Fur-Trimmed Cowl

During the holidays, you often might find yourself thinking on the things that would make the perfect gift for friends or family. If you’re tired of getting folks something they just won’t wear, OR just tried of your friends constantly stealing your scarf, I’ve got the perfect idea for you – a custom embroidered cozy cowl scarf!

All you have to do is scroll through the abundant selection of Urban Threads designs, grab something that reminds you of your recipient, and add it to that one-of-a-kind cozy gift. No one complains about a gift that is useful – at least not to your face.

In this tutorial I’ll show you how easy it is to make a 10” by 32” reversible cowl scarf; a gift that can be easily customized to fit the sensibilities and style of your loved ones.

Supplies & Materials:

Supplies

To craft your embroidered cowl scarf, you will need:

Your favorite embroidery design (we used the 5.87 x 6.73" Raven Crest for this example)
At least 1 yard of fabric for the outside of the cowl, and 1 yard of fabric for the inside of the cowl (you may choose to use the same fabric for both inside and outside)
Medium weight cutaway stabilizer
Temporary spray adhesive

Hand sewing needle and pins
Ruler
Air erase fabric marker OR white tailor's chalk (do not use tailor's chalk with silk or nylon fabric, as it may stain)
Buttons or clasp(s)
Optional: 40 inches of faux fur trim

**NOTE: Most wool fabric comes folded and rolled, from a fabric bolt. The directions given here will be based on this.

The design featured in this tutorial is:

Raven Crest

Gather Materials:

If your chosen fabric is printed or patterned; you’ll want to make sure that prints or patterns lay evenly. You don’t want one side of you scarf to be straight and the other be diagonal. Unless of course, that’s your desired outcome – then, roll with it.

We’ll start by prepping the outside layer of your scarf. We’re going to add some markings to help guide us.

Since the design I’ve chosen requires a hoop that is larger than my finished product; I am going to cut more fabric than needed.

Close-up of blue and gray plaid fabric with chalk marking a horizontal line and a hand folding fabric edge, showing sewing preparation on white surface.

Use your ruler to measure out a rectangle 17 inches wide by 16 inches tall on your outer fabric. Cut out this rectangle.

Since my fabric is already folded; I’ll only need to cut one rectangle. If your fabric isn’t folded, you’ll want to mark out and cut two.

Close-up of white scissors cutting the edge of blue and gray plaid fabric with a frayed edge, set against a white background.

Now because our inner fabric doesn’t need any excess for embroidery, you can mark out and cut a 17 by 11 inch rectangle from your inner fabric. Remember, if your fabric isn’t folded, you’ll need to cut two.

Now you should have two 17 x 16 inch rectangles of outer fabric (blue) and, two 17 x 11 inch rectangles of inner fabric (red).

Set the inner fabric aside for now. We’ll get back to it later.

Hand holding a white chalk marker drawing a straight line along a transparent blue ruler on red fabric with a black plaid pattern.

Once your fabric is cut, on one outer piece, use your ruler and measure 2.5 inches from the top and bottom of the outer fabric to create the cut line for your finished product. Mark these lines with your air-erase pen or tailor's chalk.

Draw a line 2 inches from the left to mark your border line (the area that will be used to close the reversible scarf), and another line 0.5 inches from the right side (where your seam will be sewn).

Blue and gray plaid fabric square with white dashed lines marking 2" border, 2.5" and 0.5" finish lines, measuring 16" by 17".

Next, we’ll want to find the “true center” of your rectangle to know where to put the embroidery. To do this, find and mark the middle point of each side of the rectangle, then draw a straight line to connect the marks.

The intersection created by those lines is where I want my machine to be centered for the embroidery design.

Blue and gray plaid fabric with white grid lines and a marked white dot labeled "True Center" near the center of the square composition.

Start Embroidering:

Grab your temporary spray adhesive and medium weight cutaway stabilizer. Cut enough stabilizer to cover the fabric entirely, then adhere it to the back of your fabric with the spray adhesive.

Hoop both layers together taut and line up the crosshairs of the embroidery hoop with your marked true center lines on the fabric.

Embroidery hoop holding blue and gray plaid fabric with intersecting white lines, on a dark blue fabric background.

Embroider your design!

Close-up of embroidery machine stitching an intricate dark blue or black embroidered design on blue and gray plaid fabric inside an embroidery hoop.

When you are done embroidering, carefully remove the excess stabilizer from the back of the fabric by cutting around at least 0.25 inch border around your design.

Hand cutting white fabric with scissors along an intricate blue bird and floral embroidery design printed on it.

Now that the embroidery is done, we can eliminate the extra fabric used for hooping the design. Lay your two rectangles face to face, and cut the extra 2.5 inches off of the top and bottom of your fabric where you had marked it.

This will leave you with outer fabric 17 inches wide by 11 inches tall, the same as your inner fabric.

Blue and gray plaid fabric with a paper turkey template pinned on top. Inset shows scissors cutting the fabric edge.

Now we’re going to sew our two rectangles end to end to create a long rectangle of fabric.

To do this, lay your front and back panels of outer (blue) fabric face to face, and pin down the side marked with the 1/2 inch line. Sew a 1/2 inch seam down just that side of your fabric. Make sure to back tack at the beginning and end of this seam to secure the stitch.

Turn your fabric over and press the seam flat.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a blue and gray plaid fabric. The presser foot holds the fabric as the needle sews a straight seam.

Next, take your “inside” fabric, and repeat this process. Pin the two rectangles along one short side and stitch a 1/2 inch seam.

