Casual Friday: Using up Leftovers for a Smashing Scarf

I will admit it...I have a very hard time throwing any piece of material away. I know some day I will need just that fabric in just that amount for a project.

In that vein, thought, or... some might say... obsession; we're using the discarded bottom of the jumper from yesterday (remember we cut a large chunk to shorten the dress) to make a fashionable, drape-y scarf. You may have an old shirt, sweater, blanket (how great would a fringe-y fleece be!?), or piece of fabric, you'd like to use. The options are endless!

The piece I cut from the jumper was approximately 12 in. wide by 60 in. long.

 

[caption id="attachment_107" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Scrap from the Jumper"][/caption]

 

1.) Since this used to be the bottom of a dress the first thing I did was take out the hem, and press it flat. I can use all the width I can get!

 

[caption id="attachment_108" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Being a Basic Hem Stitch Makes Quick Work of Ripping it Out"][/caption]

 

2.) I squared up the edges, and since it wasn't quite long enough I cut it in half.

 

[caption id="attachment_109" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Getting all squared away"][/caption]

 

 

[caption id="attachment_110" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Half Off"][/caption]

 

3.) To get the extra length I desired, I sewed my two pieces together at the end. (If you have a particularly ravel-prone fabric you may want to zig-zag over the edges as well)

 

[caption id="attachment_111" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="All together now"][/caption]

 

4.) I now had one long piece and could put it on to figure out how long I needed it to be. Then I cut off any extra.



5.) Almost done!  I then took my piece to the ironing board, folded it in half right-sides together, and pressed.

 

[caption id="attachment_113" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Pressing on"][/caption]

 

6.) Sew the scarf starting from one short end, continuing down the long edge and stopping at the other end. Leave this end open for turning right-side out.

 

[caption id="attachment_114" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Start at one end, turn the corner then..."][/caption]

 

 

 

[caption id="attachment_115" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="...continue right down the long edge (that's my youngest, cheesing LOL)"][/caption]

 

 

7.) Lastly, just turn your long tube right-side out (the most time consuming part of this project), press, fold in the open end, and stitch closed.

 

 

[caption id="attachment_116" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Sewing up loose ends"][/caption]

 

 

 

As easy as that you have a lovely new accessory, that likely compliments your already existing wardrobe!

 

The best part? This is completely customizable. You can make it longer, shorter, sew a gathering stitch up the middle for a ruffle style, add fringe, fray the ends, whatever! Need a more masculine version... how about using a flannel shirt?

What will you use?