Project: Colorblock Spring Infinity Scarf

My co-worker Faye and I found some Nani Iro fabric that was begging to become a scarf.  How does fabric beg? This fabric was a small piece, it was a scrap.  What else to do with it but make a scarf.  Nani Iro fabric is a beautiful Japanese fabric.  This one is a double gauze so perfect weight for spring.  Since the piece we had was 1/2 yard x 44" we had to improvise a bit.  So in the pictures you will see 3 colors:
navy shot cotton by Kaffe Fassett
yellow shot cotton by Kaffe Fassett
and white Nani Iro Colorful Pocho fabric

The below directions are for only using 2 fabrics 

makes 2 scarves, depending on your width you probably can get 3 scarves

materials:  1 ¾ yards Kaffe Fassett Shot cotton

1 ¾ yards Nani Iro double gauze

matching thread

Cut one piece of each to be

-63” X 12”  shot cotton

- 63” X 12” Nani Iro (I started with one piece Nani of 44" x 12" so I added a piece of yellow shot cotton to make the length 63")

feel free to make your scarf as wide as you want but I think that 11” is a good width not to strangle yourself.

Lay fabric face to face, iron out and pin

Sew ½” seam allowance along 3 sides leaving one short side unsewn

Trim corners at a diagonal

Turn inside out and press side seams, topstitch 3/8” seam allowance

Tuck in raw edges and press

Match short edge to short edge and layer by ½” - basically you are sandwiching the two ends.  

Top stitch twice

Done!

 

Wear it wrapped around your neck twice or let it hang loose!  I personally like using the 3 pieces of fabric.  Not only is it a great way to use up scraps but also adds some color interest.  This is a quick project that you can easily do in 1 to 2 hours. Remember prewash that fabric!

Have a great weekend!

Tracey

Products I've Been Working On. Sewing with Liberty of London

Last night in class a student told me she never heard of Liberty of London until taking my class.  Well I am a fan. Liberty of London is beautiful and cool, well made and obtainable.  Obtainable is key because as a consumer you can't always buy quality fabric by the yard.  Only 3 stores in NYC sell it.  Another student asked, is it difficult to sew with. This is a good question because Liberty feels like silk, also it has a similar weight.  Liberty is 100% cotton and yes it is easy to sew with, just use a size 8 or 9 needle.  The last quality I appreciate much with Liberty, it is made in England. It is difficult these days to buy something not made in Asia.  When you buy Liberty you are buying from a company that is paying fair wages. Check out this cool video of the print facility.

Last summer I launched a new product in my etsy shop and on my website, Liberty Bandanna Scarves. What's a bandanna scarf? You can wear it in your hair or as a scarf. Great for temperamental weather.

This spring I have introduced Pocket Squares (which also can be used as a hankie, ladies).  There are now a few listed in my etsy shop but more are to come!

Emilia
Thanks Andy for modeling for me.

Bourton - a lovely blue paisley

Susanna Pocket Square

Emilia with Capel
Capel is a whimsical floral in a perfect dress shirt lavender.
Not posted on etsy yet. 

Since this is new product I am always looking for feed back. What do you think?  Do you like the prints I have chosen? Would you use this as a pocket square or hankie?

Love of Liberty... Fabrics

Happy Monday! It is beautiful in NYC today, high 60's. Spring is in the air and I am feeling invigorated and ready to start planting my garden. But more of that later, in the mean time there is still a slight crisp in the air and I've come up with a new design, well not that earth shattering new, but an old favorite being revamped. The scarf bandanna. I mentioned last week or so that I made a large scarf bandanna for a colleague at Purl Soho.  Also, Shag, a store in Brooklyn who sells some of my items has requested some bandannas. They are the perfect, chic solution to this in between weather.
I've decided to use Liberty of London.
I'm becoming addicted to Liberty of London Fabrics.  They are known for little ditsy flower prints and beautiful soft cotton fabrics. In the past few years their designs are becoming more brilliant and beautiful. The fabric feels likes silk but it is 100% cotton, fine cotton.

                                         

Rich in history going back to 1875 and based out of London, Liberty puts you in the mood for being in England, having a garden party or sewing something up.  As a designer I admire the prints so much, you can see the talent and beauty in each one. Little flowers that aren't flowers but rather stars.

I picked up 2 new fabrics at Purl my new place of work. Of course it was hard to choose but I think with these ones I will be making a double sided bandanna.

I used a neon pink thread for the top stitching. 

So the bandanna is double sided and keeps my neck warm in the 40 to 70 degree temps. Also doubling as a head scarf.
I wore it to work yesterday and am on the fence of whether to keep it double sided. I think I probably will but also make some more that are single sided. I already have a single sided on which I do like alot.  These are easy to make, just a 19" square. That's all you need with this luxury fabric. Do you have any thoughts on single or double sided?
If you don't feel like making one stay tuned, I will be selling these beauties in my etsy shop!