Use it up, wear it out...

....or create something new and awesome with it! (Well, that is our version at least.) So for those of you who, like us, love to make something new out of the old...here is our first tutorial, courtesy of Carol Schneider Designs and the Daily Herald. These are so cute...love the mixed up colors and patterns.

Recycle Old T-shirts into Scarves

"Carol Schneider, a New York public-relations agent for a large book publisher, crafts scarves, children's wear and purses in her spare time. She hit upon this nifty T-shirt scarf while cruising the Internet, and made it her own by using whimsical, color-loaded Ts.

Samples of her "Reclaimed Tee Scarves" may be viewed online at Carol Schneider Designs.

Her scarves for adults measure at least 56 inches long. Since Schneider scavenges thrift stores for her T-shirts, no two scarves are alike.

You can make Schneider's scarves on the cheap: Your own castoffs and the kids' outgrown T-shirts will do, ensuring endless possibilities in color and pattern combinations.

Schneider suggests combining T-shirt swatches by theme: sports, food, music, the arts or cartoon characters.

She sells her children's scarves with jumbo safety (or diaper) pins so they can be attached to the backs of children's jackets; you don't want these clever scarves to get lost."

Supplies

• For children's scarf (approximately 48 inches long): four used T-shirts of complementary colors, at least two with a fun design or logo

• For adult's scarf (approximately 56 inches long): four to five T-shirts, depending upon the desired scarf length. Since more of the scarf is visible on adults, it's nice to use at least four scarves that have designs or logos.

• Scissors

• Thread in coordinating color

• Sewing machine

• Steam iron

Assembly

1. Front of scarf: For children's scarf, cut 7-inch-wide squares from four T-shirts to make a total length of 49 inches. For adult scarf, cut 8-inch-wide squares from four or five T-shirts to make a total length of 55 inches to 70 inches, depending upon desired length of finished scarf.

2. Back of scarf: For children's and adult scarves, cut four or five solid-colored squares of the same width from the backs of the T-shirts to make a total length matching the front.

3. For the front, pin each set of squares together in desired order and sew them together, one by one, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press. Do the same with the scarf's back squares.

4. With right sides together, pin and sew two 3/8-inch seams along the scarf's long sides, leaving the ends free. Turn right side out and press.

5. Trim ends to the same length, if necessary. Sew a zigzag stitch 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches from the bottom of each end. Cut fringe up to stitching line (without cutting the stitches).

Originally posted in Fashion-and-style on Sunday, April 11, 2010 12:02 am

see the original article here:

http://heraldextra.com/lifestyles/fashion-and-style/article_15d5459f-c84f-59d2-aa85-7a95706b23dd.html