Tutorial- How To Sew An Infinity Scarf 30 Minute Project
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UPDATE: Check out our 15 Minute Kid’s Infinity Scarf Sewing Tutorial too and make a “mini me” version of the scarf featured in this tutorial.
You Will Need:
-2 yards of fabric (this will make two infinity scarves, or one infinity scarf and a strip of extra material)
-Thread
-Scissors or a rotary cutter (if using a rotary cutter you will also need a cutting mat)
-Ruler or seamstress tape
-Sewing machine
-Needle
Step 1: Select your fabric. You will need 2 yards. Cut your fabric in half lengthwise so that it measures approximately 22 inches in width by 2 yards in length. I leave the selvage on the fabric as this will be hidden on the inside of the scarf.
Note: We received this comment from a reader. I haven’t had any problems with the infinity scarves that I’ve made so far, but I’m learning every day and appreciate the tips. Beverly says: “You always want to cut off the salvages (aka the long edge on both sides of the fabric. One side will usually have the name of the fabric design, the fabric designer and circles with the colors that are in the fabric… look at the photo in step 5 for a picture of the salvage edge) of cotton and woven fabrics. The fabric on the salvage is very different from the rest as it is the part that attaches the waft and loft threads to the loom. It is more tightly woven then the rest and these edges will not shrink or relax in the same fashion as the main part of the fabric. You could end up with some very wonky seams and garments if you don’t remove the salvages before creating them.”
Step 2: Fold your fabric in half lengthwise and pin right sides together (so that the pattern is on the inside). You will have a long rectangle of fabric that is approximately 11″ in width and 2 yards in length.
Step 3: If the ends of your fabric are uneven this is the point where you will want to square them up. You will want nice straight end pieces for when you sew the two ends together later in your project.
Step 4: Sew along the length of your infinity scarf where you just pinned. I use a half inch seam allowance to make sure the selvage edge is hidden within my infinity scarf. When you get to the end back stitch. (Make sure you just sew along the length of the fabric, don’t do anything with the ends yet.) When you are done you will have a very long tube.
Step 5: Lay your scarf on your ironing board with the seam in the middle of the scarf. Using the tip of your iron press open the seam.
Step 6: Flip your scarf so that it is right side out. I just stick my arm through the hole in the middle, bunch it up until I could reach the other end and pull it through.
Step 7: Fold you infinity scarf in half so that the two open ends are laying on top of each other. It will now measure approximately 10″ by 1 yard. With the two ends of your scarf in your hands find the seam that you just pressed open. Pinch together so that the seams are lined up and the right side of the fabric is facing each other. Pin. Start working your way about a quarter of the way around the circle adding pins as you go. Bring to your sewing machine.
*Joining the two ends of the scarf together is the most confusing part. You can do it! Once you do it once it will be so easy.*
At this point it will look something like this:
Step 8: You are now going to be sewing the two ends of your scarf together. You will be sewing through two layers of fabric. I loop the bottom circle of the scarf around the bottom of my sewing machine and leave the top circle free. Start stitching around the circle leaving a half inch seam allowance.
*I find it works best if my right hand is in front of my sewing machine keeping the two pieces of fabric neatly lined up and pinched together, while my left hand was behind my machine guiding the fabric through.*
Step 9: Keep sewing around the circle slowly, making sure your edges are matched up. Once you get a little bit past half way around the circle the loop around the bottom part of your sewing machine will get too tight to continue sewing. Slip it off of the bottom of your sewing machine. Take your top section of fabric. Flip it inside out so it makes a little pocket and put the top section of scarf inside it. Bunch that part of the scarf down (where the bottom of my picture is) so it takes up as little room as possible.
*If you get confused look at the above picture, it really helps.*
Keep sewing your seams together until you are about to hit the part of the scarf you have in the pocket. (This should leave you a couple of inches to flip the scarf back right side out and hand stitch the remainder.) Backstitch, remove from sewing machine and pull scarf out of pocket.
When you take it off of your machine it will look something like this. Yay! The sewing machine part of this project is over.
Step 10: Tuck the raw edges inside the hole and pinch together.
Step 11: Pin.
Step 12: Hand sew the hole closed using a hidden stitch.
And voila! You have a beautiful infinity scarf! (I realized afterwards that I didn’t get a photo of the infinity scarf I was wearing above when it was all finished! Doh! I gave it away as a gift before I realized, so here is another one that I made.)
I hope that you have loved this Sew Creative Infinity Scarf Tutorial! Please let me know if you have any questions and I will do my best to help.
Make sure to check out our other Tutorials.
