I grew up in an area with very cold winters and one of the first things I learned about winter weather was how to bundle up to stay warm. Layer upon layer, ending with a scarf and a hat, I always dreaded the little inevitable cracks in my armor, the places that the frigid wind and snow could sneak into. One of these places was usually between my scarf and hat. One would shift and I would end up shivering.

When I was younger, this didn't matter too much. I was out running and building snowmen and wasn't going to let something like "cold" get in my way of having fun. But as I got older and my outdoor fun turned into outdoor chores, like shoveling snow and clearing off cars, it bothered me more.

My mother had a solution: I could borrow her hooded scarf. It was a bulky, cream-colored knit and I loved it. She still has it, but I no longer live with her, which means I need my own. I can't knit, unfortunately, but I can sew! So here is how I made my own hooded scarf to keep me warm when the wind gets a bit too chilly.

Step 1: Materials

I tried to make this simple enough for those just beginning to sew. If you can cut straight lines and sew straight seams, you can make this hooded scarf.

Here's what you'll need:

Fabric (see below for details)
Thread
Tape measure (or other appropriate ruler/measuring device)
Scissors
Pins
Sewing Machine

These instructions will show you how to make a 70" long scarf attached to a hood that you can fit to your own measurements. You can use two different fabrics - one for the lining and one for the outer layer - or the same. I used fleece for the lining and a flannel for the exterior. Both are soft and thus my hood is reversible. My hood is 24"x13", my scarf is 70"x7" (made from two pieces 36" long), and with 45" wide fabric, one yard of each was enough to leave me with some left over.

Step 2: Measuring and Cutting

You'll need three measurements:

Hood height
- To get this measurement:
  - Measure from just below the jaw (or wherever you want your hood to begin/end) over your head to the same place on the other side.
  - Add 1" (for 1/2" seam allowance
  - Divide that measurement by 2, since you'll be cutting on a fold.
Hood depth
- To get this measurement:
  - Measure from where you want your hood to extend from just in front of one side of your face around behind your head to the same point on the other side of your face.
  - Divide that measurement by 2.
  - Add 1" (for 1/2" seam allowance).
Scarf width
- Average scarf width is around 6", but you can make it as wide or as narrow as you want.
- Add 1" to desired scarf width (for 1/2" seam allowance)

For this two-layer hooded scarf, you will need to cut:

one hood piece from your lining fabric and your exterior fabric each (for 2 hood pieces total)
two scarf pieces from each of your fabrics

For my hood height, my measurement over my head was 23" (because I like loose hoods and have a big head). I added 1" for the 1/2" seam allowance throughout this project, and then divided by 2 to account for measuring from a fold. Thus:

23 + 1 = 24
24 / 2 = 12,

so I measured 12" from the fold for my cutting line. I marked this line directly on my fabric, but you could make a paper pattern to pin to the fabric if the fabric is difficult to mark.

For my hood depth, my measurement behind my head was 24". I divided by 2 to account for find the measurement from the back seam to the front opening, and then added 1" for the 1/2" seam allowance through the project. Thus:

24 / 2 = 12
12 + 1 = 13,

so I measure 13" along the hood height for my next cutting line.

For my scarf width, I chose 7" wide, so I marked that out along two layers of my one-yard long fabric.

If you need to finish the edges of your fabrics to prevent fraying (via pinking or zig-zag stitch, etc.), now is the time to do so before you have any seams to get in the way.

Step 3: Assembling the Hood Pieces

With the right sides of your fabric together, pin the two hood pieces together along one of the long edges. Sew 1/2" in from the pinned edge (removing the pins as you go can protect your needle!).
Open the pieces and lay it flat. You may press the seams open, but this is optional.
Fold the right sides together again, bringing one end of your seam up to meet the other end of your seam. (In the picture, the new fold is along the bottom.)
Pin the sides brought together by the folding, lining to lining, outer layer to outer layer. Sew 1/2" in from the pinned edge on each side.

Step 4: Finishing the Hood

Reach inside your hood and grab the two corners.
Turn the hood inside out, so the wrong sides are now together and the right sides are visible.
Push the lining into the space between your outer fabric, laying the back seams together.
Sew the lining and outer fabric together along the hood opening a 1/4" from the seam. This keeps the seam allowances inside flat, making the seam around the opening nice and smooth.

The hood piece is now complete and it's time to move on to the scarf assembly!

Step 5: Assembling and Attaching the Scarf

Right sides together, pin your scarf pieces together along one of the short edges, lining layer to lining layer and outer layer to outer layer. Sew 1/2" in from each pinned edge.
Open each scarf piece and press each seam open.
Line up the back seams of each piece, right sides together:
- Right side of scarf outer layer to right side of hood outer layer
- Right side of hood lining layer to right side of scarf lining layer
Starting from the back seams, pin outward along each hood side and continue along the scarf to the ends. Sew 1/2" in from pinned edge, from one end of the scarf in to the hood, along each hood side, and out to the other end of the scarf.
Open up the scarf and bring the wrong sides of the scarf outer layer and lining together.

Step 6: Finishing the Scarf Edges

Slightly trim the point each corner to prevent the folded corners in the next step from becoming too bulky.
Fold under the edges of the scarf by 1/2" on each open side of the scarf and pin.
Pin the lining and the outer layer together along these folded edges. (If you'd rather, you can fold and pin as you go along pinning the layers together, but doing it in two steps was easier for me.)
Sew along each side of the scarf, 1/4" (or less if you prefer) in from the edge. Start at one side of the hood and sew around to the other side (marked by a red line in the diagram).

Congratulations! Your scarf is finished!

You can add any other decorations you want, but your basic hooded scarf is complete!