Make a Square-Patch Recycled Sweater Scarf

Make a square-patch scarf by recycling a sweater from your closet or purchase secondhand sweaters from yard sales or thrift stores. One ugly, outdated sweater can be transformed into a new accessory you will be proud to wear. This project can also be made using a mix of several sweaters, giving the finished scarf an interesting texture and design. Make several as inexpensive gifts for Christmas or cool weather birthdays.

I used a small adult sweater with a v-neck, which gave me plenty of fabric (and then some) to complete the scarf. I usually sew a stabilizing stitch line on each side of the intended cut when I craft with sweater fabric, but I had an idea I have been wanting to try. I wanted to see if a stabilizing stitch was really necessary. It's time consuming and I wanted a quick and easy craft. Since the squares were small, light and manageable, and I knew I wasn't going to be stretching them, I decided to skip this step. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. I am sure the results will vary depending on the tightness of the knit and the size of various projects, but I will definitely try it again.

Things You Will Need:
Lightweight cardboard
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors
Sweater
Straight pins
Sewing machine
Vacuum (necessity)

Step 1
Trace a 6-inch square onto lightweight cardboard and cut out.

Step 2
Turn your sweater inside out. Cut off all of the sweater's seams. I used a tightly knit sweater to avoid as much raveling as I could.

Step 3
Lay the sweater pieces out flat. Using the 6-inch cardboard square as your pattern, cut out 12 sweater squares. I didn't trace the shape onto the sweater, I just cut around it. This eliminated having pen markings showing on the finished scarf.

Step 4
Place two squares together with the wrong sides facing. The seams will be on the right side of the sweater. Pin one edge together. Sew the pinned edge using an overcast or zigzag stitch. This will cause the seams to ripple. Don't worry, it is supposed to look like that. Place the other squares in pairs and stitch together in the same way. I used a thread that contrasted slightly with the sweater color, but a matching color will also look nice.

Step 5
Open a pair of squares with the wrong side facing up. Open another pair and place on top with the right side facing up. Pin one short end together. Sew in the same way as the pairs. Continue to add the remaining pairs until you have one continuous strip for the scarf.

Step 6
Sew an overcast stitch or a zigzag stitch around all four edges of the scarf.

Step 7
This is where the project becomes somewhat messy. Trim the fuzzy edges of the seams. The fuzzies are the cut ends of the knit sweater stitches that did not get covered by the sewing stitches. Do not wear a black sweater and do not work in stocking feet. Yep, I now know better. Also, if you can do it with no pets or family around (preferably naked)... all the better.

Step 8
Repeat the overcast or zigzag stitch over all the previously sewn seams and the edges of the scarf.

Step 9
Get out the vacuum. Clean up may take a while.