What a great idea for presents. Love the elephant pin cushion and how you used him in the photos. Happy SITS Day!
I remember this blog from a Saturday Sharefest. Back again. Enjoy your SITS Day.
This tutorial is great! Thanks! And happy SITS day!
I can’t wait to try this! Your photography is really good. Maybe sometime you can post tips on taking good photos of craft tutorials.
I love infiniti scarves. I wish I knew how to sew so I could make my own. They look so easy!
Wow! Am I ever inspired to try this out as a first time sewing project! Wish me luck! Thanks so much for the great pics to go along with your well-written post! 🙂 xoxo
what a great tutorial! I would love to make an infinity scarf…now I just need to learn how to sew! 🙂 Happy SITS Day!
So cute! I also love how easy the instructions are! Have it pinned to my pinterest and will definitely be making some of these! Thanks so much for sharing. Visiting from SITS!
My daughter loves infinity scarves!!! I will have her make me one, or have her teach me how to sew 🙂 Happy SITS Day!!!
LOVE this! I love scarves and think this would be a great gift especially since they are so IN right now 🙂 Thanks for this great tutorial and happy SITS day!!
Thank you so much to everyone who came to visit me for my SITS day! I had such a fantastic day being the featured SITS blogger. I hope you will all come back to visit again, be inspired and inspire me as well. 🙂
Lots of love,
Crystal
Hopping over from SITS. I love this sewing project! I have some fabric from when I thought I could sew my own maternity clothes. .. a little ambitious. I’ve been wanting to buy a new sewing machine with embroidery option. Is it better to buy a used one or new? Which stores have the best pricing?
Thanks!
Elle
“All work and no play makes mommy a disgruntled chick.”
Fantastic question Elle. I would say that buying used or new depends on what level of sewing machine you want to get. One thing that you want to take into account when buying an used sewing machine is that you would most likely have to get the used machine serviced before using it. Servicing a sewing machine costs $100+. I bought my Brother SE-350 on Amazon as a Gold Box Deal. I’m trying to remember back, I think that it was $300 or less. If you are buying a machine in that price range I would suggest buying new. However if you are wanting to buy an expensive, industrial machine, that sell brand new for thousands of dollars, you may want to consider buying one second hand.
With a more expensive machine the discount you would get on it by buying second hand would offset the price of having it serviced where that wouldn’t be the case with a less expensive machine.
I hope that helps?
Best Wishes,
Crystal
Wonderful idea. I also write for amazinggoodwill.com offering ideas and tips on repurposing or upcycling items I find at the stores. This would be a great project using an old skirt or blouse!
Fabulous idea Merri! You need 2 yards in length of the fabric so you blouse probably wouldn’t work but a long skirt or dress or even some vintage sheets or curtains. 🙂
I love this! I like that it is lighter. SInce we live in Vegas we have more warm weather than cool and it would get to be worn longer. We did a 30 min DIY infinity scarf too only ours is made of bulky yarn and is more wintery. You will have to check it out when the weather cools off because I think you would really enjoy it! http://www.thepinningmama.com/2013/02/27/pin-test-infinity-scarf-made-with-arm-knitting/
Thanks so much Kimber! I’ll definitely check it out. 🙂
Hi,
I have gotten to the part where I have flipped it right side out after ironing, and my two ends are now together after folding it in half. I am very confused as to what the next step means (before sewing the ends together) Help!
Hi Brianna,
Joining your two ends is the hardest part. Once you figure it out once you will never forget it.
With your scarf folded in half, line up your two seams and pin at the seam, the right sides of the fabric will be facing each other. Here is a better image from the kids scarf tutorial:
https://hellocreativefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/10-Minute-Childrens-Infinity-Scarf-Sewing-Tutorial-and-Pattern-1-1024×1024.jpg
Then just sew around the circle leaving a gap at the end.
Check the tutorial for my kids scarf and see if it makes any more sense to you.
https://hellocreativefamily.com/sew-creatives-15-minute-kids-infinity-scarf-sewing-tutorial/
It’s one of those things where you say “hunh?” when you’re reading it, but once you actually put it on your machine and start it starts to make sense.
Let me know if it doesn’t make sense and I’ll try to figure out another way to explain it.
Best Wishes,
Crystal
What material do you use? Cotton?
Hi Karin,
I’m so sorry I didn’t respond sooner, I was on vacation. Yes I use cotton for mine however you really could use anything. I used a heavier fabric for one recently and it turned out really nice too. I’ve also seen them make in a stretchy fabric. 🙂
Let me know if you have any other questions. Thank you so much for stopping by.
