PROJECT #7 : FAUX FUR FUR FUR

© 2011 Runway Sewing. All Rights Reserved.

Keep warm out there! Try making this pattern free faux fur shrug jacket to keep you stylishly warm! No pattern necessary!

If you want to make it even easier for yourself, make the scarf and cuffs in minutes by sewing it onto your sweater or jacket. Here are 3 projects you can make with less than 1 yard of faux fur fabric!




FAUX FUR SHRUG

FAUX FUR SHAWL COLLAR

SCARF AND CUFFS

You can choose to make all 3 projects or just 1. Try your own variation. These are just some suggestions for you. Be creative and see what you come up with the left over faux fur fabric.


Material:

1.) 1 yard of faux fur
2.) thread
3.) pins
4.) scissors
5.) measuring tape
6.) sewing machine
7.) 1 yard of lining fabric (recommended)
8.) marker or chalk
9.) safety pins (optional for pinning collar & cuffs)
10.) 1 set of hook and eye (optional for shrug jacket neck closure)

Duration: 1- 1 1/2 hour (without lining)
Sewing Level: Beginner

FAUX FUR SHRUG

1. Lay the fabric on a flat surface and fold the fabric so the wrong side is facing out as in picture #2. Make sure the salvage (width of fabric) is left to right and the hair (nap) is facing down all in one/same direction.

2. Cut the fabric in 29" width x 21" length. You will need 2 pieces for front and back. Pin the 2 layers together. Make sure the fur is in between the 2 layer of fabrics. For the front piece, cut straight at center from top to bottom for the center front opening. You want to always cut the fabric from the wrong side so you can see better. Draw the red dotted line directly on the wrong side of the fabric with a marker or chalk using the dimensions in the picture.

A= TOP LINE / WIDEST PART OF THE BODY
B= BODY LENGTH
C= NECK OPENING WIDTH
D= FRONT NECK DROP
E= WIDEST PART OF BODY
F= SHOULDER SLOPE

*Curve the neck line and hem line at sides as the picture so it is rounded and not straight.

3. Sew the shoulder lines together from the wrong side of the fabric as in picture.

4. After sewing the shoulder lines together, cut the seam allowance by 1/2".

5. Cut the front neck line. As you cut the fabric the faux fur will shed a lot. Try and get all the loose fur out of the way.

6. Turn the garment right side out as in the picture. Pin the top and bottom layers together again so the fabric stays together and does not shift or move. Mark 13" down from the top neck and shoulder point.  Pin 19 1/2" apart at center front as in picture.

7. Sew a straight line from bottom hem up to where pinned (13" down from top) on the right and left side as in picture #6.

*Optional: sew hook and eye at center front neck closure and line the inside of the jacket.

FAUX FUR SHAWL COLLAR / SCARF AND CUFFS:


Cut left over faux fur fabric in the dimensions shown above and hand sew or safety pin them to your clothes as in the picture shown above. Lining everything is recommended as it will feel and look nicer.

Congrats! Now you have updated your old wardrobe with fun faux fur!

PROJECT #6: VALENTINE TOP WITH VELVET BELT

© 2011 Runway Sewing. All Rights Reserved.

Happy Vday! Here is another fun project you can do and wear on Valentine's Day or Any Day!
There is a bonus with this top! I will show you how to make a simple and pretty matching velvet belt to go with it.

 

See the before and after pictures below. What a difference a little creative thinking can do! Try it for yourself! 

Material:

1.) Long sleeve T shirt
2.) thread
3.) pins
4.) scissors
5.) measuring tape
6.) sewing machine
7.) velvet ribbon +/- 1 1/4" wide

Duration: 2 hours
Sewing Level: Easy, Beginner

1. Lay the T Shirt flat on a table and cut out the sleeves out around the armhole seams. Then cut a straight line at center front neck line down 6".

2. Take the 2 sleeves that you cut out and cut open along underarm seam.

3. Take one sleeve and start cutting in a circular direction about 1 1/2" to 2" wide as in the picture. Make sure to cut continuously. You may want to draw the cutting line 1st and then cut. It's up to your cutting skill level.

4. Take the other open sleeve and cut straigth as in picture about 1 1/2" to 2" wide. As you can see in the #4 picture above, the long circular strips you cut in #3 will be sewn along the center front neck and body.

5. Sew very loose stitching  about 1/8" to 1/4" along only one side of all the strips you cut out. This is done so you can shirr all the strips into ruffles as in picture #6 above.

6. Shirr all the strips into ruffles by gently pulling one string of the stitch to one end and tie the thread at one end so the shirring stays and does not unravel.

7. Start pinning all the ruffles starting with the longest at front from neckline down to the center of the body to about waist area. Take the shorter strips and pin straight under each end of ruffle from center to side of the body.

8. Lastly sew all the ruffles down to the T shirt as you take each pin out. You may want to baste (loosely hand sew) the ruffles then machine sew. It's up to your sewing level.

9. After sewing all the ruffles down, cut off all the loose thread everywhere. Congratulations! You have completed your lovely shirt!


Belt

1. Buy about 1 yard of velvet ribbon from the fabric store. 1" to about 1 1/4" width is good. Put the ribbon around your waist and customize the width to fit your waistline. Pin to mark the full circumference.

2. Add +3 1/2" to the full circumference of your waist measured with the ribbon. For example, if your waist measured 28", the total length of the ribbon cut will be 31 1/2".

Fold the end as in picture #2 above with 1/4" seam allowance. Stitch the folds down close to the edge, about 1/8" at fold ends. Hand sew the snaps as in the picture. The thread will not be visible on the outside of the velvet belt as the sewing thread will go through in between the folds. The outside of the belt will only show the straight machine stitched line holding the folds in place. The construction of your new velvet belt is complete!!

Lastly, wear it out and show off to your friends how pretty you look!