Pattern Review: HotPatterns Poncho Tee

The HotPatterns Poncho Tee was one of those patterns that didn’t immediately catch my eye, as it’s a bit more trendier than my personal style. However, once I saw a few versions made up in the HotPatterns Facebook group, and started seeing similar tops in Ready to Wear (RTW) last spring, I knew that I wanted my own version.

Pattern Name

HotPatterns Fast & Fabulous Poncho Tee (HP 1232)

Pattern Description from the HotPatterns website:

For a casual-glam T-shirt choose this airy, floaty top,
designed for lightweight drape-y T-shirt fabrics like rayon,
bamboo, silk(y) jersey, burnout or linen T-shirt knits.

Loose-fit, pull-on T has a ‘poncho’€™ silhouette with raglan
sleeves, a center front seam and a ‘€˜V’€™ neck with narrow
self-fabric binding. Finish the edges with a narrow hem,
leave them raw or add luxe trim for a cool boho look.

This T works best in solid toned knits, and looks fabulous
with matching or contrast fringe or trim around the hems
or at the neckline. This is the perfect top to wear on the
weekend or on vacation; it looks great with jeans, pants or
shorts, and for casual nights out, make your top in a
statement knit with some sparkly trims.

Size Range (with measurements):

HotPatterns sizes 6-26 (32″/81.3 cm – 52″/132 cm bust).

What size did you make?

Having seen comments from others in the Facebook group that the top ran a bit big, I made a straight size 18 with no adjustments (including no Full Bust Adjustment (FBA))

What are your measurements, height, and body type? (If reviewing a top or dress, bra size is very helpful for our readers.)

My current measurements are as follows:

• High bust: 42″ (106.7 cm)
• Full bust: 49″ (124.5 cm)
• Waist: 42.5″ (108 cm)
• Hip: 46″ (118 cm)
• Height: 5’2″ (157.5 cm)
• Bra Size: 40H

My body type is somewhere between a busty hourglass and busty rectangle from the front, but more of a busty apple from the side.

What adjustments did you make and how long did they take?

I made no adjustments to this pattern. The pattern pieces themselves look a bit short, but if your fabric has vertical stretch and if you use the suggested trim (the trim, IMO, makes this pattern), the weight of the trim will pull the top down into an adequate length.

What fabric did you use?

• Blue/white coral version: Rayon jersey purchased from Gorgeous Fabrics.
• Rust/black version: Rayon jersey purchased from Mill End in Portland.
• Trims: I purchased both trims from my local JOANN store.

What was the construction process like? Did the instructions make sense to you?

The construction process went smoothly. There are only four pattern pieces–front, back, sleeve, and neckband. This top goes together very quickly. I think it took me about as long to apply the trim as it did to completely sew the rest of the shirt. HotPatterns’ instructions tend to be a big minimal, but they are illustrated, and this top is simple enough that if you’ve sewn a few t-shirts in the past, I don’t think you’d have trouble with this one.

How do you like the pattern’s fit? Do you think the design works well for your particular body shape?

The fit is nice and relaxed. Per the recommendations that I’d seen on Facebook, I chose my size by going one size up from my upper bust measurement, and I think that helped prevent the top from being too big.

With drapey fabric, the Poncho tee is a pretty easy-to-wear shape for a lot of different body types. It’s definitely a step up in stylishness from your average raglan-sleeved tee

Will you make the pattern again? If so, what fit or design changes will you make?

I probably won’t make it again, if only because it’s a very unique/trendy design, and I’ve already made up two of them. Maybe I’ll so another version in a solid color in the spring. I do recommend this pattern to other curvy sewists–it’s a nice introduction to HotPatterns if you’ve never sewn one before.

Do you have any advice on this pattern for other curvy sewers? Are there any resources (blog posts, fitting books, tutorials) that helped you sew this piece up?

Given the relaxed fit, you probably won’t need to make a ton of fitting adjustments. Particularly tall women might want to add some length, but if you’re using the trim option, keep in mind that the trim will add weight and pull your fabric down. And go with the advice of others to size down from the size chart. (Like I said, I chose my size by going by one size up from my high bust measurement.) Beyond that, it’s a pretty quick/simple sew.

Overall pattern rating

Size Range (1-5): 4 — See our new standardized size range ranking for how this rating was chosen. In the case of this pattern, I chose “4” because the pattern taps out at a 52″ bust. (Note that with the amount of ease in this pattern, you likely wouldn’t have any trouble getting this top to fit even your bust measurement is a few inches larger than 52″.)

Instructions (1-5): 4 — The instructions are pretty decent and straightforward. If you’ve been curious about HotPatterns but avoiding them for their reputation for minimal instructions, this would be a good pattern to start with.

Construction Process (1-5): 5 —The construction process for these tops went very smoothly.

Final Fit (1-5): 5 — I am perfectly happy with the fit on these tees.

Overall Rating (1-5) + Explanation: 4.5  — Average score of all scores. I am really happy with how these fun and trendy little tops turned out!