How I Made It: Infinity Scarf

As the weather is cooling down (I live in Alaska, it's happening now!), I've been looking for a way to make my summer tops work without having to break out the sweaters and hoodies (Alaska, remember?).  My favorite local clothing shop always has tons of colorful scarves that would work well for this purpose, but they are usually either too long- I'm 5 feet zero- or too expensive.  After a little while hours browsing around Pinterest and reading tutorials on making scarves, I decided I'd better just dive in and try it myself.

I am not calling this a tutorial because I can't take credit for coming up with this method of scarf-making. I made my scarves after reading so many fabulous tutorials put together by others (which started to blur together after awhile), and I just combined the parts that I liked best about them.  I took pics of each step as I went, partly so I would remember what I did for future reference, and partly to show you how I did it.

Most of the scarf tutorials that I found had you buy two yards of fabric in order to have one continuous piece on each side of the scarf, with the only seam being to join the ends together.  I wanted to use up some larger scraps that I have been holding on to, and since an infinity scarf is usually worn looped and twisted, I didn't see the need to buy new fabric when I could just join together what I already had.

Choose a width for your scarf and cut enough strips to make it as long as you'd like.  I made my strips 7" wide and about 60" in total length.

I got scrappy with the other side of my scarf...just cut enough 7" wide pieces to join together to the appropriate length.

Sew all the pieces together into one strip for the front and one for the back.  Press the seams open.

Lay the two pieces right sides together.

Sew down the long sides, starting and ending each side seam about a half inch from the end.

Turn the scarf right-side out.

Press the edges.

Press down the two unfinished edges of one side of the scarf.

Place the unfinished edges of the side you didn't press down together.

Sew the edge you just matched up with a half-inch seam allowance, being careful not to catch the folded-down edges.

Press open the seam.

Tuck the pressed edges inside the folded-back edges.

Press one of the folded-back edges in on top of the sewn edges.

Press the folded-back edge flat, and then press it under a quarter of an inch to create a finished edge.

You have two options to finish the scarf.  You can hand sew the seam so there are no visible stitches.  I despise hand-sewing.  I just stitched close to the edge of the folded-under edge.  

Voila!

The Washi scarf on the right was actually my second.  I made the one on the left first.  It is a bit shorter in length (fits me great, but may be too small for others).  The fabrics in the scarf on the left are from Echo by Lotta Jansdotter.

Perfect with a long-sleeved t for a cool morning at the playground!  Excuse the iPhone self-portrait.

Quilt Top Complete!

I have made several quilts in the past, but this is the first one that I have attempted without the use of a specific pattern.  I like following patterns and having things turn out exactly how they are "supposed" to, so improving a quilt is very much out of my comfort zone.

I started with the New York Beauty quilt-a-long at Sew Sweetness, but I only made the blocks that I liked the look of.  I ended up with 15 blocks.  Then I decided to try some scrappy improv chevrons.  I followed these directions at Six White Horses, but I cut all of my wedges at the same angle, because I wanted them to go well with the precise points on the New York Beauty blocks, and attached them all together in a long strip. I cut the strip lengthwise and made two chevron stripes on either side of my New York Beauty blocks.  I saved the scraps from my chevrons and sewed them all together, then chopped them up again and mixed in some solid gray to create a fun scrappy border.

Not having a plan was really difficult for me, but really fun at the same time.  My daughter loves the result and has claimed this quilt for her bed.  Now I need to quilt it!  I think I may try to do it myself, since it's a twin size.

Getting Scrappy

Sheesh, almost an entire month since my last post!  As much as I love summer, I'm very ready for the start of fall, which brings school, routine, and more time to sew!

I have been fitting in small projects here and there.

Canvas and cotton nesting bowls

Cotton and linen potholders

Linen and cotton nesting bowls

Linen and cotton wallets

But my largest project in the works, a queen-sized quilt for my bed, has been at a standstill.  As much as I love making the New York Beauty blocks that I had originally intended to solely use, meandering their way around the quilt, I just don't think it's practical to stick to the original plan if I ever want to actually finish the quilt.

My New York Beauty blocks awaiting some company

That point was reaffirmed this weekend when I found this stack of paper-pieced blocks that I started at least 5 years ago.

Hmmm...maybe these need to become something new...iPad cases? Cosmetics bags?

