When Blockbuster went out of business a few years ago, we were lucky enough to have Robin Hood (the cartoon from long ago) checked out, and were allowed to purchase it for a mere $6.99! What luck! Well, because of this, my older daughter begged and begged for a Maid Marion head scarf. Honestly, that is about all it takes for me to get in the car and head to my local fabric store, so off we went! I looked around and finally settled on chiffon fabric because it is the most like silk without the silk-ish price tag. The lady at the counter was kind enough to share some chiffon wisdom with me, however, that I will now pass along to you as well. Do NOT cut it with scissors or a rotary cutter … make a small cut in the side where you want the edge and Riiiiipppp it into pieces. I know, it sounds (and will feel) like a total mess. But, it works! It is slippery and you’ll end up with string all over yourself and your craft room, but if you rip it, you will end up with straight edges. I promise.
Supply list:
1 yard chiffon
4″ x 42 (the width of a normal bolt) cotton fabric scrap
about 12″ elastic ribbon
Thread to match
For the scarf/cape/apron/skirt:
Rip the chiffon into the best sized piece for your kiddo, mine ended up at about 18″ wide and 24″ long. Using a medium hot iron, fold over about a 1/3″ seam once and then again along the bottom edge, so that you end up with no exposed edges. Sew that seam down using around a 3 stitch length to prevent puckering. Repeat with both right and left sides. Set aside.
Take the long strip of cotton fabric and iron it first flat and then iron in a 1/3″ seam on both of the long edges. Then fold both short ends in with the same seam. Finally, fold the entire piece in half and iron down. You will end up with a strip of fabric that looks like this:
Grab the chiffon piece and figure out where the middle of it is. Match it with the middle of the strip of cotton and pin that piece loosely into place, between the folded over cotton. The chiffon will be sandwiched between the open edges of the cotton strip, once you’ve sewn it into place. But first, you need to sew the whole cotton piece together. Starting at one end, sew down the end to close it off, then turn your fabric and begin to sew along the long edge of the fabric to make the band that will be used to tie it later one.
Once you reach the area with the chiffon, slightly scrunch the chiffon to a few small gathers/pleats and then sew it all down.
Once it’s all sewn together, it will fall nicely and look something like this:
Ta da!! One down!
For the wrist silks, rip the chiffon into two right sized pieces for your kiddo. Mine ended up at about 8″ by 15″. Again, iron down the seams at about 1/3″ and then fold over again to seal rough edges. Sew down around each of the four sides this time. Measure your child’s wrist and then cut a piece of elastic just larger than the wrist, plus about 1/2″ for the seam. Sew it into a circle, taking care to sew over it back and forth a couple of times. Take one corner of the chiffon and fold it over itself a couple of times until you get a little, flat edge. Lay the seam of the the elastic over the top of the flat edge and sew it down. Repeat with the second piece of chiffon and you’ve now got a whole set!
Tie, wrap, twirl & enjoy!
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