How to Make a Fleece Shawl

Create this snuggly warm shawl and enjoy an evening on the porch or in your favorite easy chair, wrapped in its warmth. Fleece fabric is easy to work with, because it's edges do not ravel and fray. This pattern requires little sewing and can be made up in an afternoon. Make several as gifts for friends and family, or create an array of fabric choices to sell at your next craft show. This project would also make a fun and easy craft for the classroom.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Fleece fabric
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Iron
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Disappearing ink pen
• Yardstick

1. Lay the fleece fabric on your work table and measure. You will need 2/3 yard fleece fabric, 60 inches wide. Trim and square up the edges to measure 24 inches wide by 60 inches long. It is fine if your trimming makes the fleece fabric shawl slightly smaller, as it is a pretty flexible pattern that will fit most sizes without any noticeable difference.

2. Fold one long edge of the fleece to the wrong side of the fleece fabric 1/2 inch and press. Fold the edge over a 1/2 inch again, press and pin. Measure 3 inches from both pinned edges of the fleece fabric shawl and mark with a pin. Top stitch the hem between the 3-inch marks using thread that matches the fleece fabric shawl.

3. Measure 3 inches from one short edge of the fleece shawl and mark. Using the yardstick as a straight edge and the disappearing ink pen, draw a line from one long edge of the fleece shawl to the other long edge of the fleece shawl, along the 3-inch markings on the short edge. Repeat on the opposite short edge. Measure 3 inches from the unstitched long side of the fleece shawl. Using the yardstick and the disappearing ink pen, draw a line from one short edge of the fleece shawl to the other short edge of the fleece shawl, along the 3-inch markings on the long edge. Top stitch along the drawn line on all three sides of the fleece shawl using thread that matches the fleece fabric.

4. Measure and cut a 3-inch fringe from the raw edges of the fleece fabric shawl to the top stitching line. Cut the fringe 1/2 inch wide. On the two turning corners, cut out a 3-inch square of the fleece fabric and discard. Be sure to fringe the unstitched ends of the fleece shawl's hem.