Recycle Your Sweatshirts into a Warm and Snuggly Scarf…

I finally did it! I finally brought out all the boxes of Courtney and Kelsie's old t-shirts and sweatshirts that I have been saving for years. I tackled the sweatshirt pile first, because there were way more t-shirts to go through. I'll save those for another day.

The sweatshirts are mostly from middle school through college and not that many from college, because they are still wearing those!  At first, I thought I was going to make each of them a blanket out of the sweatshirts, but then I realized I didn't have enough squares with designs on them. I could have alternated with a blank square cut from the plain back, but I wanted all designs.

I did have enough to make a scarf for each of them though.  As time goes by and more sweatshirts are thrown in the "saving box",  I can always make them a blanket in the future.

Here's the scarf I made…

With Kelsie working in Disney World and Courtney in her own apartment, I lost my models to show you what this would look like on someone. Coat hanger it is. I miss my girls : (

This project was so easy and required only straight stitches, so it's great for anyone just learning to sew.


Here's what my sewing room looked like yesterday…piles and piles of old sweatshirts and t-shirts!

Every sweatshirt is different…where the designs are placed, how large they are and their texture. I wouldn't recommend the hard stiff stitched letters that are sewn on. They don't have enough flexibility for a scarf. A blanket might be ok though.

A MUST HAVE for a sweatshirt or a t-shirt project are "clear" rulers. They are so helpful to see the design and centering the pictures was a breeze.

If you need to invest in one, I'd buy a clear 12 or 12 1/2 inch square ruler.

I didn't stress over this project for exact measuring or cutting. I just let the designs guide me.

To start, place the ruler over the design and trace with a fabric pen.

My ruler was the 12 1/2 inch ruler.

With sweatshirts that have the pouch pocket on the front, cut above that as much as possible from the side. Don't cut up from the bottom.

Save the pocket with about an inch or two on the top.

I'm saving this for another project to show you, but it's a quick and easy apron!!

Don't forget to look on the sleeve and the hood too!!

I cut the smaller name squares at 4 1/2 inches square. Having 3 squares across will equal the width of the 12 1/2 inch main block. I only had 6 name blocks, but if I had 3 more, the whole square would be 12 1/2 inches.

I cut the medium size designs at 6 1/2 inches square. Two of them equal the width of the larger blocks. Four medium 6 1/2 inch squares would equal the whole large block

If you were making a blanket, just sew them in rows.

I used a 1/4 inch seam.

Mix up the smaller blocks with the larger ones.

Then add the medium strips here and there.

Here is the layout for the scarf.

One important part is the position of the blocks. Half the squares are facing one way and the other half are facing the opposite direction.

The arrows in the picture below show the direction. This is so the designs are facing the same direction when draping and hanging around your neck.

How do I know this?…ask my seam ripper. Lol

Here is the finished scarf. It is so warm and comfy. It scrunches up nicely or you can drape it around your shoulders like a shawl.

I didn't back this with anything, because the sweatshirt material is thick enough and that warm fleecy feeling from the backside of the fabric is perfect.

You also don't have to finish the edges, because sweatshirt material doesn't fray. The edge actually roles a little finishing it off nicely.

This is perfect for fall or winter and for all those outdoor sporting events we go to during the cold winter months.

Hope you like this project!!

Thanks for stopping by,
~Karen~