How to Finish the Edges of a Scarf Made From a Sweater
Finishing the edges of a homemade scarf made from a sweater is essential to keep the accessory durable and snug. While any homemade scarf may look pretty, without properly stitching each edge it will eventually become unraveled. The trick to hiding the stitch line on the outside of a scarf is to add lace trim. Lace will layer over the stitching and boost the glamour of your scarf. Wear your scarf with casual or formal attire to enhance any outfit. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Sweater tag
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Straight pins
- Needle
- Thread
- Lace trim
- Measuring tape
- Fabric scissors
Instructions
-
-
1
Check the initial sweater tag to ensure the fabric is safe for ironing. Cotton, for example, may be safe to iron, while wool is not. Continue with this step if you fabric is safe to iron. Move on to Step 2 if your scarf is not safe to iron. Lay the scarf out flat on an ironing board. Press any unstitched edges of the scarf with a hot iron. Ironing adds rigidity and strength to the edges to aid you while sewing any unstitched edges.
-
2
Lay the scarf onto a flat work surface. Pin the unstitched edges of the scarf closed to retain a hold. Sew each unstitched side closed with a seam set 1/4 inch in from the edge. Remove the pins.
-
-
3
Measure and cut four pieces of lace trim to the dimensions of the scarf. Lay the edge of one piece of trim flush atop the 1/4-inch seam. Use an overcast stitch to attach the lace to the scarf. An overcast stitch involves looping the thread around the edge of the lace -- rather than directly through it -- to pull the lace edge tight and secure against the scarf. Repeat for the three remaining sides of the scarf.
-
4
Cut off the 1/4-inch piece of free-hanging fabric under the lace on all four sides of the scarf with fabric scissors. Avoid cutting any seams or thread stitches.
-
1
