Cosy Winter Scarf

BY ALISON BAKER

This lovely self-lined cotton scarf has a snowflake embroidered pocket at either end to keep your hands warm on long winter walks.

Time: 2 hours

Difficulty: Get stuck in

You Will Need

Fabric for scarf: One piece 148cm × 52cm (58¹⁄₈in × 20³⁄₄in)

Fabric for pockets: Two pieces 27cm × 23cm (10¹⁄₂in × 9in)

Blue and green stranded cotton (floss)

1. Using a fine pencil draw a snowflake shape on the right side of each of the pocket pieces taking care to make sure the motifs are centred.

2. Embroider the snowflakes using two strands of embroidery thread with a decorative stitch of your choosing, such as backstitch, for example.

3. Fold the scarf fabric in half lengthways with right sides together. Machine stitch with a 1.5cm (⁵⁄₈in) seam allowance along the three open sides, starting at one folded edge and leaving a 10cm (4in) gap at the opposite end for turning.

4. Turn the scarf through to the right side and press. Sew up the gap by hand.

5. Neaten the edges of the pocket pieces with machine zigzag stitch and press over to the wrong side by 1.5cm (⁵⁄₈in). Sew along the top edge using blanket stitch and two strands of embroidery thread. Place the pockets at either end of the scarf aligning the edges. Tack (baste) the pockets in place, then machine sew. Remove the tacking (basting) stitches from the pockets to finish.