Handmade Monthly-A Kitchen Scarf

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     Hi everyone!  It is that time again to make something giftable with our own hands here on Handmade Monthly.  This kitchen scarf makes a perfect gift!  How do I know?  Because I received one as a gift and I love it! 

     This isn't a scarf to wear in the kitchen to create a chic addition to your wardrobe, although these can be pretty cute.  This scarf is so practical and absolutely genius!  Of course, by dear friend Anita is the one who taught me about them and gave me one! Anita always comes up with and/or finds absolutely genius ideas.  She also gave me permission to share this pattern with you. 

You can see her in the collage, and here is my favorite picture of Lindsey modeling the kitchen scarf for you!

      Anita introduced me to these before Christmas, so I was able to make some for my sisters and some friends last Christmas.  I am going to make more this year for the people that I missed. (Even though these are a quick project, I still couldn't get to everyone!)
     Here is the beauty of the kitchen scarf: 

• You wear them around your neck, so you won't be misplacing your kitchen towel as you bake.
• They are handy to use to move something a little too hot to handle bare handed. 
• You can make them in colors to match the kitchen of the cook! 
• They are super inexpensive to make. They only require 1/4 yard of fabric and 1 kitchen towel! 
• They whip up really quickly!  
• They make a much more impressive gift that just a plain kitchen towel! And, when you get the colors or prints that match the person's kitchen or interests, they feel the love you are putting into this project. 

Anita made this blue one for me. She knows I love blue.

     So, are you ready to get started on this sweet project?  Just click the read more button to get the simple, detailed instructions. 

You could make some cute scarves with these Dollar Tree towels!

Look at all of this available at DollarTree!

If you order online, you can get 12 or more in a case! Can you think of 12 people to give these to? I can!

Supplies needed: 

• ​1/4 yd. of fabric.  Non-directional is best, but it doesn't really matter. (Walmart is a great source, or look through your scraps! ​​
• 1 Kitchen towel (Dollar Tree or Walmart are inexpensive sources)
• Scissors
• Thread to match fabric or towel
• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Tape measure

I had left over plaid fabric from last month's project! I found the rooster towel at Walmart. I see that Dollar Tree has a really cute rooster towel as well.

Directions:

1. Your 1/4 yard of fabric should be 9" long and 44"-45" wide. You are going to open the fabric up and fold it lengthwise with the right sides together. Stitch a seam along the 44" side. Look at the photos below.

I like to press a small hem on either end of the strip before I stitch it.

Then fold the fabric right sides together and pin in place.

I take a 5/8" seam.

Then I trim it to 1/4".

     2.  Next, turn the tube you have just made right side out.  Take it to the ironing board and press it              so that the seam goes down the middle of one side. 

      3.  Take your kitchen towel and cut it in half horizontally or in other words, across the width of                    the towel. 
​​      4.  There are two ways to insert the towel into the ends to attach them.  I will explain both. 

Take a long gathering stitch along the cut edge of the towel. If you would like, you can fold the towel into thirds first, but this time I didn't do that. I just left the towel in one layer.

Pull the thread to gather up the towel.

Stick the gathered end into the open hemmed end of the fabric tube. Pin it in place, dispersing the gathers as evenly as possible.

Pin the back as well to be sure it doesn't slip away when you sew.

Stitch across the hemmed edge, removing pins as you go.

This method was easier to sew over than the next method and didn't put a huge strain on my machine.

The other method makes a pleat in the towel, but was more difficult for my machine to sew over.  But, I do like the look of the pleat. 

Follow the directions on the next few pictures to make a pleat in the towel.

Now, stitch across the top to hold everything in place.

As you can see, the towel is still wider than the tube, but it is too thick to gather with the thread.

Just scrunch it evenly into the tube and pin into place.

Now sew along the hemmed edge of the tube, catching the front and back with the towel all at once.

Repeat on the other end of the tube with the half of the towel.

     See!  It didn't take long at all to make these cute kitchen scarfs!  (They are a little stylish at that!)