How to Make Scarves From Silk Strips

Mix silk charmeuse, chiffon and satin for an elegant and unexpected look.

Making a scarf from scraps of silk is a creative and inexpensive way to make a new accessory. Assemble the scarf, large or small, chunky or slim French style, using strips as slim as 1 inch or as wide as 6 inches. Make a chic summer scarf using brightly colored solid strips, or an eclectic scarf with small printed strips in coordinating colors. Create a funky look by mixing striped and printed strips in different widths.

Things You'll Need

• Strips of silk
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Iron

Instructions

1. Cut all the strips to the length you desire for the scarf, at least 20-inches long.

2. Arrange the strips on a work surface in the order that you'd like them to appear on the scarf.

3. Pick up the first two strips and place them one on top of the other, wrong sides together.

4. Sew a French seam using the machine straight stitch. Sew the pieces together along one side of the length, 1/8 inch from the edge. Open the joined fabric strips and fold the fabric piece on the stitch line, so the pieces lay one on top of the other, right sides together. Sew the fabric pieces together again, 1/4 inch from the folded stitch line. The raw edge should now be encased in the French seam.

5. Pick up another strip and sew it to the scarf using a French seam.

6. Continue to sew strips to the main piece until you've reached your desired width. You now have a scarf of strips, seamed throughout, with a raw edge border.

7. Fold the edge of the length of the scarf 1/4 inch toward the wrong side of the scarf -- the side with the French seams.

8. Fold the folded edge again, another 1/4-inch towards the wrong side of the scarf. The raw edge should now be encased in the fold.

9. Sew the fold down, 1/8-inch from the edge, with a machine straight stitch. This is one hem of your scarf. Three raw edges remain.

10. Fold and sew the other three raw edges of the scarf, finishing the hems.

11. Lightly press the scarf, straightening the seams and flattening the hemmed edges.

References

• Coletterie;Tutorial - Make a Silk Scarf; Sarai Mitnick
• Crafty Stylish; How to Compose a Beautiful Scarf from Scraps; Mary Ray; November 2008