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Instructions: Sewing a loop scarf | with drawstring

16.09.2017 by Sabine Schmidt

Anleitung: Loop-Schal nähen | mit Tunnelzug

Sewing a loop scarf yourself is very easy, even for beginners. You don't even need a sewing pattern for it! Here you will learn everything about cutting, dimensions, and fabrics for your new loop scarf.

The most important things at a glance

  • A loop scarf is a great project for beginners
  • Loops are versatile – as a stylish accessory or as a warming neck covering made from cosy materials
  • Loop scarves can be sewn from many types of fabric
  • You can adjust the size of the loop scarf individually, so it can be sewn for children, women and men

I love long autumn walks! The rustling of multi-coloured leaves under my feet, the shimmer of chestnuts in the foliage, and the spicy aroma of damp earth, forest, and mushrooms carried by the autumn wind.

However, I love this season even more when I can enjoy my walks cozily bundled up. For me, that definitely includes a great scarf or a loop – perhaps even made from an autumn or winter fabric. And it doesn't hurt at all if it's nice and stylish! :)

That's why I've created a tutorial for a tube scarf for you. Or rather: for two tube scarves.

The first is a classic XXL loop made of knit fabric, which is quick to sew and easy to combine.

Sewing a loop for men

The second loop has a drawstring. It looks a bit nautical and is also perfect as a warming accessory for your loved one! You can find the instructions at the bottom of this page.

Sewing a scarf for children

I have a sewing pattern here for a cosy pull-through scarf for children. Take a look!

Sewing a loop scarf - which fabric is suitable?

You can of course sew the loop from super elegant luxury material. I didn't do that. For such purposes, a simple knit fabric* or a jersey*, which is easy to wash and dries in no time, is enough for me.

Which fabric can you use to sew loop scarves, neck warmers, and scarves?

In principle, many materials are suitable as long as they are soft and supple. Many people are sensitive in the neck area and don't like hard cotton fabrics there. These can be used to make good summer loops and airy scarves. For winter, for example, the following are suitable:

Sewing a loop scarf from jersey

Jersey is a versatile fabric, especially for clothing to be worn around the neck. It is stretchy, soft, and supple. When buying, you should pay attention to a warm feel. Some types of jersey feel rather cool, which makes them seem less suitable for loops and the like. This can occasionally be the case with viscose jersey.

Jersey can also be used great for children's loops and neck warmers (ideally in combination with fleece). Currently, nautical motifs are very popular, such as with these fabrics*.

But delicate colours also work well as an accessory because they are easy to combine.

And because men also enjoy a cosy loop, but often prefer more neutral colours and graphic designs, you will definitely hit the mark with these fabrics:

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Super trendy – and not just for children – are currently fabrics with bold colours and patterns*.

Loop scarf made from sweatshirt fabric, summer sweat, and French terry

Sweatshirt fabric, which comes in different qualities and thicknesses, is much warmer than jersey and just as supple. For loops that are meant to fall loosely, summer sweat and French terry are particularly suitable because they are slightly finer than standard sweat fabric. A popular combination colour here is often grey, which can be individually customised with cords, sewn-on buttons, and labels. But animals and metallic prints are also very trendy right now.

Loop scarf made of knit fabric

It is also worth taking a closer look at knit fabric. Knit is very soft and pleasant – and above all, warming. This is because the air trapped in the slightly looser weave structure insulates well.

My tips for sewing knit fabric can be read here.

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Loop & Co. made of fleece/wool fleece/Alpenfleece

For really cold days, winter sports, and outdoor activities, fleece fabrics are ideal due to their insulating, warming, and water-repellent properties.

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Sewing a loop scarf for adults

For the loops, I used a neutral grey-mottled knit fabric*. It actually goes with everything. I also bought the same knit fabric in charcoal-mottled* because I liked it so much. I'll probably sew a cardigan out of it. In my freebook collection of cardigans & knit jackets, there are a few pieces that I really want to sew!

I also ordered an olive green viscose jersey*, which I haven't looped sewn yet.

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If you still have some concerns about how sewing with knit fabric works, my info post on the topic of sewing knit fabric will give you more confidence in handling the unfamiliar material.

A real insider tip (still!) for scarves & co. is the Hipster Knit Knit Jersey by Hamburger Liebe*, which I personally like not only because of the many great colours. What's special about this fabric is that it doesn't fray. It is great for sewing fringe scarves. It's also really good to sew for clothing because it has a nice, soft drape.

