When the weather gets chilly, you can keep yourself and your loved ones warm by sewing neck warmers out of fleece. These simple projects cost very little to make, and the huge variety of fleece fabric on the market allows you to perfectly match them to any coat. These scarves are great for beginning seamstresses and they make wonderful little gifts.
Simple Neck Warmer
This basic neck warmer is really just a tube of fabric. Since it's close-fitting, it's a great solution for kids who don't want to take the time wrapping a scarf. When they get cold, they can simply pull the fabric up over their nose and mouth and keep playing.
This is an easy project that will take you about half an hour.
Things You'll Need
- 1/3 yard fleece fabric
- Thread to match
- Sewing machine
- Tape measure
- Pins
- Scissors
What to Do
- Use the tape measure to loosely measure around the head of the person who will be wearing the neck warmer. Measure on the brow bone. Write down the measurement and add two inches to it to get the length you'll need in step 2.
- Cut a rectangle of fleece that is the length you found in step 1 and 12 inches wide. Orient the fleece on your work surface so one long side of the rectangle is facing you.
- Sew a rolled hem, using one inch of fabric, along the top edge of the rectangle. Repeat with the bottom edge.
- Fold the rectangle in half with the wrong sides together and the short edges lined up. Pin this edge. Sew a seam 1/4 inch from the edge. Remove the pins as you sew. Turn the neck warmer wrong side out when you are done with this seam.
- Press the neck warmer flat with the seam at one edge. Use pins to secure the fabric along the seam, making sure the raw edges are tucked inside. Sew a French seam up the side of the neck warmer, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Remove the pins as you work.
- Smooth the French seam against the fabric of the neck warmer and use pins to hold it in place. Set your stitch length to 3.0 and top stitch the edge of the French seam to make it lie flat inside the neck warmer.
- Turn the neck warmer right side out and try it on!
Stylish Fleece Infinity Scarf
An infinity scarf is a simple and elegant solution to keeping your neck warm in the winter. It has a sleek look, and you don't have to fuss with tying it around your neck. Make it in baby fleece to get the best drape and to keep it from being too bulky.
This is another easy sewing project that should take you about half an hour. The process is very similar to the simple neck warmer, although this scarf involves quite a bit more fabric.
Things You'll Need
- 2/3 yard of 60-inch-wide baby fleece fabric
- Thread to match
- Sewing machine and hand sewing needle
- Tape measure
- Pins
- Scissors
What to Do
- Start by cutting the fleece fabric into a long rectangle that is 60 inches long by 20 inches wide.
- Lay the fabric so one of the 60-inch edges is facing you. Make a rolled hem, using one inch of fabric, along both of the 60-inch edges.
- Make a French seam using your choice of seam allowance to join the two raw edges together and make sure the inside of the scarf has a finished look. Sew the French seam flat against the scarf fabric by top stitching it with your sewing machine.
- Turn the scarf right side out. To wear it, you can loop it once around your neck for a long, drapey look, or you can loop it twice around for a cozy neck warmer.
Tips for Choosing Fabric for Your Project
Fleece is a versatile fabric and it comes in every color of the rainbow. Keep these tips in mind as you select the best fabric for your neck warmer:
- Patterned fleece can be lovely, but it requires you to match the pattern. This means that when you make the seam on your neck warmer or scarf, the pattern needs to match up and continue on the other side of the seam. This is a tricky skill for a beginning seamstress, so stick with solid fleece if you don't want to tackle it.
- Fleece comes in different weights. Baby fleece is the finest option, and it has lovely drape. This makes it ideal for projects like the infinity scarf. For a neck warmer, you can select the fleece weight based on the person who will be wearing it. If you want a neck warmer that will scrunch down easily, go for baby fleece.
- Sometimes it can be difficult to tell which side of your fleece fabric is the "right" side. Once you've determined this, use a dressmaker's pencil to mark that side. That way you don't have to try to figure it out each time you have to turn your fabric around.
- If you're on a budget, watch for sales. Fleece is usually affordable, but it often goes on sale after the holidays and in the spring. You can also find great deals in the remnant bin.
Make a Complete Ensemble
Fleece also comes in almost any color and pattern you can imagine, making it ideal for a project where you want your scarf to match your coat. If you're feeling extra crafty, sew a fleece stocking cap out the leftover fabric to create a complete ensemble.
