You like compliments from friends and colleagues. Silk scarves are very expensive and you often can't find a design you like in the colors you usually wear. Making your own silk scarf is easy and relatively inexpensive.
Steps
Step 1. Go shopping
The best silk fabrics are usually georgette, organza and crepe silk. The best designs and in the widest variety can be found in cloth shops, but keep your eyes peeled. You may find a scrap of fabric where you least expect it. Velvets and crepe fabrics can also be used for scarves, especially when worn with a coat.
Step 2. Get the right size
Usually silk is sold in pieces of 90, 115 and 150 cm. So if you want a square scarf you will have to ask the clerk to cut you a piece that has the same width and length; 90x90, 115x115 or 150x150. The finished scarf size will be about 2cm smaller than the original size.
- If you prefer a rectangular scarf, you have more possibilities. Some think a length of 180cm is the ideal size to wear with a suit. Left dangling, a scarf of that length starts at one seam of the jacket, follows the line of the neck, and ends at the other seam of the jacket. For variation, tie a long scarf in a big soft bow or tie it into a loose knot and wear a plain monochromatic blouse underneath. You can try different lengths, using a tape measure, to find out which is the best length or take your favorite scarves and copy the measurements.
- You have more choice with the width of the scarf, because you can roll it or fold it or even wash it in boiling water to reduce its volume so that it fits elegantly. You can make two rectangular scarves when you buy one piece 180cm long, 90cm or 115cm wide each. One scarf to keep and the other to give to a friend or family member.
Step 3. Try to “rip” the fabric in both directions, instead of cutting it with scissors
This will make the edges straighter to hem. However, tearing may cause light, loose-knit fabrics to stretch. If you can't flatten the edge with an iron after tearing it, the hems will be difficult to sew.
Step 4. Iron the hems all the way around the scarf before sewing them
Some people are good at rolling up the edge as they sew. Others prefer to iron them first, and then sew the two or four sides (if the fabric has a suitable design, you may choose not to hem two sides of a square scarf).
Step 5. To iron the hem, turn the fabric inside out, and make a fold of about 0.5 cm
Then turn the fabric over again and make another fold of the same thickness with the iron. If you wash your scarves in water you can spray the fabric with distilled water and use steam when ironing the hems. Some fear staining the fabric with water, but water stains were probably more common with the cheap dyes that were used last century.
Step 6. Overedge sew, hiding the long part of the stitch in the space of the fabric created with the hem
Some people use a roll-up accessory on their sewing machine to hem scarves. Others use a blind stitch, still others use a scalloped edge, which can be particularly impressive with a soft silk.
Step 7. Wash the scarf and iron it before using it
Step 8. Finished
Advice
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Two meters of 115cm wide organza are needed to make the two versions of the scarf shown above. The cost of each scarf is 10 euros.
