Woven Flannel Scarf Tutorial

A gift from the Angel of Warmth

For this easy scarf tutorial, you will need:

Scissors
Seam ripper, awl, or other tool with a small pointed end
Woven flannel fabric. Our absolute favorite is the Robert Kaufman Mammoth and Shetland Flannels



Fabric Cuts:

If you prefer a small scarf, then you will need 1/2 yard of 44"wide woven flannel fabric. Your finished scarf will measure 16" by 42".

I prefer a great big wrap of a scarf, so I purchase 2 yards and cut it in half lengthwise to make TWO 20" by 72" scarves.... one for me and one for a friend.

I like to pre-wash and dry my fabric first.  If your fabric is pre-cut, be prepared for a bit of fraying during the laundering.

Once your fabric is prepared, take your scissors and by carefully using a line in the weave as your guide, cut off the frayed and irregular edges of the fabric. You will do this on all four sides of the scarf.

Now for the fun part. Using your seam ripper, start pulling out the cross weave threads along one short end.  I usually fray about 3/4 inch down, though you can certainly fray the ends up to a few inches... personal preference applies here. Once you finish both short ends of the scarves, start pulling the cross weaves along the two long sides of the scarf.  The long sides I usually keep a bit shorter (1/2 inch of fray or less).

When you've finished all four sides, you will have corners that look similar to this...

And just that easily, your scarf is ready to wear! Wrap your scarf around you and start enjoying it.

After making my first scarf, I was a bit curious about further fraying with wear and tear, and washing.
So I did an experiment with my sewing machine...

Along only one end and one side of the scarf (so, only half of the scarf) I sewed a stay stitch carefully along the edge between the frayed and not-frayed fabric.

The other half of the scarf I did not sew.  Then I washed it.  Because I wanted to simulate a bit of wearing and washing, I actually gave it a rough washing and drying with a load of towels.

Below are the results after washing and drying.  The sides that were not sewn have a couple of loose cross weave threads that might need to be pulled, whereas the sewn side does not.  But the difference is so slight that using a sewing machine to stay stitch the scarves seems completely unnecessary.  It it easy to just pull a few frayed threads here and there as necessary.  It truly is a No-Sew project!

Here's my completed great big soft wrap of a scarf....

Meet the Makers - November 29, 2015

Did you know that we sell lap and baby quilts, along with our napkins, at the most adorable local gift shop, Happy Go Smile in the sleepy central coast beach town of Cayucos, California?

We're having a "Meet the Makers" event on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and would love to have you join us and meet the other Makers behind Happy Go Smile. 

Please stop by and see what we and the other makers have been making... you're in for a treat!

Selfish Sewing Week

September 28 - October 3, 2015

I absolutely love sewing my own clothes, so I take this week very seriously.  What better excuse is there to spend the week sewing just for me!

Here's my lineup....

I have made more than a dozen of these.  I love them so much that I plan to make dozens more!

Much like the Scout Tee, this is another go-to pattern that I have made multiple times and plan to make multiple times more.

I am really loving the Merchant and Mills patterns.  I have made the Factory Dress and Camber Set, both of which I love.  This is their signature pattern, and I can't wait to make this.

I am determined to squeeze one more pattern in.  Maybe one of these....

Happy Selfish Sewing Week!

An Easy Way You Can Help Our Earth - Every Day

It's one of of the easiest and simplest ways we can make a positive impact on our environment.

This past Monday, I had the pleasure of joining the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce on a field trip to Patagonia’s headquarters in Ventura, California.  

We enjoyed a tour of the grounds and facilities, and had the privilege of listening to several Patagonia employees speak on Patagonia’s culture, resource conservation, fair trade, B Corps and Environmental & Social Responsibility.

There is MUCH knowledge to share, but this newsletter would be too long.  So I am sharing one very simple idea that I came away with.

I am sure it seems strange for a retailer to be telling you to BUY LESS, but facts show that by simply using what we buy for a longer period of time has one of the greatest positive impacts on related carbon, waste, and water footprints - simply because we’re making and throwing away less.

Which is where QUALITY comes in...

Being discerning consumers and choosing quality products with longer useful lives is such an easy step to take, and one that can have a positive impact on our environment.

At Picking Daisies, we are very proud of the quality cotton napkins we make.  Customers tell us all the time that they last for years.  We are always looking to purchase quality … in both our raw materials and in the retail goods we sell.

While a long way from perfect, we continue to learn and improve as we go.  We are inspired by Patagonia’s Mission Statement 

Patagonia’s Mission Statement

Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.

HAPPY EARTH DAY FROM KAY AND DEDE

For more about Patagonia, visit www.Patagonia.com