For plotter fans: The smooth surface of the fabric is excellent for applying great motifs!

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Sewing a loop scarf for children - what dimensions?

Sewing a simple loop scarf for children is very easy. Follow my instructions, but you should adjust the dimensions for children. This is a matter of trying things out:

For a child between 7 and 13 years old, the following dimensions usually work well:

If you want to sew the loop from one fabric: 120 x 50 cm

If you want to sew the loop from two fabrics: 120 x 2 x 27 cm (seam allowance of 1 cm is included)

For smaller children, fabric cuts of 110 x 40 cm are usually sufficient

Let's get started with loop no. 1

Do you like this sewing tutorial?

Then feel free to leave me a comment!

Happy simple sewing,

your Sabine

Frequently asked questions

Can beginners sew this loop scarf too?

Definitely! You will find two different tutorials in this post. Version 1 is easier to sew for beginners, but with a little practice you will manage version 2 well too!

Which fabric can you use to sew loop scarves, neck warmers and scarves?

Basically, any materials that feel comfortable against the skin are suitable, such as jersey, viscose jersey, sweatshirt fabric, French terry, knit fabrics, fleece, cotton fleece, Alpenfleece, virgin wool blends, but also cotton or muslin.

Do I need an overlock to sew a loop scarf?

You can sew the loop scarf either with an overlock or with a regular sewing machine!

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Step-by-step instructions

Instructions 1 / 2

Version 1: Sew a snood (great for beginners)

This snood is very voluminous and can even be pulled over your head as a hood if needed. I cut it 120 centimetres long with a fabric width of 150 cm.

If you don't like it quite so voluminous, you can vary the length when cutting the fabric; the width of 150 cm stays the same.

The snood is super quick to sew! A great project when you want to jazz up your wardrobe quickly and once again have nothing suitable in your wardrobe! ;)

By the way, you can also make the snood from cotton fabric or sew it from muslin! A lovely summer accessory!

And because the snood is so nicely voluminous, it also works great as a nursing scarf!

What you need for sewing

  • 120 cm stretch fabric (150 cm fabric width)
  • Overlock or sewing machine, hand sewing needle
  • Pins
  • Rotary cutter (with a fresh blade!)
  • Ruler
  1. Step

    Fold and pin the fabric

    • Lay the fabric piece in front of you with the right (pretty) side facing up.
    • Fold the long sides (150 cm) towards each other and pin them.
    Fold and pin the fabric
  2. Step

    Sew the long edge into a tube

    • Sew the edge you just pinned with the overlock stitch of your sewing machine or with the overlock.
    • This creates a 1.50 metre long tube.
    Sew the long edge into a tube
  3. Step

    Pin the tube ends together

    • Now put your arm into the tube and grab the start of the seam from the inside between thumb and index finger.
    • Pull it into the tube until it meets the end of the seam.
    • Pin both tube ends right sides together.
    Pin the tube ends together
  4. Step

    Sew the tube together with a turning gap

    • Sew the tube together, but leave a turning gap open.
    Sew the tube together with a turning gap
  5. Step

    Turn and close the turning gap

    • Turn the loop scarf right side out through the turning gap.
    • Close the turning gap with a straight stitch or by hand with an invisible ladder stitch.
    • Done!
    Turn and close the turning gap

Instructions 2 / 2

Version 2: Sew a snood with a drawstring casing

A little more adventurous but still beginner-friendly is the loop scarf with a drawstring casing. It is designed to fit comfortably into a jacket/coat collar.

For this reason, it is less voluminous than version 1. The drawstring casing lets you adjust the width of the loop easily. It also turns the loop into a clever it-piece that gives your outfit a cool touch.

For the second version I used the grey marl knit fabric again so that you can easily see the differences between the two loops.

Because of the drawstring casing, the loop can't be sewn together in one go like version 1. I sewed it together by hand, which is done in no time. This also lets you sew the ends together really precisely.

If you already know SewSimple a little, you'll notice that many of the sewing topics I've covered over the last few months come up again in this tutorial.

That's a good thing, because it lets you see how much progress your sewing skills have already made! :)

A little tip on the leather appliqué: For my rather small sewing projects, I like to buy leather scraps by the kilo bag on Amazon. That way I always have a suitable piece to hand when I quickly need a few baby slippers, elbow patches or a cool printed label. The leather is also available sorted by colour family. I really like it in turquoise blue or green shades, for example.

