Pinned for Murder (33 page)

Authors: Elizabeth Lynn Casey

For thick seams that are difficult for your sewing machine, like hems on jeans, use a hammer and a board. Lay the thick seam on the board on the floor and give it a few good hits with the hammer. (This can also help relieve any frustrations you have with your sewing project.)

Have a sewing tip you’d like to share?
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Polarfleece Hat and Boa-Style Scarf Set

Experience:

Beginner

Materials for both projects:

2 yards Polarfleece fabric (Solid colors work well because the wrong side of the fabric will show on parts of this project.)

Matching thread

Straight pins

Chalk or marking pencil

Sharp scissors

Decorative button or appliqué (optional)

Quick and Easy Polarfleece Hat

Cut a rectangle of Polarfleece measuring 16” high x 22” wide.

With right sides together, pin the 16" sides together. Sew a ½" seam, stopping 4" from the end. Trim seam allowances closely.

Along the top of the hat where you left 4" of the seam unsewn, cut 4" slits at ½" intervals to create fringe. Turn hat right side out.

Cut a strip of Polarfleece ¾" by 8". Gather the fringe together and secure by tying the strip tightly around the base of the fringe.

Create a cuff by rolling the bottom edge up twice. If desired, the cuff can be secured in place by sewing on a decorative button or appliqué through all layers.

Boa-Style Polarfleece Scarf

Cut three strips of Polarfleece (four if you would like a fuller scarf) measuring 10" wide by however long you’d like your scarf to be (54" is a good length).

Use a marking pen to make a line down the center of one of the strips.

Stack all of the strips on top of one another, with the marked strip on the top of the stack. Secure in place with straight pins.

Sew down the center line through all layers.

At 1" intervals, cut through all layers from the outer edges of each side toward the center, stopping about ½" from stitching.