deep cowl neck scarf tutorial

Third time's a charm . . . I'm not really sure where that saying came from, and I don't completely understand it.  But this is my third scarf tutorial of three so I figured I would start with some catchy phrase about the number three . . . so there you go.

I've made this scarf for my oldest daughter:

Then this one for my youngest Monkey:

And now it's time for Mamma to get a new scarf too:

I don't know how to knit or crochet . . . and don't know the difference between the two for that matter, but I'm loving those cowl neck scarves that I've been seeing everywhere lately.  Or at least I was loving the $30.00 one I saw in the mall last week . . . but I wasn't loving the idea of spending $30.00 for it.  So I came home looked through my pile of old sweaters in need of new life, and this is what I came up with:

The Deep Cowl Sweater

**This project easily takes less than twenty minutes**

Here's what you need:
-a sweater that needs new life

Here's what you do:

1)  Fold up bottom of sweater about 8 to 9 inches.  Cut so you have a big loop.  Then cut a slit up this loop so that you have one big long sweater strip.

2)  Fold right sides together.  Pin.  Sew along the one long edge. 

3)  Turn right sides out.

4)  Fold in one end.  Insert other end into this folded in end.  Pin and sew.

5)  Attach pin according to mood or outfit. 

Done!  Now Mamma's happy too!  I'm loving this free cowl neck sweater, and I'm getting ready to make myself an entire stack from my old sweater pile.  Woo hoo!

If you are looking for another super cute sweater scarf tutorial that is not a cowl-style scarf, check this one out from Potholes and Pantyhose.

Craft on!

pieced fleece scarf: under 30 minute tutorial

I've told you that I have a gigantic remnant addiction. 

This addiction has led to quite a pile of fleece in a variety of colors and patterns.  And fleece is perfect for soft, warm, cozy scarves.  

We are thankful to have cousins and friends who pass on their clothes, shoes and coats to my girls.  This is a huge blessing!  At the same time, I do like to be able to give my girls a few little clothing items or accessories that are new . . . not just new to them.  So rather than simply cutting a long strip of fleece and calling that a scarf, I decided to add a little more personality to this fleece scarf for my youngest.  The best part is that it takes under 30 minutes.  (Probably under 20 minutes if you aren't watching The Office at the same time.)  I can already picture her wearing this around the house on Christmas morning after "opening" her stocking.

This the second of my three scarf projects.  (For the button scarf tutorial click here.)   

Here's what you need:
-fleece in a variety of patterns and colors  

Here's what you do:
1) Cut strips of fleece 4 1/2 inches by 4 inches with pinking shears.  The number of strips you will used depends on the size of scarf you are making.  Cut two strips for each end of the scarf measuring 4 1/2 inches by 6 1/2 inches.  This two ends will be cut to make frayed ends at the end.

2)  Pin strips together.  I chose to spotlight the flower fleece by layering it on top of the light blue and red.  Sew together.  I started using a straight stitch, but it looked to plain.  So I searched for my seam ripper, (Just kidding . . . my seam ripper is right next to my sewing machine because I spend a lot of time ripping out stitches.) and ripped out the straight stitches and used a zig zag stitch instead. 

3)  Cut the ends of the scarf into five strips.

4)  Thirty minute scarf is done! 

Craft on!

Check out some of the great parties I may link to by clicking on the blog name below or visiting my "I like to party" page that shows off all the party buttons.

Weekend - a little lovely, Craft Envy, Under the Table and Dreaming, Be Different Act Normal, A Vision to Remember, 504 Main - Tickled Pink, Funky Junk Interiors, Tatertots and Jello, I heart naptime

Monday - Keeping it Simple, Craft-O-Maniac, The Girl Creative, The Trendy Treehouse, CRAFT, Making the World Cuter, Mad in Crafts, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Between Naps on the Porch, Tools Are For Women,  It's So Very Cheri, Skip to My Lou, Sew Can Do, Polly Want a Crafter

Tuesday - All Thingz Related, Sugar Bee, New Nostalgia, Creative Itch, Lucky Star Lane, Hope Studios, These Creative Juices, My Delicious Ambiguity, Today's Creative Blog-Get Your Craft On!, Tasty Tuesdays at Housewife Eclectic

Wednesday - It's So Very Cheri, Beyond the Picket Fence, Blue Cricket Design, Trendy Treehouse, Tea Rose Home, Someday Crafts, My Backyard Eden, Sew Much Ado, Night Owl Crafting

Thursday -  Fireflies and Jellybeans, Life As Lori, House of Hepworths, Somewhat Simple, Seven Thirty Three, The Train to Crazy, PonyTails and FishScales, Black Kat's Design

Friday - The Sabby Nest, A Little Knick Knack, Fingerprints on the Fridge, It's Fun to Craft!, It's a Hodgepodge Life, Kojo Designs, Amy Lou Who, A Few of My Favorite Things, Simply Sweet Home, Frou Frou Decor, Remodelaholic, Foodie Friday at The Speckled Dog

bamboo felt and fleece button scarves

I finally received the e-mail I've been dreading all month.  A wonderful reader wrote this, "Hey, aren't you supposed to be working on hand-print gifts this month?"  I was hoping that no one actually remembered that.  You may have noticed that my self-diagnosed adult ADD kicked in, and I got totally distracted by the pretend and play mommy (or daddy) set.  Just when I got the obsession/distraction out of the way, a new one took its place . . . SCARVES . . . warm, fuzzy, comfy scarves!

