Weekend Getaway Project - Scrunchy Gathered Scarf, Tutorial Tuesday

This was my contribution to the Soul Sisters Extravaganza this weekend: Scrunchy Gathered Scarves. You get a lot of bang for your buck, it is a great accessory for yourself, and also a great gift to give this holiday season. It's really a win/win project. I found some directions from Oh So Happy Together, and tweaked them as I so often do!

Supplies:

2 or 3 yards Jersey knit - To make several, like we did, for your girlfriends or for gifts, use two yards. To make one scarf, you can get one yard and sew the strips together to meet the length requirement.
Thread
Elastic Thread (found in the elastic aisle)
Scissors
Sewing Machine
And about 10 minutes of time

Cut your 2 yards of fabric into 12 inch wide by (at least) 72 inch long strips (your fabric will end up being half as long when you finish, so the longer the better). I like to wear it two ways, as a long drapy scarf and as a tighter neck scarf.



At this point, you can decide to taper your ends or to cut the ends apart, like this, at least 12 inches up from the bottom. I might even make longer tails if I did this again.



Hand wind the elastic thread onto your bobbin, loosely or it will pull too tight and break (use ordinary thread on top), turn off automatic tension control, and sew with a basting stitch from the center of one tail alllll the way to the end. Then again from the center of the other tail allll the way to the other end. So, you have two long seams about 3 inches apart, down the center. (Make sure you back stitch at the beginning and the end, basting stitches will pull out easily if they aren't anchored like this.) See how it is bunching up as it passes through the machine? (click the photo to enlarge) It's like magic!



Here is how it looks all sewn - just two straight seams from end to end:




Now, prance around all giddy-like with your cute new scarf. Make sure to pose for pictures and make plans to give them to everyone on your Christmas list with a neck.




I hate flash, so I did some posing with my scarf in good light against my favorite red wall just for you. See all the variations?





We used our coupons and bought 2 yards of jersey knit for $5.99. Then we cut the fabric into about 6 scarves...you do the math.

Want another fun scarf tutorial? Girl in the Sticks knocked out a Fleece Spiral Scarf in about 10 minutes with some extra fleece.




Tomorrow you will need about 1/4 yard (or scraps) of satin or chiffon, (any meltable synthetic material), a candle, a few seed beads, sharp scissors, and a needle and thread for our next adventure ... I'll be waiting!

I'm linking up for DIY day with Kimba...did you know she moved? Well, you can still find her by clicking the button below.



Just a Girl is also having a party:



And so is Kathy's Cottage and Cleverly Inspired!
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Quick Scarf Tutorial

I saw this idea on Craft Stylish and promptly marched out the door to purchase fleece. I made a 15 minute version, but the original had lots of cool embroidery that took it up a notch. If I wasn't so into instant gratification I'd do it up like the original. But, as it is, I have three kids running around, laundry to fold, dinner to make, a dog dragging her butt on the carpet, and frames to paint. So, here is the quick version.

Here is your list of supplies:

1/2 yard fleece
sewing machine
scissors
paper
string
pencil
embroidery thread
needle

I started with a 12x12 inch square of paper (Why do I always use this same brown paper for projects, you ask? It's the scraps of the paper left over from making the dust covers for the back of my frames. Recycle. Reuse. Repurpose. Yeah.)

Anyway, do your string/pencil thing you learned in school to make a circle. (I would be holding the end of the string down at the point, but someone had to hold the camera.)



Cut out your circle then make a smaller circle about 1 1/2 - 2 inches in from the corner and cut out the center.

See? You get a paper donut for a pattern that you will pin to the fleece. I have my fleece doubled to save cuts.

This way I end up with 4 circles with 2 cuts (No, I don't think you're dumb, I'm just trying to be a good teacher.)
Now cut one side of the donut to open up the circle. I forgot to take a picture.

Put the edges together, following the curve, and sew side-by-side with a zig zag stitch on your machine. This will help your scarf lay flat even though you are piecing it together.

See how it falls when it's sewn? It makes that cool ruffle you sometimes see on blouses. I think this ruffle looks mysterious, but it is so easy to create!

Okay, you will need some ordinary embroidery thread. I like to combine unexpected colors like green and orange, but do your thang.

Sew a quick blanket stitch around the edge. (I would have done the inside and outside edge, but the phone was ringing and I was trying to help Helper Munchkin write an apology letter to his teacher for picking up another student during story time...but I digress)

Ta Da! Now, an observation... this shirt and scarf don't match. (Did I really need to tell you that?)