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How to Make Fleece Hats & Scarves

Fleece is a wonderful material to work with when it comes to sewing projects. It's warm, it's stretchy and it's versatile. Not only that, it's easy to use. Because it's lightweight, it's the perfect fabric to use for winter clothing. It provides plenty of insulation and, pound-for-pound, is nearly five times warmer than cotton blends. Although it's completely synthetic, it also is hypoallergenic, which means that people who may have wool allergies can still wear it with no problems at all. A great way to use leftover bits of fleece is to make hats and scarves. You can make them for your entire family or give them as gifts during the holidays.

Things You'll Need

1 yard of 54-inch fleece Ruler Sewing machine Scissors, pins, thread Iron

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the scarf. To make the scarf, fold a yard of fleece in half. Measure a spot about 6 to 8 inches in from the edge, depending on how wide you want your scarf. Cut a line from the fold to the loose edges along this measurement. This will give you a strip of fabric that is 8 inches wide by 54 inches long.
- 2
  Cut the fringe. Lie the scarf down on your work surface and, using your scissors, cut a fringe into the short edges of the scarf. Don't make the fringe more than about 4 inches long.
- 3
  Knot the fringe. Tie a knot in each piece of fringe. This will keep it from unraveling and will also add a bit of flair to the look of the scarf.
- 4
  Measure the circumference of your head. If you don't have a tape measure, use a piece of string or fabric. Your head measurement will be the width of the piece of fleece you cut for the hat.
- 5
  Cut a piece of fleece as wide as your head's circumference. For the length, cut in about 18 to 20 inches. Be sure you have the fabric lined up so that it stretches around the width of your head, not the length.
- 6
  Fold the fabric in half along the short axis. Be sure to put the right sides together. Stitch the short edges, forming a tube, stopping about 6 inches from the end of the fabric. This will be the top end of your hat.
- 7
  Use your iron to press the other end down flat. Make a 1-inch fold, press it down and then fold again. Press it down and pin in place. This will be the bottom edge of the hat. Try it on to make sure it fits before you do anything else. Once it fits, stitch the hem into place. Flip the material so it is right side out.
- 8
  Make the top end of the hat. Take the unstitched end of the tube and cut a fringe about 4 inches long all the way around the hat. Make your fringe fairly narrow so it will be easier to work with. Snip off an extra piece of fringe and use it as a tie. Bundle all the fringe together and tie this piece around it to anchor the fringe. If the bundle is too bulky, thin it out by snipping a few pieces off at regular intervals. Trim off extra pieces of fuzz and string. Put on your hat and scarf, and you're ready to go outside.

Sewing