Sew an elegant scarf as an accessory or gift

The motto of this year’s blog Advent Calendar is “Create your magic” – in fashion, it’s easy with accessories. A small, elegant scarf in the style of the popular classic from a well-known luxury brand is indeed a magical accessory, as it can be used to upgrade and change your favorite handbag in an instant and adapt it to the occasion and/or your wardrobe. Fortunately, you don’t have to buy this stylish item at a high price, because we can easily make it ourselves without much effort or material. Today I’ll show you how you can quickly sew such an elegant shawl.

The scarf can be knotted in many different ways (there are lots of instructions online).

For example with a one-sided knot:

Or with knots on both sides:

Or as a bow:

A mini scarf made of fine silk looks particularly elegant. But of course any fabric with a soft drape can be used. By the way, leftovers can also be wonderfully recycled and turned into a great, exclusive gift, and not just for Christmas.

Sewing an elegant scarf as an accessory – instructions

You will need (for a cloth approx. 5 cm wide and 85 cm long)

• 2 x 7 cm x 87 cm Fabric of your choice (silk, viscose, cotton satin….
• suitable sewing thread, I have Seralon from Mettler
• fine sewing machine needle (No. 60)
• Pins
• Iron
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting mat
• Pinking scissors
• Patchwork ruler
• Reversible set if necessary
• Hand sewing needle
• Spray starch if necessary
•  

Cutting

Cut the two strips of fabric using a rotary cutter on a cutting mat.

Now lay the strips right sides together and pin them together.

Now you have a choice: you can leave the ends at a right angle or cut them at a 45-degree angle. Here, too, you can decide whether you want to cut both ends in the same direction or differently.

To cut, remove the pins at the ends again, then apply the patchwork ruler and cut off the ends. Make sure that the layers do not slip!

I cut the ends once at an upward angle and once at a downward angle.

Then put the parts back together accurately.

Sewing

Now sew the pieces together with a 1 cm seam allowance. Start in the middle of a wide side and sew the beginning of the seam well.

Leave the needle inserted in the tips…

… lifts the foot, turns the fabric with the inserted needle and then continues sewing. This makes the corner accurate.

Sew the seam end 10 cm before the beginning of the seam. This is the turning opening.  

Cut back the seam allowance. You can either use pinking shears for this or just cut one seam allowance in half, making the fabric layer less thick. Always trim back the seam allowance at the corners.

Turning and ironing

Now turn the cloth through the turning opening. This works very well with the help of a turning set. Shape the corners nicely, taking care not to damage the fabric. Special care must be taken with delicate fabrics!

Now iron out the cloth well. Press the seam allowance of the turning opening accurately inwards.

Finally, close the turning opening by hand using the ladder or mattress stitch. 

Iron out the cloth again. Done is your elegant scarf!

It can now be knotted decoratively around the handle of a handbag, casually looped onto a bag strap or tied in the hair. I have sewn myself several so that I can magically restyle my bags again and again.

Here is another example with further wearing options in Bordeaux:

Just browse the internet for binding instructions – there are so many possibilities.

Have fun sewing the little scarves, giving them as gifts, styling them, varying them and trying them out!

By the way: I also sewed the leather bag myself, but by hand. DIY sets are available from Bags & Pieces.