Scrappy Upcycled Scarf

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Overview

Recycle used T-shirts, sweatshirts or scraps of knit fabric into these surprisingly easy scarves that require no hand sewing. Style a different scarf for every person on your holiday list (guys and gals both!). Go for bold. Go for scrappy. Go for eye-catching. Go for it!

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Cutting the Fabric

To make scarves that are double sided and 8" wide, cut your fabric into rectangles that are 16.5" wide and any length. If you don't have pieces of fabric that wide, you can sew together smaller rectangles in a later step. If you want to add decorative shapes to the end, like the floral print used on the grey scarf, cut those shapes now.

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Sewing the Scarf

If you are inserting decorative shapes into the ends of the scarf, you can leave the fabric unfinished or you can finish it by sewing two of the same pieces, right sides together, and then turning the sewn piece right side out. Use a small zig-zag stitch when sewing stretchy fabric for best results.

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Sewing the Scarf

Sew the scarf pieces together with a 1/2" seam allowance, using a small zig-zag stitch on stretchy fabric for best results. If your pieces aren't 16.5" wide, sew together rectangles until your pieces are 16.5" or larger and then trim them to the right width. Keep sewing together 16.5" wide pieces of fabric until your scarf is 45" long (for a short scarf), 60" long (for a medium scarf), or longer.

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Sewing the Scarf

Sew the long edges of the fabric, right sides together, using a 1/2" seam allowance. Turn the tube of fabric right sides out.

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Sewing the Scarf

Fold the ends of the scarf in (by about 1/2"). If they won't stay in easily, you can pin or iron them in place. If you want to insert decorate shapes into the end of the scarf, do so now. Sew the edge of the scarf closed with a seam sewn close to the end of the scarf.

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Decorate the Scarf

If you want to add decorative trim, wrap it around the scarf and cut it to size, folding over the very end of the trim by 1/4-1/2" so that it doesn't unravel. You can pin the trim in place. Sew the trim down. If you use a wide zig-zag you are more likely to catch the trim on either side. If you haven't sewn through the trim on both sides, turn the scarf over and sew the seam again.


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