How to Sew an infinity scarf

 I wear an infinity scarf every day in the winter and prefer a longer scarf
it keeps you feeling warmer all day long!

I like to use pretty fabrics and each one that I make is unique
 
The cost is however much you pay for fabric
(often you can find .6 metres of fabric in the remnants bin... the perfect size)!
and it takes only 15 minutes to create


 I have also given them away as gifts At my first craft sale, I sold all 22 of the scarves I made
they were a popular item ... I am not the only one who loves to wear them!


They are  approximately 42-36 inches in length
(perfect for the 150cm wide fabric as it will be the width of the fabric
that will be the length of the scarf

and 12 to 18 inches length of fabric (or .6 of a metre)
but it is personal choice as to how heavy and full you want your scarf

I wrap the fabric around my neck first to see how it will fit and sit on my neck...
as every fabric is different and each person has their own personal
style of how they wear a scarf... 
... and then I cut accordingly!

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TO ASSEMBLE:

Cut the rectangle of fabric

Pin the long sides, right sides together 

Right sides together, sew along the long edge in a 1/2 inch or 5/8 inch seam

After sewing, check along the edges to ensure the line of sewing
attached both pieces (no gaps)

Check to ensure that the stitching ends in the same place on both sides
i.e. that when you match them together, they are in the exact
same place in the rectangle 

If you need to, you can stitch again to bring the sewing line of stitching
closer to the other edge so they will match up exactly when you 
attach the two ends (no puckering along the seam when finished)

You will see in the photo below that the stitching line
(where the scissors are in the photo)
on both sides match almost exactly so the two sides
will meet without puckering or gaps

If they are not exact, and you are using a stretch knit, you can stretch the fabric
​as you sew to eliminate ​any extra fabric 

If you are not using a stretch, you can pin and then accordian or pleat
​the extra fabric on the one side to fit the other side 

Now that the long edges are sewn together to form a 'tube' 
It's time to turn it right side out
​
While you are turning, check the long seam to ensure that both pieces of fabric are securely attached to each other

's time to join the two raw ends together

You can flip/turn one of the ends on an 180 degree angle
to the other piece BEFORE ​ joining the two ends

You do not have to do this but it adds a twist to the finished piece
which will show ​especially if you choose not to wrap it around your neck twice 

Pin the two ends, right sides together
The seams will line up opposite each other i.e. one seam will be at
​the half way point of the other side of your tube​

When you use a machine to join the two ends, you will only get so far
around  in the circle before you have to stop (which creates a gap)
that you will have either have to hand sew or top-stitch with your machine 

I prefer to top stitch because its quicker and it will show 
on the finished product, but will not be seen when the scarf is worn 

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The photo above shows the gap after I stitched around as far as I could ...

To sew the gap closed, 
line up the raw edges so they are tucked inside the gap,
pin together the two edges, ensuring the raw edges are inside,
​ then sew the two edges together using a very close to the edge topstitch
(you can see in the photo below how close my needle is the edge)
​making sure to sew both pieces together
to join and finish

Photo above  is what the top stitching will look like 
​and you are all done
You can still see it but when wearing the scarf, no one will notice

​A Scarf ready to keep you warm and fashionable
​

Having made so many of these scarves,  it's only takes me
15 minutes each to make... That's 4 scarves an hour to give as gifts or to keep 

I often buy fabric on sale or at the remnant bin (usually you can find a size that is perfect and does not require cutting) and will make several scarves in one sitting

I often make a matching article of clothing to​ go with my scarf 
(see tutorial on this hat to make a slouch beanie hat)

Make a bunch... and give them to friends as gifts

​Stretch Knits are my favourite fabric to use for an infinity scarf 
They're super soft... and easy to wear

Tip: Use a ballpoint needle and adjust your tension
in your sewing machine when sewing with knits

