12 Best Sewing Tips

Best Sewing Tips in 2023

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DIY Sewing Craft: How to Turn a Pashmina Scarf or Shawl into a Cocoon Sweater

Here is a simple, easy, and permanent way to convert your pashmina into a sweater.

In New York, there are street vendors selling pashminas on practically every corner. At prices of $5-10 each, sometimes the temptation to buy a new color or pattern is just too hard to resist. Recently, I've been trying to come up with new ways to wear my pashmina wraps. I've twisted, tied, and looped them in every imaginable way.

One evening, after draping my pashmina over my shoulders, I reached my wit's end. I spent the entire evening pulling it up, adjusting and rearranging it. So, I decided to come up with a solution using needle and thread. The next day, I converted the pashmina into a cocoon sweater.

Nothing beats a cocoon sweater on a cool day. Not only is it warm, comfortable, and stylish, but also it hides a myriad of sins. Here is a simple, easy, and permanent way to convert your pashmina into a sweater.

Five Easy Steps from Pashmina to Cocoon Sweater:

Supplies:

Pashmina or Shawl

Thread the same color as the pashmina

Sewing Machine or Needle

Safety Pins

Measuring Tape

Directions:

1. Turn the pashmina so that the reverse side is facing up. The outer patterned side should be facing down.

2. Carefully drape the pashmina over your shoulders with the reverse side facing up. If you can't do this by yourself, ask a friend for help.

3. To make your sleeves: Pin the sides of the pashmina around your arms.

Option: While it is best to tailor your sweater to your body, you could simply fold the pashmina lengthwise with the reverse side on the outside. Bring both sides together, and pin along the edges. Leave a center opening of approximately 35" inches wide. Your opening can be any width you like, but an opening of 35" inches is generous enough to accommodate bulky sweaters.

4. If the sleeves are too long, you can easily sew the ends, but you'll lose the fringe finish.

5. Sew the sleeves, either by hand or on a sewing machine. Most dry cleaners have tailors, so you could opt to have it professionally sewn.

There you have it…a quick and easy way to turn a shawl into a stylish cocoon sweater. Most of these sweaters cost much more than pashmina shawls cost, so you can have a wardrobe full of sweaters in different colors and designs at a fraction of the cost. Keep in mind, you can still wear it as a scarf by wrapping and tying it in different ways; however, only you will know that it is more than just a scarf. If you are looking for more ideas on how to wear a pashmina, here's a cool video I found on YouTube.com titled, "25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes!"