10 minute Infinity Scarf (2)

Well, I don't have an infinity scarf but I do have a bit of spare material around. So, yesterday I decided to test the claims that you can make one of these in 10 minutes.

I've used a black, stretchy material that has a kind of sheen to it. Can't remember exactly what it's called but at the time I bought it, I was also recommended to buy ballpoint machine needles - if that helps.

Right the clock is ticking! 

Basically I used the same method as before. First I made a long tube by folding the material over lengthways and sewing along the edge. I used the whole width of the material, cutting off a small piece to use for a cuff later. The tube ended up being about 58 inches x 8 inches. 

I turned the tube the right way out and folded it in half so that the open ends met. I pinned and sewed together the two middle edges (for photos see Infinity Scarf (1), black material isn't good for clear photos).

Turn the tube inside out, seams now on the outside, and sew together the remaining two edges, leaving a gap of a couple of inches. 

Watching the clock, I turned the scarf inside out again and used the machine to sew the gap closed, sewing neat and close to the edge.

Result - basic infinity scarf complete in about 20 minutes! Not bad.

My model, no.2

Remember the material I saved for a cuff? I made a rectangle about 2 1/2 inches x 5 inches (double thickness) and sewed round edges leaving a small gap so I could turn it inside out. I put on the scarf, doubling it over and then slipped it all back over my head. I then wrapped the cuff (turned right side out) around the scarf and sewed the cuff together using the machine. 

You could add buttons or flowers to the cuff too, but they look good without cuffs too.

Infinity Scarf (1)

This evening I've had a go at repurposing an old pair of my daughter's flannel pj's into an infinity scarf for her. To make an infinity scarf all you really need is a long tube of material (my measurements are at bottom).

So, I started by cutting off the legs of the pyjamas. I thought if I cut off both legs, I could stitch them together and tadah! - long ready made tube of material. However, when I measured the material I realised that even if I stitched them together it would not quite be long enough to go around her neck twice but a bit too long for once. It's OK to make an infinity scarf that just wraps round once but I fancied making one that went round twice as I thought it would be snugger. 

As I'd already cut the legs off, I had to piece some more material together to get a longer tube. (If I wasn't trying to repurpose something it would probably have been easier to simply cut a piece of material and fold and stitch to make the tube). Anyway, once I had my tube the process was quite simple.

Completed tube, turned right way out.

With the tube of material the right way out, seams on the inside, I first folded the tube so that the open ends met, like there were now four layers of material. I pinned and then stitched together the two middle ends of the material.

I turned the scarf inside out so that the tube seams were now on the outside. Just go with it, it really does work! Surprisingly, I found that the two remaining unstitched ends of material were now lying together. I pinned and stitched these ends, leaving a few inches gap.

I turned the material inside out again through the small gap - right sides now back on the outside - and hand stitched the opening closed. 

Basic infinity scarf finished!     

My model!

You could leave it like that but as I'd pieced a few bits of material together to make the tube I had some ugly seams. So I got some scraps of t-shirt material and made a few cuffs to hide the seams. 

Later on we decided to secure two pink cuffs into place. However with a third cuff, we thought we could add buttons or a flower to it and then leave it loose so that the wearer could move it into place once they were wearing it.(I say we because as it was for youngest daughter she did have some say in this!). 

Update: The following day we decide to add a flower.

I cut a 27 x 2 inches long piece of white material, folded it over, turned it under at one end (just to neaten) and sewed a running stitch along the edge. 

I pulled the thread until the whole piece softly gathered. I secured the gathering with an extra stitch but left the needle on the thread. 

Then I started to roll the gathered material around itself from the neatened end, occasionally sewing a couple of stitches to secure it. You could use hot glue. 

Keep rolling and securing until you get to the end of the material. I found this a bit tricky and was a bit too fussy at making it look just right. Maybe I rolled too tightly at first but it turned out lovely in the end....

Infinity Scarf Measurements

I think if you're making your own scarf you can probably just estimate length and width (wrap a measuring tape around your neck twice to where you want the scarf to hang to). 

This scarf is snug but still wraps comfortably over my daughter's head - length was determined by however long the pyjamas were!

However, as a rough guide, measurements for a double wrap would probably be a tube about 55-60 inches long and 7-9 inches wide. For a single wrap I guess a tube somewhere round 35-40 inches long.

Having made this infinity scarf I think I'll definitely be trying it out in different materials or widths. You could repurpose other clothing - eldest daughter has now offered black jog pants that she's going to bleach dye first! Or how about the sleeves from long sleeved tops for a thinner look.

Shaving Foam and Glue

As you might know, I'm a teaching assistant and so sometimes my posts will be a project I've done for school - like today's.

I should also say that, like many of my friends and colleagues, I'm currently addicted to Pinterest. For me, Pinterest is the IT alternative to printing ideas out and pasting them in a 'to do' folder. I try and pin a lot of things that I do genuinely have an intention of trying or of adapting for my own ideas.

Shaving foam and glue is one such thing. I've seen people mix the two to make snowmen pictures - we tried this at Christmas. However, I was looking for something to paint a large earth with some texture to it.

I've drawn an outline of the world on the backing paper using chalk (note: holding it down with anything handy - paracetamol - third child poorly at mo!) 

Then, I've mixed PVA glue with green acrylic before mixing in shaving foam. It's meant to be half PVA and half shaving foam - but seriously how are you supposed to work that out!? 

I've used a paintbrush to dollop it on rather thickly. Occasionally I leave a bit of shaving foam unmixed or add a bit more green, so that the finished map isn't just one colour.

All I need to do know is leave it to dry overnight.

Salt and Glue Painted Canvas

I have a couple of friends who've had a trying year, so at Christmas I made them some inspirational gifts. I thought I'd try out a new technique of using water colours with glue and salt. I've seen lots of examples on tinternet but I imagine you probably get different effects depending on your exact technique and what salt or paint you use. Anyway here's my tutorial....

         

Paint your canvas with a selection of watercolours, using so much that it 'puddles' on the canvas.

Next drip glue over the painted canvas, see how it starts to act like a resist, pushing the paint away.

Then sprinkle salt over the canvas to draw up some of the watercolour. I used a mix of rock salt and table salt.  Leave the canvas to dry.

This is what the canvas looked like the following morning. When it dries the salt gives the canvas a bit of a shimmer.

Here's the finished gifts once I'd hotglued a coaster with an inspirational quote onto it.

Mud Scrub

What you will need: 1 cup sugar (white, brown, cane), 5 tbsp coffee grounds, 1/4 cup oil (veggie oil, almond oil, extra virgin olive oil, baby oil…), 

1 tsp peppermint extract, 

1 tsp vanilla extract

Having made body scrubs for gifts for friends at Christmas, thought I'd treat myself instead. 

I've used another Pinterest recipe and made a mud scrub - it's supposed to be good for varicose veins, thread veins, cellulite etc. 

I've just used olive oil because that's what I've got handy.

Took me all of 5 minutes to mix it together - now I'm off for a soak and scrub!

**Feedback - my skin feels great (I imagine other benefits may not be apparent until I've used it a few times). Anyway, I'm now converted to trying more of my own DIY home products.   

**UPDATE: because you use an oil, it is important to make sure you wash the bath out after use, otherwise it could be left feeling a little slippy!