Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Easy Breezy Beaded Scarf Tutorial


I love accessories.  Scarves especially.  I found this lovely fabric at JoAnn Fabrics and wanted to turn it into a scarf, but I also wanted it to have a little more body to it, so I invented this beaded scarf.


It's really easy and could be done with any fabric and beads.  So easy, in fact, I wrote a tutorial for you.

All you need is some fabric, beads, and matching thread.  The piece of fabric I started with was "58 x 46" (it was the end of a bolt) and I used 42 beads.  Probably a package of 40 to 50 should work out perfectly or whatever you have in your stash. 

I wanted to make the most out of the fabric I had without putting a seam in it, so I cut a large piece from the center and on the bias (roughly 20 inches wide, but I didn't measure it), like this...

You can save the two corner pieces for your stash.  Then I used my sewing machine to stay stitch all the way around the edges of the fabric:


Now make a rolled edge stitch by hand along the same edge.  All you do is fold the edge under twice along the stay stitch and loosely stitch it in place.


I tried to do this part by machine, but the fabric didn't cooperate and I thought the hand stitching looked better.


Now I'll show you how to make these beaded gathers.


Thread your needle with a long piece of thread, but don't knot the end.  Start from the back of the fabric and bring your needle through to the front...


Now weave the needle back into the front of the fabric about a half inch away and then back through again another half inch away...


Now slip a bead on the end of the needle.


Then weave the needle back in and out of the fabric again, keeping the stitches about a half inch apart.


Carry the stitch to the back again...


Then flip the fabric over and pull the thread through.


Pull the thread tight and make a knot.  Then make two more, just to be safe.


Snip the ends about a half inch from the knot.


Flip over the fabric again and... VOILA!   A beaded gather!


Now repeat all over the fabric, but space them out so that they are in rows about 6 inches apart and stagger them.  I alternated rows of three and four gathers, like you can sort of see in this really sad drawing...

 

Maybe this pic is more clear?

 

A bunch of beads and gathers later and... HOORAY... you have a new beaded scarf!

13 comments:

Me, still said...

Great way to add a little oomf to the fabric! But I have a question...don't the beads get tangled in your hair?
Please let me know if they don't so I can shamelessly copy your idea.

Cecily said...

Esther: No, not at all! They're so close to the fabric that there's no way for them to get caught up really. Maybe if you used really jagged or awkward beads, but with anything fairly round it shouldn't be a problem. Take care!

Tabitha said...

Fabulous! That's a seriously gorgeous scarf.

Anonymous said...

Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [08 Jun 12:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria

Chef in Training said...

OH my goodness! this is absolutely beautiful! I love it! I found your blog through a link party and i LOVE it! I love making new blog friends! I am your newest follower and would love it if you would check out my blog and follow me too! Thanks!
-Nikki
http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/

Red Cat Cards said...

oh yes, it's definitely worth it. It's on sale for half price right now for $60 for 6 weeks, the class will close on july 31, so hurry =)

Finding Charm said...

Very pretty. But I LOVE that scarf.

Finding Charm said...

Very pretty. But I LOVE that scarf.

Hootnz said...

What a simple idea for a lovely summer scarf! thankyou for sharing :) And thankyou for leaving that lovely comment on my blog

Anonymous said...

Beautiful scarf!

KimMalk said...

I've never done a hand-rolled hem, can you imagine? It looks exactly the right technique for your scarf. Adding the beads was ingenious.

Fonda @Southern Scraps said...

Very pretty and great tutorial. I saw some fabric at Joann's that I thought would make a great scarf- I should have bought it. This is the perfect tutorial for it.

Terri @ A Creative Princess said...

How cute! I love the added touch of the beads!!