Below are a few that I have made

Chenille is a lovely soft and warm fabric... perfect for winter!!!
Tip: Use a serger on the long seam and a
less wide and longer (stitch adjustment)
​Small zig zag as a topstich to ensure you catch both seams

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Attach snaps for a yoga style scarf
​(see tutorial on this website on how to make this scarf)

Make a matching top

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Make a matching hat (beanie slouch hat - tutorial on this site)
​in the same fabric as your scarf

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A smaller version of the adult scarf for an infant
​(and an infant sized matching stretch knit hat)

Mommy and me scarf
(and matching infant knit hat)

These scarves are so quick and fun to make... 
I was looking online for a cute design to make a christmas gift
for a friends' daughter and her new baby...

It's difficult because I am not close to them (by location)
and from the photos, I can see her baby is growing like crazy!
​
I am guessing at the sizes but isn't that the great
thing about stretch knit????

I thought I would include some sizes here and photos so you can
get an idea of what I did.... here goes!

Fabric width and length for the infant
scarf and matching hat

For the infant sized scarf, finished size is 5.5 inches wide and 60 inches in length
so I cut approximately 12 inches wide for infant scarf
approximately 30 inches wide for the adult sized scarf
How much you cut will depend on how full your like your scarf
and the fabric you are using (and how much you have of if)

*this is an estimate as I do not have a baby to measure exactly
but a recommendation would be to trace around a hat that you already have
on a piece of paper to make your own pattern piece
and get an exact fit
​

I went online and read that a 9-12 month old baby's head
circumference is approx. 16-18 inches
​
To make these hats fit nicely... they should be snug
so I went with the approx 16 inches (inc. seam)
I fashioned a pattern piece on cardboard
and decided to make it a fully reversible hat
(so the separate band piece is not required - as in photo above)
just use one piece pattern

It is approximately 8 inches top to bottom
and 8 inches wide (to be cut on the fold) to get 16" hat circumference

In the photo above, shown are two pieces of the fabric
cut and ready to sew
(1 main and the alternate colour) and they are cut on a fold

I used a serger for all sewing so it would be strong enough to get washed
many times

I left a gap in the lining so I could sew the two pieces together 
and then turn it through the gap so the right sides are facing out
​then sew up the gap in the lining
(for assembly photos of infant hat, see below)


Cutting Measurements

Using fabric that is 60 inches wide
cut the infant sized rectangle 

Infant scarf finished measurement approx. 5-6 inches by 48-50 inches
Adult finished measurement: 30 inches wide and full 60 inches length

There should be enough fabric leftover ''above'' to make the baby scarf

To assemble the baby hat
(60 inches less 48 -50 inches)
you can cut one of the colours (on a fold)
you will need an alternate fabric for the lining or band

Follow the beanie hat tutorial for full instructions on assembly

For the pink hat shown, there is only one curve (it sits flat)
The slouch beanie hat has two peaks so it is not ''flat''

Quick Assembly Instructions
(review individual tutorials on this site for
full instructions on making a knit hat and infinity scarf)

Decide where you want to put the gap
(if you put is on the curve Option #1 top stitching will show
on the outside on one of the colours
if you want full reversible, use Option #2)

Right sides together, sew each of the two separate colour pieces
all the way around the curve
(OR option #1 leave a 2 inch gap for turning) 

Using low iron temperature, press open the seam

Turn one colour piece so that it fits inside the other piece
right sides together
sew together all the way around the bottom edge
(OR option #2 leave a gap here for turning)

Pull the hat through the gap and topstitch the gap closed 
​(Option #2 shown in the photos below)

Below is a photo of the measurements of the finished mommy scarf ...
on the left ​and the baby scarf on the right 

Finished photos below... infinity hat and matching infant sized scarf

Second photo, mommy scarf, baby scarf and matching hat
​

Above is a little flower attached to to the band of the hat
If you apply a flower, it can no longer be reversible​

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SEW fun to create and wear your new Scarf