By Kid’s Craft Contributor, Gillian from the blog “Dried Figs and Wooden Spools”.
I don’t know about you, but this is the coldest winter I can remember. I mean, seriously, I live in the south and we have piles of snow sitting, unmelted, in yards, on street corners and pushed up against buildings two weeks after our big winter storm. Brrrrr. And because I seem to be freezing all the time, most of my thoughts these days seem to lean toward all things cozy and warm, which is how this scarf came to be.
There are three things about this scarflette that make it fantastic. First, it’s really warm, and warm without being bulky so you can wear it in the house or under a coat without it getting in the way. Second, you don’t need a sewing machine, you don’t really even need to be a great sewer, as long as you can do a basic whip stitch and attach a button. And third (and this is the best part) you probably have everything you need sitting in the bottom of your closet or donations bag.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 out grown, too small, moths got at it, husband shrank it or otherwise unwearable, wool sweater
- Scissors (they need to be sharp!)
- Pencil and straight edge
- Thread and needle
- 2 buttons (shank buttons off an old blazer work great but look through your old sweaters and spare button stash - chunky buttons work best)
If your sweater isn’t already felted (that is, washed in hot water until you cant see the stitching anymore) go ahead and felt it then allow it to dry. Cut it off just under the armpits and parallel to the bottom so that you have a rectangle of sweater. Next, split one of the side seams so that you have a very long rectangle. A women’s medium sweater, felted and cut open, should yield a rectangle about 28 inches long and 12 inches wide. If yours is larger you may want to cut it down to this size but you can always leave it and have a slightly longer scarflette.
Lay the wool out on a flat surface with the remaining seam up. Measure and mark 5 inches in from each in and four inches up from each long edge. Using your ruler draw vertical lines inside the marked rectangle every 1/2 inch, just like you did back in elementary school making paper lanterns.
Carefully cut along each line, making sure the cuts are even and begin and end evenly.
Fold the short ends of the scarf over 1/2 inch and whip stitch closed to create a smooth edge
Now, with the right side out, bring the long edges together, overlapping about 1/2 inch so that the original knitted hem of the sweater is on top and stitch closed. If you use thread close to the color of the scarf the stitches will virtually disappear, but try to use a fairly even whip stitch, just in case.
At this point you will have a long tube with slits along the middle of one side. All thats left is the fasteners.
Drape the scarf around your neck to find the best location for the buttons. I chose to have the ends meet in a perpendicular, but even fashion. You could have them overlap or have an overhang, depending on the finished length, the size of your neck and the style you want. Sew buttons on the end that will go underneath and mark for button hole slits. You have two choices here. If you want to see the buttons, cut the button hole slits (no need to sew, the wool wont unravel) through both layers of the top piece so that the buttons pull all the way through. If you want the buttons not to be seen, cut the slits only through the bottom layer so that the buttons will sit inside the scarf when you are wearing it.
Now that we’re all nice and cozy in our new scarflette, tell me, what cozy projects are you working on these days?