Leather appliqués in different colours are an easy way to add lovely accents without much effort!

You'll find more information on working with leather in our blog post Sewing leather.

By the way, did you know that there is also leather made from mushrooms and pineapple? Here's my blog post on this exciting topic!

Materials you need for the loop scarf with drawstring casing

For the drawstring casing:

  • 22 x 150 cm knit fabric
  • 2 pieces of leather, suede or SnapPap, 3 x 3 cm
  • 2 small pieces of Wondertape or Style-Fix
  • 1.60 m cord, 5 mm
  • 2 eyelets, 8 mm
  • 2 pieces of Vlieseline H 250 to reinforce the eyelets

For the loop scarf:

  • 28 x 150 cm knit fabric
  • Pins
  • Rotary cutter (with a fresh blade!)
  • Ruler
  • Hand sewing needle (I always have long quilting needles on hand and I really use them for everything! - probably best not to tell an expert... ;) )
  • Matching sewing thread

Before you get started, feel free to take a look at my article Sewing with knit fabric - especially if you've never worked with knits before. Don't worry, beginners can do it too.

  1. Step

    Straighten the fabric

    Start by straightening the fabric. Sometimes it isn't cut very accurately. That way you won't get any nasty surprises later.

    Straighten the fabric
  2. Step

    Mark the casing fabric

    • Lay the 22 cm long piece in front of you with the right side facing up.
    • Mark the centre. With a fabric width of 150 cm, that is of course at 75 cm.
    • Then mark a line 5 cm from the upper edge, exactly at a right angle to the centre mark.
    • Measure 8 cm from the centre along this line on each side and mark the spot with a dot and a pin.
    • Turn the fabric over and iron the Vliesofix onto the marked spot.
    Mark the casing fabric
  3. Step

    Prepare the leather appliqués

    • Prepare the leather appliqués by marking the centre.
    • Stick a piece of Wondertape onto the back of each.
    Prepare the leather appliqués
  4. Step

    Position the appliqués

    • Place the appliqué centred on the marking.
    • Align the appliqué parallel to the fabric edge.
    Position the appliqués
  5. Step

    Sew on the appliqués

    • Secure the appliqué well with the Wondertape and sew it on with a straight stitch.
    Sew on the appliqués
  6. Step

    Attach the eyelets

    • The eyelets are attached on the centre mark of the appliqué.

    I show you how to do this in detail in this post.

    Attach the eyelets
  7. Step

    Sew the drawstring casing

    • Pin the long sides of the future casing wrong sides together.
    • Sew the long edge with an overlock stitch on your sewing machine or with the overlock.
    Sew the drawstring casing
  8. Step

    Prepare the loop scarf fabric

    • Take the second fabric piece.
    • Lay it in front of you with the right side facing up.
    • Place the edge of the casing you just sewed along the upper edge.
    Prepare the loop scarf fabric
  9. Step

    Pin four layers

    • Fold the second long side up to the upper edge as well.
    • Pin all four layers together well.
    Pin four layers
  10. Step

    Sew the long edge

    • Sew the pinned edge with the overlock stitch of your sewing machine or with the overlock.
    • The casing seam lies between the two fabric edges.
    Sew the long edge
  11. Step

    Turn the loop scarf and close it with a ladder stitch

    • Turn the loop scarf right side out.
    • Sew the open ends together with a ladder stitch.
    • This makes the seam allowance fold neatly inwards.
    • Finally, secure the thread well.
    Turn the loop scarf and close it with a ladder stitch
  12. Step

    Thread the cord

    • Wrap the end of the cord with sticky tape or washi tape, push a safety pin through it and guide the cord through the casing.
    • Secure both cord ends with a knot.
    Thread the cord
  13. Step

    Topstitch the casing

    • Topstitch all the way around the casing with a long straight stitch (e.g. 5.0).
    • The casing should have approx. 4 cm of play.
    Topstitch the casing
  14. Step

    Topstitch the seam allowance

    • Finally, topstitch the seam allowance between the loop scarf and the casing with a long straight stitch.
    • Make sure the seam allowance always points in the same direction.
    • On my loop scarf, I laid the seam allowance towards the scarf.

    Done! :)

    The drawstring casing can be worn at the top or the bottom, just as you like!

    Topstitch the seam allowance

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.