[Note: I realise that I'm posting a tutorial on how to make a scarf while London is in the midst of a terribly sticky heatwave, but I actually made mine at the beginning of the year when it was lovely and cold, but I forgot to take pics. As usual. But I promised to make one for a friend, and actually remembered to take pictures, so thought I'd post a tutorial. Maybe save it for when summer is over, should only be a week or so]
For this, you'll need (not many things):
- 90x150cm wide light/medium weight jersey fabric
- Co-ordinating thread
Start by cutting the fabric in half lengthways, so you have 90x75cm pieces. Put the fabric right sides together. Sew the two short ends together on one end only.
I used an overlocker, but you can use any stitch on a standard machine that you have found works with jersey (usually zigzag stitches, and some machines even have a jersey zigzag).
Now at this point, I sat at the overlocker for about 5 minutes, making sure that I'd done everything right and trying to put off the moment when I actually pressed the pedal down. My overlocker is incredibly loud and I'm still ominously aware that it cuts fabric, so I'm still very nervous about committing to putting any kind of pressure on the pedal. But I managed it, hurrah!
Once you have the two short ends sewn (again, on one end only), you will have one long piece of fabric that is 180x70cm.
Now at this point, I sat at the overlocker for about 5 minutes, making sure that I'd done everything right and trying to put off the moment when I actually pressed the pedal down. My overlocker is incredibly loud and I'm still ominously aware that it cuts fabric, so I'm still very nervous about committing to putting any kind of pressure on the pedal. But I managed it, hurrah!
Once you have the two short ends sewn (again, on one end only), you will have one long piece of fabric that is 180x70cm.
At this point, you might want to see if you want to change the length, try wrapping it round two or three times (I tend to wrap mine three times so it's nice and cosy) and you might want to cut off any remaining fabric if having it wrapped twice makes it too loose. Give it a try and see how you feel.
Fold he fabric lengthways with right sides together, and making sure that you line up the centre seam. You know it will annoy you later if it's wonky. Decide at what point you want to have a hole to turn it inside out. I think this is kind of personal preference, but you basically want a gap of about 15cm. I marked the opening that I didn't want to sew up with pins, just so I don't go past it by accident. I usually mark it with a couple of red ended pins.
Fold he fabric lengthways with right sides together, and making sure that you line up the centre seam. You know it will annoy you later if it's wonky. Decide at what point you want to have a hole to turn it inside out. I think this is kind of personal preference, but you basically want a gap of about 15cm. I marked the opening that I didn't want to sew up with pins, just so I don't go past it by accident. I usually mark it with a couple of red ended pins.
Sew along the edge, making sure that you don't go over the opening (it'll really take a crap on your day, especially if you're overlocking).
Now take the long windsock type affair, and put your arm through it like a sleeve, take hold of the end and pull it through so that you have half of the tube inside the other half and the right sides are together. Line up the two short ends of the tube so they're nicely together and sew in place.
You might need to remove the arm of your sewing machine like you would with sewing a trouser hem or sleeve.
Turn your project inside out using the 15cm gap so the right side is facing outwards. Sew the gap up using a slip stitch.
Then you have permission from us all to then try on your scarf. Cosy!
Turn your project inside out using the 15cm gap so the right side is facing outwards. Sew the gap up using a slip stitch.
Then you have permission from us all to then try on your scarf. Cosy!
