How to Sew a Patchwork Scarf

Back in August when I took our son up to Canada to get him settled into his second year of college, my rest stops along the way were quilt shops.

When I’m traveling, I have a tendency to succumb to a little impulse shopping and one of my impulse buys on that trip was a package of Moda Candy Bars.   I had no idea what I was going to make with them at the time.

When I returned home, I discovered that there really aren’t many projects designed specifically with Moda Candy Bars in mind, so they sat in the drawer while I pondered what to do with them.

Then last month, when I was working on October’s Christmas on a Budget post for One Hour Sewing Projects, I looked at those Candy Bars and realized that since they were pre-cut into 2.5” X 5” pieces, they would work great for making quick to sew patchwork fleece scarves.

I’ve been busily working away on Christmas gifts and the tutorial for the patchwork scarf got pushed to the back of the line, but yesterday I wasn’t feeling inspired to start the next Christmas gift on my list, so instead I sewed up another scarf and this time took pictures of each step.

Now today I can post the patchwork scarf tutorial, I promised.

To make the patchwork strip:

First, choose 30 pieces of fabric from the Moda Candy Bar.

Next pair those pieces up.

Sew each pair together in one long chain and then clip between the pairs to separate them.

Continue sewing pairs together until you have one long strip of 30 patchwork pieces.

Press all seams in the same direction.

Cut one piece of polar fleece 13 X 60.

Most polar fleece comes in 60 inch widths, so you should only have to trim off the selvages to get  60 inches, but measure to be sure.

Mark the center of each long side and again at each quarter with pins on both the fleece and the patchwork strip.

Match up the center and quarter mark pins.   Then pin long sides together, distributing fabric evenly.    Fleece is very stretchy, so use lots of pins.

Sew using a 1/4” seam allowance.   Repeat with other long sides to form one long tube.

Mark center of each short end of patchwork strip and of fleece strip.

Fold the tube so that the pins match.  This will position the patchwork strip in the center of the fleece.

Sew one end closed, using ¼” seam allowance.   Sew the other end, leaving an opening in the middle for turning.

Trim corners of the seam allowance on the diagonal.

Turn the tube right side out.

Sew opening closed using a blind stitch.

Pin along each side of the patchwork strip, making sure to center it on the fleece.

Notice that I have the pins all facing in the same direction but it's better to first determine which direction you'll be sewing in and then pin accordingly. Otherwise, you'll have to switch the pins around before sewing to make them easier to remove. (Don't ask me how I know)

Top stitch 1/4” from the seam and on each end.

A little over an hours worth of sewing yields a soft pretty scarf perfect for gift giving.

To make these suitable for the men on your list, simply choose more masculine fabrics for the patchwork and fleece.

This post has been added to Sew Darn Crafty Party Week #41 over at Sew Many Ways.

And it’s has also been added to Mady By You Monday at Skip to my Lou.

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