Tutorial: Neck Cowl

It’s fall – time to stay warm. The list of things I can make for myself (or for women in general) is endless…but it’s hard to find things to make for a guy. This neck cowl is perfect – as long as you keep the fabric and colours masculine.

What You Need

2 pieces of fabric that measure 30 inches by 9.5 inches
matching thread
serger
sewing machine
an iron.

So – the easier thing to do is not cut the fabric in half – giving you a 30 by 19 piece that will only need one seam to make it a tube. Don’t fall for the easy way!!! You need a seam at both the top and the bottom of the cowl – why? It adds rigidity which helps the cowl stand up. If you take the easy way out (and really, it’s 4 extra minutes) your cowl will wilt and flop, looking cheap and sad.

The fabric I have here is a washed cotton – lightweight but has some structure to it. Plaids are hard to match up, so it adds some difficultly. Quick tip – if you fall in love with a really light fabric, you can always interface the wrong side which will add weight.

Line up the fabric, right sides together and close both of the long ends. Make sure your fabric is taut from end to end. Use a seam allowance of around 1/2. I give myself a big seam allowance to match up the plaid well.

Don’t forget your label.

Time to Close the Cowl

Okay – time to close up the cowl. Tricky part.

Right sides out…so the seams are on the inside of the tube.

Fold the cowl in half.

Grab the two inside open ends.

Turn the cowl inside out.

You should now have a short tube/cowl that you can put your arm though like below.

Stitch all alway around, leaving a small opening to turn the cowl right side out. Slip stitch or ladder stitch the opening closed. Don’t know how to ladder stitch? Check out the Infinity Scarf Tutorial to see how!