January Link-Up Party - Sew Your (Pattern) Stash 2015

Have you sewn something yet using the patterns you already owned at the end of 2014?   It's time to open our first monthly link up!  If you are unfamiliar with Sew Your (Pattern) Stash 2015, you can read more about it here and join the Facebook group here.

And one link-up participant will receive a $15 gift certificate to the Imagine Gnats shop (affiliate link).  I found out about Rachael during the last Project Run & Play season and placed my first order from her shop during her after Christmas sale.  If you haven't checked out her blog, patterns, and fabric shop - you are missing out!  I will select a random winner using a random number generator on February 1.

*UPDATE - Congratulations to our winner: Denita at Hattilu Handmade  winning link)

Link-Up Guidelines:
You may link to any sewing project you complete during the month of January that meets our three requirements:

1. From Your Pattern Stash  -  sewn using a pdf (or paper) pattern you already owned by the end of 2014.
2. Fits the Monthly Theme - this month's theme is Women's/Sew For Yourself, so you may link to any sewing project that is a women's pattern or that you made for yourself.
3. Includes the Sew Your (Pattern) Stash button - either in your blog post or on your blog sidebar.  (grab the HTML code for the button below)

Link to however many projects you sew during the month and post about on your blog.  You are welcome to link-up to more than one project during the month.  If you do not blog, you may link to a Flickr photo of your project, or you may share your photo in our January Show-Off Album in the Facebook group.

Can't wait to see what everyone makes this month!

<center> <a href="http://sew-not-perfect.blogspot.com/2014/12/sew-your-pattern-stash-2015.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Sew Your (Pattern) Stash 2015" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Z0u8zIVjqJ8lP2evejuQlxclse34Bf_Rmv4MRVCcUvyU=s207-p-no"/></a></center>

An InLinkz Link-up

Remnant Bin Infinity Scarf Tutorial

I haven't sewn something wearable (including accessories) for myself since 2004!  I was inspired by Pattern Revolution's Sew Yourself Some Love to make something for myself; while I have a couple projects on my to-do pile now, I started with something simple.  This project is so quick and easy!  Nothing fancy or award winning, but perfect for a nap time craft or when you want a quick little something for yourself or a gift.  I am sure there are tons of tutorials on Pinterest and Google, but here is my version.

Fabric

I found my fabric in the remnant bin at my local JoAnns and paid just a couple bucks for it.  You could certainly do the same with any fabric you like cut from a bolt as well.  Remnant fabric is very cost effective and budget friendly.   I chose a polyester with a nice silky feel and fun cheetah print.  I am not an animal print person, usually, so this is kind of out-of-the-box for me, but I though it would be fun and versatile.  It is about .67 yards of 56" wide fabric, according to the label (I have doubts that it is that  Fabric any shorter/narrower (less than 56") will only be able to be wrapped around the neck once, but wider fabric will work well and provide longer loops that are not so close to the neck.  You will want to choose a knit or silky fabric that lays nicely.  Typical cotton woven fabric will not work well. 

my fabric - shown folded in half top to bottom

Machine

I used a serger, but you can also use a sewing machine set appropriately for whatever fabric you are using.  (speaking of sergers, I owe a big thanks to my friend Linda at Sew Happily Ever After for loaning me her serger recently.  I've been having trouble attaining one of my own)

Here is what you do:

 *Note:  I did not pin my fabric, since the nature of the scarf does not require that the fabric is lined up perfectly, but you could certainly pin your fabric between each step if it helps you.

Make sure your machine (serger or sewing) is set up properly for your fabric of choice.  If you do not have similar test fabric, use the short end of your fabric to run a seam, and when your adjustments are correct you can either use your serger or scissors to cut off the test area before proceeding.

When your machine is set properly, fold your fabric in half matching up the long sides, so that the right side of the fabric is on the inside, and the wrong side is facing you.  Serge or sew a seam down the long edge of the fabric, so that you end up with a long tube of fabric with open ends.  (I used a rolled hem, since that is how the machine was already set up.)

Turn your tube right side out now, so that the correct side of your fabric is facing out, and the seam you just made is now hidden on the inside of your fabric tube.

Fold your tube in half, so that the unfinished short ends of fabric meet.

Twist one side of the fabric one turn (180 degrees) in your hand and match the two ends again.  You are creating a twist in your loop of fabric.  It should look like this:

showing twist in fabric

Then

matched up edges at front (left), twist in fabric at back (right side in photo)

With your edges matched up, sew the edges together.  You are running four layers of fabric through your machine.  I used a rolled hem on my serger for a nice finished look.  (For extra credit, you can fold back the last 1/2"-1" at each end, so that at each end you are actually sewing through 8 layers of fabric at the very end on each side before you sew.  If you do this, it will help hide the seam even more when you turn your scarf.  It is not necessary.)

When you finish that seam, your should have a ring of fabric with no openings.  Turn the seam you just made, so that it is on the underside of your scarf.

You are done!