INFINITY SCARF TUTORIAL

This scarf could possibly cost $0 if you have a tee shirt ready for the re-cycle box or very little ($3) if you pay a visit to your local op shop.

Here’s what you’ll need: a cotton tee shirt, scissors, and (perhaps) a needle and matching thread

1 - For the tee shirt  (cotton - no spandex), you can go to a charity store like the Salvation Army the Good Will or to your local craft store, using your 40% off coupon, you can raid your husband's tee shirt drawer for ones he would donate if he could bear to part with the old thing.

2 - Lay the tee shirt out on a table, making sure the bottom hem is matching back and front. Pat it out so it looks all straight and aligned before the slicing begins.
 3 - Cut ACROSS  the bodice of the tee shirt, from arm pit to arm pit. Remove the top third of the tee shirt (the part with shoulders, neck and sleeves). This top part of the tee shirt will NOT be used for this project.

4 – Cut off and remove the bottom hem of the tee shirt.

5 – INSTRUCTIONS FOR SLICING THE TEE SHIRT:   You’ll be making strips that are going to remain attached to the tee shirt at one of the side seams. At this point, turn the tee shirt around on your cutting surface so that one side seam is the top of the project and the opposite side seam is the bottom of the project. You will make strips that are about 1” wide. Eyeballing the strips or if you’re a perfectionist, you can measure them.


6 – With your scissors, cut through the seam at the bottom of the project (what once was a side seam), making a strip approximately 1” wide. DO NOT CUT THROUGH THE TOP OF PROJECT SEAM. Leave  about ¾” uncut. Make strips, cutting through bottom seam and up to about ¾” from the top seam. You will now have before you, a project that resembles a Hawaiian hula skirt. In actuality, these strips are LOOPS

7 – This is the fun part:  Run your hand between the two layers of the shirt at the seam that has NOT been cut through and gather up the uncut edge in your hand. Pick it up off the table while holding that gathered, uncut seam in one hand and with your other hand inside of the loop/strip,  pull and stretch as far as you can, each one of those loops until they curl up like a rope or cord. Sometimes where you've held onto the loop to stretch, it doesn't curl up. In that case, just pull both sides of the uncurled spot until it curls.
 
 
 8 – What you have in your hand now is a very big circle (or infinity scarf) You still have this part  where the cords are attached  (the seam that you didn't cut through). Roll that part up or scrunch it up because it will get covered up with a scrap from the tee shirt. Scrunch that part up as tight as you can and wrap either the sliced off hem or another scrap from the shirt around this gathered part, securing it by tucking in the ends. Or as I have done with this turquoise one I made - I wrapped one of the ribbed cuffs from my long sleeved shirt around it and hand sewed it neatly closed,  covering the connection part of all the strands of cord.
 
 
 This is how my scarf looks doubled. I know by now you've noticed the braid. I didn't include the instructions for that in this tutorial. I don't think it adds much to the look. This was my first try. I think whenever I make another, it will be without the braid.

Comments (7)

On May 20, 2014 at 8:54 AM , Unknown said...

Wow - will need to look more closely later when I have more time.

 
On May 20, 2014 at 10:19 AM , Anonymous said...

That looks like a really fun project to make. Thanks for the simple instructions. NellywithWings.

 
On May 20, 2014 at 2:17 PM , Sue Runyon said...

Looks fun. Thanks so much for the great tutorial.

 
On May 20, 2014 at 4:57 PM , bananaorangeapple said...

This is a very useful project for teenagers in the holidays, I think. Great job Rita

 
On May 20, 2014 at 8:41 PM , AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa said...

I have seen these before and they look great all done!

 
On May 21, 2014 at 10:15 AM , Handiworkin' Girls said...

Cute gift idea!

 
On May 22, 2014 at 12:53 PM , Linda said...

Looks like a fun t shirt project!