Close-up of a hand holding a needle and pinning a fold on maroon fabric with a checkered pattern, preparing for sewing on a white surface.

You should now have two long rectangles of fabric – your inside and outside layers.

Lay your “outside” fabric on top of your “inside” fabric, right sides together.

Close-up of a textile with a blue and gray buffalo check pattern partially covering a white fabric printed with a detailed black bird and floral design.

Pin the top, right side, and bottom of your fabrics together.

NOTE: If you have extra stretchy or thin fabric, adding a thin strip of stabilizer along the far right pinned edge will help your fabric from shifting.

Hand pinning edge of blue and black checkered fabric on white surface; fabric edge folded with pins along all sides except one labeled "leave open.

If you want to add fur trim, now’s the time! You can pin it with the fur facing inwards (so it's sandwiched between your layers) but just on the top and bottom (long sides) of your scarf.

The short sides doesn’t need any fur trim.

Hand pinning fur trim to edge of white fabric attached to blue and purple plaid fabric; diagram below shows placement of fur trim pinned on one side only.

With your fabric pinned and at the ready (fur or no fur) sew a 1/2 inch seam around the top, right side and bottom edge of the fabric (along where you have pinned). You can see here the strip of stabilizer I added to that right side to help with the stretchy fabric. It’s not necessary, but can help!

Be sure to back tack at the beginning and end of your stitch.

Close-up of hands guiding fabric under the needle of a white sewing machine, stitching a piece of light-colored cloth with red pins inserted.

If you want a crisp corner finish, snip the corners of the fabric. Then turn your scarf right side out, and press the edges with a flat iron to make it lay smoothly.

Close-up of a hand cleaning a red and black plaid cowl with blue fabric inside and fur trim; inset shows a sharp knife on white fabric.

On the unfinished side of your scarf, draw a straight line 0.5 inches from the edge of your fabric. This marks the border of your button holes to make sure they look evenly placed.

Do this on both sides of your fabric, back and front.

Hand holding blue sewing gauge with yellow chalk on blue-and-gray plaid fabric; inset shows chalk piece on dark red-and-black fabric with wires.

Fold the raw edge inward; using the chalk line as a guide. Once your raw edges are tucked in, you can pin the two layers flat together.

Close-up of the edge of a blue and green plaid fabric with white fur trim, pinned with sewing pins, on a white background.

Now you can sew straight seam 1/8 inch from the edge. Again, remember to back tack at the beginning and end of your seam.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a folded deep blue fabric with a burgundy lining, showing the needle and metal foot in action.

Here’s what your finished scarf edge will look like. All neat and tidy!

Close-up of a fabric item with a blue and green check pattern alongside a burgundy section, trimmed with beige faux fur against a white background.

Now we’ll work on adding the buttons and button holes.

On the right side of your scarf, draw a straight line 0.5 inches from the edge of your fabric. This marks the border edge of your button holes. It will help make sure they look evenly placed.

Starting from the top of the scarf; mark a straight line (as wide as your intended button) exactly 0.5 inches away from the top edge. Measure 3 inches down and make a similar mark. Measure another 3 inches down for a third mark and a final 3 inches down from there to make your fourth mark (this final mark should measure 0.5” away from the bottom of your scarf).

Illustration of fabric with evenly spaced button marks every 3 inches, 1/2 inch from the edge, labeled with measurement lines and text.

This is what the markings look like on your scarf. Now, use your buttonhole maker on your sewing machine to stitch a buttonhole at each marked point.

Once you’ve finished sewing the buttonholes, snip your loose threads and cut the buttonholes open.

Close-up of a hand holding fabric with blue and gray plaid pattern next to a transparent blue ruler on a white surface; inset shows fabric being sewn on a white sewing machine.

On the left side of your scarf repeat the same markings you made for the button holes, only marking a “dot” or “x” for where you’ll want to sew your buttons.

It might help after marking to lay your buttonhole side of the scarf over this side, to see if the holes and the markings line up.

Blue and gray checkered fabric piece with fur trim on one edge, laid on a light-colored fur surface. Small white specks visible on fabric.

Once you’re sure of your placement, sew your selected buttons to the scarf, and snip your threads. Finally, flat iron your scarf – the steam will remove chalk and air erase marks.

Close-up of a hand pulling a leather loop to fasten a brown button on a blue and gray checkered fabric, with a red and black background.

Your embroidered cowl is complete!

Blue and gray checkered fabric with a black embroidered bird, edged with light brown fur trim, and two wooden buttons on a flat surface.

Get Inspired:

And remember, the cowl can be made with or without fur trim, and in different fabrics, colors and styles to suit anyone!

Two plaid fabric cowls, one blue and gray and one red and black, each with fur trim on one edge, embroidered floral designs, and three wooden buttons.

A warm cozy cowl makes a great gift for the holiday season. There’s nothing better than a personalized, warm way to show you care!

Person with light curly hair and glasses wears a black leather jacket and holds a blue cowl with fur trim near green tree branches.

The style is versatile enough that it works for anyone, and the embroidery really lets you add that personal touch to make it extra special for the receiver.

Man wearing a red cowl with black bird embroidery and white floral designs, partially covering his lower face. He has short dark hair and a mustache.

You handmade embroidered gift is sure to make you or your loved ones feel extra cozy through the winter season. It’s the perfect DIY gift for the holidays, no matter whom you’re stitching for!

A man and woman outdoors in fall or winter; the woman wears glasses, a black leather jacket, and a blue fur-trimmed cowl, the man a gray textured sweater and a red cowl.