Ring Your Neck ~ Scarf Challenge

It's only half way through the month and I've finished my entry, for the Ring Your Neck Scarf Challenge.

While the northern hemisphere is heading in to Winter, Summer is almost here in Australia. It's definitely not scarf wearing weather at the moment!!! I love wearing scarves for warmth in cold weather and have a ton of them in different colours and styles; some knitted, some fabric. I definitely don't need any more.

I don't, however, have any scarves that are worn purely to dress up, or become part of, an outfit. I'd like to add a few light weight scarves to my wardrobe. The Ring Your Neck Scarf Challenge was just the motivation I needed to make my first scarf to wear in Autumn or Spring.

I purchased 1 metre (39.37") of a black, stretch fabric. I thought I had taken a photo of the label, as suggested by Cass, from Cass Can Sew, but I didn't, so I can't tell you the type of fabric. Making the scarf couldn't be any easier: Cut two pieces 16" x 42". Join the short ends with a zig zag stitch. Join the ends of the seam, with a few stitches, to form a tube at the join. This hides the seam. That's it. Sewing (if you can call it that), doesn't get any easier.

The fabric doesn't fray at all, so there was no need to hem or neaten the edges. In fact, doing so would have changed the way the scarf hangs. I've never made anything, ever, where I've left the edges raw. The ends of the scarf are the selvedges. Again, I've resisted the urge to cut them off and hem, because it would have detracted from the look of the scarf.

One component of the challenge is to try something new. I learnt to sew in a formal environment. Techniques were either right or wrong. There was no middle ground. Rules were made to be adhered to. I'm learning to think outside the square and break the rules, every now and then. Effortless as it may seem, leaving the edges raw and not cutting off selvidges, is new to me. I'm also learning that complicated isn't always the best option for every situation.

84" is quite long for a scarf, especially on a short person, but I've deliberately done this so I can wear the scarf as it suits me at the time. It's long enough that I can wrap it around twice if I want to.

I wear a lot of black when I dress up, which is why I chose black fabric. I don't know that I would ever wear it with my everyday t-shirts and jeans, as in these photos, but perhaps I should experiment more.

It only took a few minutes to cut the fabric and sew it together. Experimenting with the length took a little longer, but the really time consuming part was the photo shoot. My family will attest to the fact that I am not comfortable in front of a camera. My daughter, Tash, was very patient with me, taking LOTS of shots.

I'll be adding my scarf to the ongoing Hats, Bonnets, Beanies and Scarves link party, here on Threading My Way.

Thanks, Rikka, for hosting yet another fabulous challenge. This is the eighth challenge I've done with Rikka, each one taking me a little further out of my comfort zone.

• Retro Pillow Challenge
• Solids Only Tote Challenge
• Naughty Notions Challenge
• Typography Challenge
• I Will Wear It in Public Garment Sewing Challenge
• 2 in 1 Challenge
• Fab Folds Challenge

There's still plenty of time to join in if you'd like to make a scarf.

... Pam