elastic for the sleep mask because that’s what I had on hand. You could also use two straps of smaller elastic. Mine did end up a little snug so if you are gifting this to someone you think has a larger head than I do, I’d make it a little wider either with fabric or with the elastic!
9.5″ wide fleece by 12.25″ long. Fold 3 times and tuck in the excess fabric like I demonstrated in the strap pictures. Cut elastic 13.25″. Tuck in the sides about 1/4″ inch and put an end of elastic in each end of fleece. Pin. Sew along all edges being sure to catch all tucks.
For the stuffie I just cut around one polar bear and placed it ontop of another polar bear and cut out again, so it’s double sided. Then I sewed along the edges until I had a small opening in the bottom. From there I stuffed it with some polyfil and then sewed the bottom! Voila! Little stuffie all done! It has no purpose other than being adorable.
There you have it! You now know how to make a travel poncho snuggie that can accommodate your rolling luggage! And all for $10 or less!
Also, the bag is a Lily Bloom bag. These are my favorite bags because they’re made from recycled plastic! I put a link below if you’re looking for some cute luggage for when we can call travel safely again! (They have more designs than just this cat and yarn one) It’s been a great bag so far, I also bought it before our honeymoon!
Nearing the end of sewing projects for the handmade holiday series but I have some crafts I haven’t ever done coming up and some that I’ve been doing for a long time!!
xoxo
-Robin
