Have you ever found a beautiful scarf but known you’d never wear it as a scarf? Do you happen to have a few scarves in your closet that you love but just never wear? Well, we found this crazy-patterned scarf and loved it with a skirt. But we really wanted a flowy, caftan-like blouse. So we folded the scarf in half, realized it would work perfectly as a caftan, and bought it. The cutting part was nerve-wracking (who wants to cut up a beautiful scarf?), but the end result was worth the scare!
When selecting a scarf, fold it in half and hold it to your body. If your arms are covered and your rear-end at least partially covered, it should work out fine! You can use this pretty blouse over pants, leggings, or even a bathing suit. You can embellish it as much, or as little, as you like!
Things you’ll need:
Scarf (ours was 46″ x 68″)
Scissors
Matching thread
Tape measure
Straight pins
Sewing machine (we ended up hand-stitching because the fabric was so delicate)
Large, flat surface
Mirror
Things to do:
1. Fold the scarf in half and pin at the “shoulders.’
2. Using tape measure, measure your head hole.” Measure across your shoulders to your bra straps. Reduce the number a bit for seam allowance.
3. Using tape measure, measure your cleavage display.” Measure from your throat, down to where your comfortable showing your chest. Be conservative, it’s easier to cut more than to uncut! You could cut deeply and add a closure or ties if you’d like.
4. Fold the folded scarf in half again to find the center, or where your head would be. You could measure the edge and divide by two. Place a pin in the center.
5. Divide your “head hole’ number in half.
6. From the center pin, measure the half number from either side. Using 6 inches, measure three inches to the left of center and three inches to the right. Make a mark at each end, or mark with a pin.
7. Cut the length of the head hole.
8. From the center point of the shoulders, measure your cleavage display.
9. On the scarf, measure the cleavage display from the center of your “head hole’ and mark.
10. Cut the length of your cleavage display.
11. Get to a mirror and pull your scarf over your head, GENTLY! Check for fit and feel. Are you comfortable? Note any changes you might want to make. Remove the scarf.
12. Back at the work table, make any modifications you noted.
13. Clip a 1/2-inch V at each “corner’ of your scarf. The corners are each shoulder and your cleavage. These will be folded back to make your seams.
14. Fold the seam, double if you can, and pin. You’ll use a lot of pins!
15. We tried to sew with a machine, but ended up hand stitching. Because of the wild print, we just used a loose zigzag stitch. Add a little reinforcement at each corner to keep scarf from ripping.
16. When you’re finished, go back to the mirror, slip it over your head, and check for fit.
17. Take off the scarf, turn it inside out, and put it back on.
18. Back in the mirror, hold your arms straight out from your body.
19. Notice where the front and back should be tacked so the sides don’t fly away. Should be about half-way from shoulder to bottom. Leave enough room for your arm to get through above! The tack will be about three inches long. Leave plenty of room for your body; don’t make it tight. You could decide to leave your scarf as a poncho and skip this part!
20. Pin the places you want to tack your garment.
21. Go back to your work surface and stitch the tack-down seams.
22. Turn garment inside out, put it back on, and go look in the mirror.
23. Enjoy your new caftan/blouse/poncho thing!
You might want to add some bling or other embellishments to your garment. Use your imagination and have fun!