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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.

Choose 30 candy bar pieces

Next pair those pieces up.

Pair them up

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

Sew pairs together using strip piecing

15 pairs

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

7 plus 1

Press all seams in the same direction.

Press seams all in same direction

Cut one piece of polar fleece 13 X 60. I found my cutting mat, rotary cutter, and quilt rulers made this part a breeze! (<-affiliate links)

Cut fleece 13 inches by 60 inches

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.

Pin at center and quarter marks

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.

Mark center of patchwork and center of fleece

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

Match centers and pin across narrow end

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

Leave opening in one end for turning

Trim corners of the seam allowance on the diagonal.

Turn the tube right side out.

Turn right side out

Sew opening closed using a blind stitch.

Fold in seam allowance and sew closed

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

Center patchwork on fleece, topstitch

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.

Completed patchwork scarf

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

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6 Comments

  • Carol
    November 21, 2011 7:59 am

    Thank you for this great tutorial and gift idea. I’m off to my sewing room now.

  • Ellen
    November 21, 2011 2:35 am

    I never would have thought to use my fabric that way! Super idea, one I’ll be using! Thank you so much for sharing!

  • Shez
    November 21, 2011 3:07 am

    very nice,thankyou for the tutorial

  • weddingdressblue
    November 21, 2011 1:21 am

    I like it! This is added to my “to make” list. Just what I have been looking for.

  • Robin (rsIslandCrafts)
    November 19, 2011 5:03 pm

    I know several little ones that would love one of these for Christmas. I don’t have the candy bars but I think I have a go die that cuts that size. I think I need to go do a little shopping for some fleece.

    ***I had that problem with the pins today when I was hemming my Daughter’s work pants. At least it was only 8 pins that were poking me lol.

  • corina
    November 16, 2011 5:54 pm

    Great tutorial. I love how quick and easy the scarf is. I’m sure there will be one or two under our tree this year!

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