How to Make a Fleece Scarf and Hat

Making a fleece scarf and hat are very easy projects. A child can do the scarf almost by themselves and the hat only requires basic handsewing so it is pretty easy as well. The first thing you have to do is to purchase your fleece. Any fabric store will sell this in a wide variety of colors, patterns and designs. There were so many choices it was hard to pick just one but you have to start with something! You will need to purchase a yard of 54-60 inch fleece and it will make 2 hats and 2 scarfs (but a half a yard will not make one of each as there will not be enough width to do so) unless you want a very narrow scarf)

So, to make the scarf, you will simply need to measure 6 inches from the side and cut. You will want to measure in several places and either make a chalk marking or use straight pins to mark the line so that you cut straight. Unless you've picked a perfectly striped piece of fabric, you will need the guide lines. Once you have your 60 inch by 6 inch strip, you will be ready to add your fringes. To do this, you will want to make tiny holes near the short edge of the strip. You can do this by folding about inch on top and cutting a very small slit. Be careful to make this small. Put this aside and after you have cut out your hats, you will have left over fleece to make the fringes. To make your fringes, once you know which material is the leftovers, you will simply cut 1/2 inch strips. The strips can be anywhere from 4-8 inches long, depending on your tastes. My recommendation is to cut longer strips because you can always trim them shorter later. Remember, an 8 inch strip will only make a 4 inch (or slightly less) fringe because you are going to fold it in half. When you have your strips, you can put them through the holes you have made on the scarf, one at a time. Once through, even them out and then make a square knot in each. Your scarf is done.

Now to make your matching hat. You will want to measure the circumference of the head of the person you are making the hat for. As a general guide, a 5 year old child will generally have a head circumference of about 16 inches while an adult will be about 18-20 inches. You will use this number as one side of the rectangle you are going to cut out to make the hat. We'll call it the width. The height of the rectangle will be how tall your hat is going to be. Generally 16 inches is a good height. So you will now measure and cut out the rectangle that will be somewhere between 16-20 inches in width and about 16 inches in height. Once you have cut the rectangle, you will fold it, wrong sides together so that the two 16 inch height edges meet. You will sew, with a whip stitch or a running stitch from the bottom of the height to 4 inches short of the top. Turn your tube right side out now. From the top of the hat, you can now cut strips about 1/2 inch to 1 inch wide and 4 inches down, just to meet your sewn line. With an extra strip of fleece, you can now tie your fringes off. Lay the strip down perpendicular to the fringe cuts which are put on top of the strip. Now gather the fringes and tie the fop of the hat closed. Your hat is done! Some people choose to roll up the brim of the hat and add a few stitches so it stays but it really is not necessary to do so. It is a matter of taste.

So, now, with a yard of fabric a pair of scissors and a little bit of thread, you have been able to make a hat and a scarf! Great for kids or adults....I wear mine proudly!