I had a lightbulb moment the other night regarding the quilt.  My original intent was to make it more modern than traditional.  Starting with the very traditional paper-pieced blocks, I needed to add something much less conventional to achieve the modern look.  I am always inspired by Maureen Cracknell's beautiful projects and color choices, and I remembered some scrappy chevron blocks she shared awhile back.  My new plan is to make strips of scrappy chevrons and mix them in with my New York Beauties and some strips of solid gray.  I'm using the tutorial at Six White Horses for the chevrons.  This scrappy, not-so-planned idea is much more forgiving and fun, even though I do find paper piecing relaxing.  I cut a bunch of strips tonight.  Stay tuned for the results!

Strips ready to get scrappy

Zakka Style Sew-Along Week 1: Zig Zag Tote

I have been hoarding my stash of Washi fabric, waiting for just the right project to come along.  As soon as I saw the first project in the Zakka Style Sew-Along, I knew this was it!  The project is a tote bag, which I don't really need.  But I have been filing away ideas for a handbag for myself for quite awhile, adding to my list as I have made new patterns.  I love the quilted zig zag design of the sew-along tote, so I followed the directions in the book for that portion and then made the rest up as I went along.  It was fun to get back into quilting again after a very long break!

The bag started out with cutting quarter-square triangles.  I was a little unsure how this print would turn out when made into the zig zag shape because the color is not evenly distributed throughout the fabric.

But it turned out just fine.

I constructed the full zig zag portion of the bag as instructed.

Then I designed my bag shape, taking some construction tips I learned when making my Honolulu Bag.

The gray brushed twill was left over from another project, so I made my bag as large as my scraps would allow.  Then came the quilting!  I have never used fusible fleece before and loved it.  I put on my walking foot and the quilting was a breeze. 

For the lining, I took the tip offered by Terri and made my pocket a contrasting color.  

Then I decided to get really fancy and add a straight wide band at the top of my bag, set a zipper down inside, and attach my straps with nylon D-rings that I have been waiting to use.  I learned this basic top and zipper construction from my newest favorite pattern from Keyka Lou.  I followed the strap construction directions from the book and was very pleased with them.  My least favorite part of making bags is turning the straps right-side-out, and this method eliminates that completely!

The result is quite fabulous, if I do say so myself.  I love everything about it and am a little amazed that I was able to figure this all out on my own.

I added some darts in the top to give a little shape.

  

What I'm Working On: Stash Building

Now that my Etsy shop is up and running (and turning a little bit of profit), I have started buying fabrics that I love just because I love them.  I have several projects in mind, but I love these fabrics so much that I am almost afraid to cut them!  Washing them is the first step, so into the laundry they go while I contemplate what to start on first.

I have wanted these since I first saw them!  They are from the Washi collection by Rashida Coleman Hale.  I love the charcoal background coupled with the bright colors.  I plan to make myself a bag from them, but I'm still toying with the design.  They will also make super cute makeup bags and iPad/Kindle cases. Just waiting on my latest shipment of zippers from ZipIt before getting to work.

I picked up these two prints from the Echo line after seeing a gorgeous tote made from the charcoal print by Ivey Expressions in the Hawthorne Threads newsletter a few weeks ago.  The gray in the fabric on the left isn't an exact match for the charcoal in the other, so I'm not quite sure what I will end up making with them.  

This next set is not my usual taste, but it is so darn cute I had to try it.  It's from the Fly a Kite line.  I have bookmarked a cathedral window quilt block made by folding the background fabric oragami-style, and I think this fabric would be perfect to try it out with.  Then maybe it will become something with a zipper.

If you know me, you will find an uncanny likeness in this print to my own kids!  Right down to the red-headed boy and curly girl...

Finally, I found a fabulous deal on The Intrepid Thread for half-yards of the entire collection of the Primitiva line.  The purples and oranges really jumped out at me, and it's not too "girly" to end up as a quilt for my own bed.  I've been keeping a collection of modern quilt ideas on Pinterest and hope to somehow use these fabrics to create my first "modern" quilt.  I have quilted in the past, but only using the traditional block structure.

I haven't yet decided if I want to use just part of the collection...

Or the entire thing...

And if I am going to use the true "modern" style, I should probably add some solids.  But I thought these may function as solids/backgrounds, depending on what I end up with.

I like structure, so piecing a quilt on the fly is going to be tough for me.  I ordered a book about it, of course.  Anyone have tips to get me started on a fun design with these fabrics?