Make a Simple to Sew Fleece Shrug

Enjoy casual walks or evenings outside while wearing this comfortable fleece shrug. This shrug is worn like a shawl except that the short sides are partly sewn to act as sleeves for your arms. Fleece fabric is simple fabric to work with, because the edges are not susceptible to fraying. It comes in a variety of fun novelty prints or in more subdued sophisticated solids. You will be able to make this fleece shrug in less than an hour and will be inspired to make more for birthday and Christmas gifts or extras for your guests to wear on the patio.

This fleece shrug is a wonderful teaching project for a child. It actually has little sewing and the quickness of the project will give a child instant success and gratification. If you would like to experiment with this project before investing in the purchase of fleece fabric, look through your closets for a fleece throw that so many of us have. Use this fleece throw to make your guinea pig project.

Cut a rectangle of fleece 24" x 60". This is a 2/3 yard cut at the fabric store. This does not need to be exact by a couple of inches here or there are, but it does need to be a straight and sharp rectangle. Make sure your corners are all right angle cuts.

Lay the fleece rectangle with the right side up, if there is a right side. Fold the fleece over with the right sides together and attach the long sides by measuring and pinning the long sides, 12 inches from each corner. Sew a 1/2" seam allowance along each pinned 12 inch section. Do not sew the middle of the long side between the 12 inch section. Use a warm iron and press the seams open. Press the long edges that were not sewn, separately, to the wrong side a 1/2" and pin. Sew the pinned folds to create a raw edge hem on each long edge and to create the shrug part. Note: You are not sewing these middle long edges together.

Fold and iron the end of the fleece shrug sleeves to the wrong side a 1/2" and pin. Sew the pinned folds to create a raw edge hem along the opening of the sleeves.

This is a great time to add trim to your fleece shrug. Dig through your leftover bits and bobs, and sew the selected trim over the a stitching on the sleeve hems or the shrug body hems.