How to Make a Fashion Scarf

A fashion scarf is a scarf you wear more to liven up an outfit than to keep yourself warm on a cold winter's night. However, these simple accessories can definitely help you to stay warm on a chilly spring or autumn afternoon. And if you're looking for a quick and easy sewing project that doesn't require a lot of time or supplies, this is the one for you.

What You'll Need

• A piece of fabric that's about 24 inches (2 feet) wide and 72 inches (6 feet) long
• Scissors
• Complimentary thread
• An iron
• Fabric glue (optional)
• Embellishments (optional)

Choosing Your Fabric

The fabrics used for this type of fashion scarf are usually very delicate and lightweight. Silk and chiffon are popular fabric choices. However, any soft, lightweight fabric that will feel good against the skin of your neck will do.

Whatever fabric you choose, make sure it looks good on both sides. Depending on how the scarf is tied, both sides will be visible as often as not, so you want both sides to be presentable.

For the scarf in the tutorial, choose a piece of fabric that's about 24 inches wide and 72 inches long. But, really, you can make a fashion scarf out of a piece of fabric that is longer or shorter, wider or narrower. It's really up to you. As you make more and more of these scarves, you'll start judging on the fly how big or small you want a particular scarf to be.

Try experimenting with different sizes. If you like working with specific measurements, an easy way to get them is by looking through some fashion catalogs. When you see a scarf that seems to be a size you like, look at the measurements for that scarf in the product description. After that, all you have to do is apply those measurements to your own sewing project.

Making the Scarf

Once you've chosen a fabric and decided on a size, it's time to make your fashion scarf.

1. Cut your fabric to the desired size.

2. Fold one edge of the fabric in about 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch, whichever you feel more comfortable with.

3. Next, run an iron across the fold to make a crease. Because you're making the scarf using a delicate fabric, you want to make sure the iron isn't set to high, otherwise you might damage the fabric. Most irons come with instructions that will tell you which settings to use for which fabrics. If all else fails, set the iron on one of the lower settings, just to be on the safe side. You can also test the iron on a scrap of the leftover fabric.

4. Fold the same edge in another 1/8 of an inch, and run the iron over the fold. A double-fold serves two purposes. First, it will keep the edges of the scarf from unraveling. Secondly, it will give the scarf a cleaner, more finished look.

5. Sew a stitch across the fold to hold it in place. Again, keep in mind that you are using a delicate fabric. With fabrics like silk and chiffon, it's best to use a very fine sewing needle. Anything else would damage the fabric. You also want to use a thread that sort of blends in with the fabric. After all, you want people to notice your very cool scarf, not the stitches.

6. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 along the other three edges of the scarf.

And that's really all there is to making a basic fashion scarf. However, that doesn't mean you can't jazz it up a little.

Embellish Your Fashion Scarf

Maybe your scarf seems a little plain. Or maybe it already looks great, but you want to give it a little extra pizzazz. Well, there are plenty of things you can do to give your scarf a little extra punch. All you need is some fabric glue and some embellishments.

• If you want your scarf to have a little sparkle, use the fabric glue to attach rhinestones or gemstones to the scarf. You can either affix the stones randomly, or place them around the edge of the scarf.
• Glue or sew lace trim, or a lightweight ribbon that compliments the fabric, around the edges of the scarf.
• You can also use fabric markers or paints to decorate your scarf. You can cover the scarf with abstract designs, or even personalize it by writing your name in one of the corners. Just make sure that, when you're wearing your scarf, your hard work shows.

Now that you know how to make these simple fashion scarves, you can make one to go with every outfit in your wardrobe. And if you're looking for a Christmas or birthday present for a stylish friend, a scarf you made yourself would make for both a thoughtful and affordable gift.

Jan Roos is the creator and author of the popular sewing blog http://www.sewmyplace.com Visit her site if you'd like more free sewing projects and tips