Spring Cowl... How to...

Not ready to give up your scarfs yet, but craving the brighter colors of spring... Try making one of my cowls... It is a light weight layer that could easily be worn through summer.   If your like me and stuck on the infinity scarfs(my neck feels bare without them) it is an easy transition... The best part... it's fast and easy to make...

Here's how...

Start with your fabric folded in half...  Measure and cut it to these dimensions... 14 1/2" wide (short ends)... 36" length (folded edge)... The overall piece if you don't want to cut it out on the fold, measures 29"(width) x36"(lenth)

Next... fold in half lenthwise (the longer side) with right sides together (facing each other on the inside)... Stich the raw edges together, down the entire lenth of the cowl with a 3/8ths seam... I used my serger, but a regular sewing machine is just fine...

You basically now have a fabric tube...  Through one of the open ends, invert the fabric, so that the right side is now showing on the outside... the seamed edge should be on the inside...

Press your seamed edge...

You also need to iron the folded edge, so that length of the cowl is nice and smooth...

Pick one of the open ends... and iron a 1/2" fold to the inside... all the way around the opening...  

Now with the length of the cowl laying flat... pick up one of the corners...

And cross it over... Giving the length a nice little twist...

Leaving the twist in place... Fold in half lenthwise by, bring the two open ends together...

Insert the end with the raw edges, into the opening with the folded edge... you'll want about a 1/2" over lap...

Pin to hold in place...  You will now have a circle of fabric with a twist in it... Finish pinning down the entire opening...

Here are some more views of how I pined the opening(seam) closed... Make sure you take the time to do it correctly. You'll want to keep checking that your fabric is still overlapping evenly...   

And be careful, not to catch on any of the loose fabric with your pins while your sticking them through the back side along that seam...

Using a narrow zig zag stitch... with a shorter stitch length...

Stitch down your pinned seam... Lining up your folded edge with the center of your machine foot...

 I chose this type of edge, because it is more durable... It also ensures that your catching the folded edge on the back side, while your stiching along front...

I sewed on a few vintage buttons... for some added detail...

All done!  You've successfully added some spring into your wardrobe, without having to give up your scarf...  If any of these steps look confusing, just let me know...  I am more that happy to help!  ***Jennifer 

P.S. If you would like to see variations of this cowl... I am very excited to announce that Creating Bits of Envy now has it's own Flickr group... I will post some more pictures over there... Just click Here to check it out!  I would love to see yours if you make one...  And I would so so so LOVE to see any pictures from projects you've worked on that were inspired by my blog...  My goal for this Flickr group, is not only see your great projects, but to also offer help, and cheer eachother on!  So if you've made a mastake, or are stumped on a project, upload those pictures too... I would love to help!!!  

P.S.S Don't forget Kids Clothes Week is coming up... April 23rd - 30th... She has some great project inspirations if you can't decide what to do...