Crystal
Hi,
I haven’t ever sewn anything before (using a sewing machine, that is) and I want to make sure I understand how to do it before I start sewing. I have bought my fabric already; it’s about 3/4 yard by 60 inches, as that’s what other sites have said will make a short scarf.
I understand how to make it a tube, but I don’t get why you flip it right side out before sewing the ends if you don’t want the seam to show…shouldn’t you keep it right side in the tub and then sew the ends except for a bit that allows you to pull it out again to finish? I don’t really get how you put the ends together. Please help! Thanks in advance.
-Jerrica
BTW I got my fabric at Jo-Ann Fabrics on sale, 70% off! I bought fabric for six scarves using five different patterns. It was all less than $13 which I used a gift card for! I thought it was a score. 🙂 I’ll be selling these scarves (although I might keep one, hehe) and giving all the profits to charity. Just thought I’d share that as it’s a fun thing to do and helps out other people!
Hi Jerrica,
Thank you so much for visiting. Because of the way you are creating your seam when closing the scarf up (the two right sides together) your seam ends up on the inside of the scarf. I had a friend try making the scarf not flipping the scarf right side out and she said she had to pick it apart and do it over again. It seems wrong… but it’s right. 😉
I did a second tutorial on how to make a kid’s infinity scarf so maybe look at the pictures for sewing that one closed too and see if it becomes any clearer?
https://hellocreativefamily.com/sew-creatives-15-minute-kids-infinity-scarf-sewing-tutorial/
I’m so jealous that you have a Jo-Ann Fabrics near you. I have to cross the border to get to a Jo-Anns store. I can make scarves for half the price or even a quarter of the price buying my fabric at Jo-Anns then by buying it at a Canadian fabric store. I try to plan in a visit to Jo-Ann’s whenever I cross the border.
Best Wishes,
Crystal
Okay, I think I get it. Like I said, the tube part makes sense because you have flip it right sides together in order for the seam to be on the inside. The part that confused me is that I wasn’t even thinking to keep it hollow on the inside, I was thinking that you had to sew all four layers through. I think I get it. 🙂 Now, if I only knew how to work this sewing machine…. xD
Yes, I live in Minnesota, USA so there is one about 10 minutes (at most) away.
Anyway, thank you!
-Jerrica
Let me know how it goes Jerrica! Good luck. 🙂
Okay, my aunt taught me how to sew and I’ve done three scarves in 24 hours! 🙂 I have three more to go. So far, so good!
Thanks for all of your help!
Jerrica
Glad you and your aunt got it figured out Jerrica. 🙂
I was so excited to try out this infinity scarf! I went out and bought 2 yards of four different cotton materials (think Christmas gifts) and got to work right away. I have to say that the tutorial is great and I really didnt have any problems following it. It took less than a half hour start to finish. I do have to admit though that this is a very bulky scarf! I don’t think cotton is the best choice in fabric. Even after I “fluffed it up” like suggested it looked as if I had wrapped a bed sheet around my neck. I would not recommend using cotton-or at least not buying 8 yards of it before sewing one up first! I am now trying to come up with a way to use A LOT of cotton material!
Definitely need a scarf-like fabric, like a very lightweight cotton or cotton jersey, silk, silk like rayon or poly.
Thank you for the feedback. The one in the photo is made out of quilters cotton and I love it and get lots of compliments on it. This could definitely be done with other fabrics though and the ones you suggested are good alternatives. 🙂
Best Wishes,
Crystal
Oh no. I’m sorry you don’t like the way it turned out. Did you wash your fabric before sewing it? The more you wash it and the more you play with the fabric the softer it gets. The fabric in the scarf in the photos that I am wearing and the scarf that my daughter is wearing in the kids tutorial is all cotton, I’m really happy with the way they turned out. You definitely could use another fabric and follow the same tutorial though.
Best Wishes,
Crystal
It says here that I would need 2 yards to make this scarf. Can I make a kid’s infinity scarf with what’s left? Would it be cut that way where what’s left is still usable for a kid’s scarf?
Hi Llyn,
Absolutely. You could make a couple of infinity scarves for kids out of your leftovers. I usually have my cut of fabric for a kid’s scarf be 44″ by 13″ but you could do them a bit thinner (44″ or more by 11″) and get two kids scarves out of your extra fabric. 🙂
Best Wishes,
Crystal
Looks like a great tutorial – thanks so much! Going to try making one soon with jersey knit…do you have any specific advice using this type of fabric? Anything I should do different? Thanks in advance! 🙂