Stay cute and cozy on breezy spring days with this simple shrug design. This spring sewing project can easily be made in an hour and is designed to be as versatile as possible! Make this layering piece in pastel organza for a bright, warm weather look or in a jewel tone dense knit fabric for fall or winter. You can design your spring shrug with 3/4 length sleeves for day wear or add some billowing full sleeves for a dramatic evening look.
Time: Afternoon project
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials:
- 1 1/2 – 2 yards intended drape-y fabric
- Matching 50 weight thread
- 1/2 yard, 1/2’’ wide elastic
Tools:
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Tailor’s chalk
- Pins
- 1.5” safety pin (this will help pull elastic through tunnel later)
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
To Fit Women’s Sizes: S/M (L/XL, 2XL/3XL, 4XL/5XL)
Length from End to End: 50 1/2 (52 1/2, 54 1/2, 56 1/2)’’
Armhole Circumference: 27 (29, 31, 33)’’
Designer Notes:
- This shrug sleeve sits at a 3/4 sleeve length. For a longer sleeve length, add 6’’ total to the panel length of all sizes, and pin 13’’ along either side in CONSTRUCTION step 3.
Instructions:
PREP:
- Cut intended fabric to a rectangle of 53 (55, 57, 59)’’ by 28 (30, 32, 34)’’.
- Cut 2 equal strands of elastic to 11 (12, 13, 14)’’.
CONSTRUCTION:
- Fold over both short edges of panel 1/4’’ towards the wrong side of fabric. Hem using a short straight stitch.
- Repeat the hemming process with both long edges of the panel. Fold over both hemmed long edges 1/4’’ once more and hem a second time.
- With right sides together, fold the panel in half along the length of the piece. Starting at the end on both sides, pin 10’’ along hemlines of the long edges. Sew both sides closed to create two armholes with an open space between.
- Flip fabric right side out. Along short tubular edges, fold over the edge to the inside 1’’. Stitch around the edge using a 3/4’’ seam allowance and leaving a 1-2’’ gap for inserting elastic.
- Insert elastic through newly formed armband spaces, and pull elastic through (you can use a safety pin to do this) and overlap elastic ends 1/2’’. Stitch ends together and pull into the armband before seaming the armband closed.
- Clip all excess threads to finish.
