The Best Fabrics for Circle Scarves
I recently wrote a tutorial here for how to make simple infinity scarves and it’s been a popular post! I took the guess work out of it, included the right yardage, measurements and techniques for hiding that joining seam, but I didn’t really delve into which kinds of fabrics are best for these circle scarves and where to find them.
So I’m going to do that here today.
These scarves make amazing homemade gifts, so while you’re browsing for fabrics, keep your friends and family members in mind!
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I currently have three circle scarves in my rotation. They’re all pretty neutral and go with almost everything I wear, but their weights are what sets them apart from each other. I pick and choose from the two lighter weight ones for Spring and Fall, then am hardly ever without my warmest one in the Winter. Of these, I made the two black/white/gray ones, but my blush peach one came from a Stitch Fix box. I’ve had it for several years now, I love the color, and it’s been great to travel with since it scrunches up small.
The only must-have for a circle scarf fabric is that it’s double sided. Meaning, it’s as pretty on one side as it is on the other. That’s why quilting cottons and brushed poly knits won’t really work for these.
The good news is, there are plenty of fabrics perfect for infinity scarves and for scarves in general. The best thing to do is to just keep your eyes peeled for two-sided fabrics when you’re out shopping for fabric! But here are some good choices for more specific scarf fabric shopping. All of these can be purchased on Amazon, and ALL have free Prime shipping! What better reason to become a Prime member, right??
Fabrics for sewing scarves:
Sweater Knits.
Sweater knits come in so many weights and colors. Many are the same on both sides and many are different on the front and back, but all varieties make great scarves.
French Terry.
French Terry is one of my favorite fabrics. It’s either printed or solid on one side and has a cool texture on the back, which is pretty enough to show, for sure. I love how soft and cozy French terry always is.
Cotton Double Gauze
Cotton Gauze has made a massive comeback in the baby sewing industry recently, but there are plenty of grown-up prints too, and the solid colors are always perfect for scarves. Double sided cotton gauze is what by buffalo check scarf is made from and others like it can be found if you keep your eyes peeled.
Fleece
Fleece is an obvious choice for scarves; there are so many colors and patterns and it’s usually inexpensive. Just follow my instructions for finding the perfect width to make your scarf so that it’s not way too bulky! I recommend sticking to antipill fleece, just so your scarf stays nice looking.
Flannel
Not all flannel is two sided, but the plaid and tartan varieties almost always are! I don’t know if plaid flannel ever goes out of style, but it is certainly very in right now, so it’s always a good bet if you’re making scarves for gifts.
I hope that gets you going! Of course, many other fabrics work (my Stitch Fix scarf is acrylic), but they are harder to purchase online without feeling them first. So keep your eyes open and use your judgement for what might work best! And if you need a refresher on how to sew an infinity scarf, here is the easy tutorial.
Learn to choose fabrics for your quilts with confidence!