Don't roll your eyes at me . . . I know it's fall.  I also know that fall just officially started last week.  And I do love fall, but I also love scarves . . . in fact, my love of scarves might be the only thing that gets me through winter. 

Last year my kids were always asking me why they didn't have any scarves of their very own, so this winter I've vowed to remedy that situation.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm over-compensating this year because this tutorial for the Button Scarf is the first in a series of what will be three different scarf tutorials.  Three?  Yes, three!  Aaack . . . this is defintely my new obsession. 

I'm in love with these buttons scarves I saw here and there last winter! 

This one is from a cute knit Etsy store.  Last week I had the chance to walk around a mall for an hour all by myself - a rare treat, and I saw these scraves everywhere in fleece, knit and wool (itchy).  I saw them for women, men, girls and boys.  Here's my version: 

Bamboo Felt and Fleece Button Scarf

Here's what you need:

-bamboo felt or fleece in a variety of colors*

-a solid, long strip of fleece

-a button

*Here's the deal with bamboo felt . . . it is so soft; however, it also shrinks a tiny bit if drycleaned and a little bit more than that if machine washed.  If washed super frequently, it also will break down a little bit faster than fleece.  So . . . I chose dark colors for this scarf so that it wouldn't need to be washed very much (gasp), and I plan to hand wash and hang dry to manage shrinkage.  If this is a concern for you, just use fleece for the entire scarf.

Here's what you do:

1)  Cut a vareity of felt or fleece strips in various widths.  One edge was cut with pinking shears and the other edge was cut with straight scissors. (I cut my strips 5 inches in length in various widths ranging from 2 inches to four inches.  When it was all said and done, this scarf was 4 1/2 inches wide and 36 inches long.  It was made to fit a 5 year old.) 

2)  Pin strips together in your own unique color combo.  The edge that has been cut with the pinking shears should be on top.  Sew strips together close to pinking sheared edge.

3)  Turn over and trim straight edges on back side of scarf.

4)  Pin wrong sides together to a strip of fleece the same size of your strip that is pieced together.

6)  Sew around fleece/felt combo leaving two inches for turning.

7)  Turn.  Fold in opening and pin shut.  Pin around and top stitch around edge of scarf closing up opening as you go. 

8)  Figure out where you want your button by trying on model or self.  Mark with disappearing ink.

9)  Cut slit just big enough for your button to fit through.

10)  Sew around all four sides of slit. You could use your button-holer on your machine, but frankly I'm lazy and that thing scares me, so this is my method.

11)  Sew button on.

12)  Done!  I'm betting on the fact that the model will forget about this scarf by the time it makes it into her stocking! ;)

Craft on!

Check out some of the great parties I may link to by clicking on the blog name below or visiting my "I like to party" page that shows off all the party buttons.

Weekend - a little lovely, Craft Envy, Under the Table and Dreaming, Be Different Act Normal, A Vision to Remember, 504 Main - Tickled Pink, Funky Junk Interiors, Tatertots and Jello, I heart naptime

Monday - Keeping it Simple, Craft-O-Maniac, The Girl Creative, The Trendy Treehouse, CRAFT, Making the World Cuter, Mad in Crafts, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Between Naps on the Porch, Tools Are For Women,  It's So Very Cheri, Skip to My Lou, Sew Can Do, Polly Wants a Crafter

Tuesday - All Thingz Related, Sugar Bee, New Nostalgia, Creative Itch, Lucky Star Lane, Hope Studios, These Creative Juices, My Delicious Ambiguity, Today's Creative Blog-Get Your Craft On!, Tasty Tuesdays at Housewife Eclectic

Wednesday - It's So Very Cheri, Beyond the Picket Fence, Blue Cricket Design, Trendy Treehouse, Tea Rose Home, Someday Crafts, My Backyard Eden, Sew Much Ado, Night Owl Crafting

Thursday -  Fireflies and Jellybeans, Life As Lori, House of Hepworths, Somewhat Simple, Seven Thirty Three, The Train to Crazy, PonyTails and FishScales, Black Kat's Design

Friday - The Sabby Nest, A Little Knick Knack, Fingerprints on the Fridge, It's Fun to Craft!, It's a Hodgepodge Life, Kojo Designs, Amy Lou Who, A Few of My Favorite Things, Simply Sweet Home, Frou Frou Decor, Remodelaholic, Foodie Friday at The Speckled Dog