Solid color inexpensive fleece throws are available everywhere at this time of year. They are pretty boring, as throws. But buy one anyway. They usually measure about 45" x 65", which in addition to being the right size to keep your lap warm and cozy, is just the right size to make four or five winter scarves!

There are two great things about synthetic fleece.

The first is that it is very lightweight, but very warm. The second is that it is like felt, in that the edges of the fabric don't ravel, so there are no edges to finish on these scarves, leaving, as usual, all the more time to decorate them!

Both of these qualities make fleece an ideal fabric for a whimsical winter muffler. There are a million other ways you could decorate these scarves besides the ones show here. Just remember that scarves can’t have messy wrong sides, since both sides will show when the scarf is worn.

You could, for that matter, use any of these techniques to make a plain throw a little more interesting, if you have more use for a throw than a passel of scarves. The fringed ends, especially, will take a plain throw out of the discount store look straight into the decorator look.

What You Need

Fleece throw
Scissors
Ruler
Assorted trim scraps
Scotch tape

What to Do

1. Cut the throw into five strips of equal length, going the long way. Each strip will be about 9" wide and about 65" long. Cut the hemmed edges off and discard. The corners of the throws are usually rounded, so when you cut the ends of those strips off, they will be slightly shorter. This makes no difference at all. There is still plenty of length for a generous scarf. Next use any combination of any of the techniques below to embellish your scarves.

2. Fringing: Place a strip of Scotch tape across one end of a scarf strip about three inches up from the bottom. The tape will act as a cutting guide. Cut fringe up to the tape edge, each fringe about ¼" wide. Using overhand knots, knot two fringes together so that the knot ends up right at the cutting line. Continue across until all fringes are knotted. Repeat on other end. If your muffler is for a male, you are finished! This is enough decoration to look finished, but not so much that he won’t wear it.

3.Button appliqué: Thread a needle with a double strand of heavy duty thread, or colorful embroidery floss for extra color. Instead of knotting the thread, sewing on the button and then knotting the thread, try this easier and more interesting looking technique. Start with your thread unknotted and push I through the button from the front to the back, and then back out to the front. Now, tie a square knot and trim the ends to about ¼". This way, the thread becomes a part of the decoration.

4. Running stitch border:Thread several strands of mohair or other fluffy yarn through a long needle. About 1" in from the edge, sew a running stitch border of stitches about 1" long all around the scarf. You could also sew row after row of running stitches all across the scarf.

5.Pointy ends: Use a piece of scrap paper to make a template as wide as your scarf with a zig zag pattern of points about 1” wide at their base. Pin this to the end of your scarf and cut scarf end into points. You could also trim the sides of this scarf with pinking shears to echo the pointy motif.

6. Tied on ribbons and rick rack: Use small scissors to cut a pair of slits, each about ¼" long, about the same distance apart. This can be done most easily buy folding the scarf and cutting tiny pairs of slits on the fold. Cut trims into pieces about 3" long. Insert a piece of trim from the front to the back through a slit, then come back out to the front through the other slit. Tie ends together tightly against scarf, trim to about 1".