Making this super simple, Make & Give project was easier than deciding what to call it. Is it a buff, tube scarf, neck gaiter, neck warmer, turtleneck scarf, versa-wrap or multiclava? After a little research, I settled on a “Buff-Style Tube Scarf”. Buff is the name used most frequently but BUFF® is actually the trademarked product name from the Original Buff S.A. Spain company. It’s a very popular product and “Buff” has morphed into common usage much like Kleenex® has for facial tissues and Xerox has for photo copies.
Regardless of its name, the project featured in today’s blog post is simply a tube of stretchy fabric typically worn to protect the neck from cold and wind. When sewn from a pretty fabric, the Buff-Style Tube Scarf can add a little style while keeping the wearer warm.
A quick note about my model: Willow was a digital stamp from Pink Gem Designs and, to my knowledge, this is her first modeling gig! See More Info below.
The fascinating thing about the Buff-Style Tube Scarf is the number of ways in which it can be worn and the myriad of purposes it can serve. The most obvious is as a neck gaiter or neck warmer to help keep the wearer warm in cold temperatures.
After pulling it around the neck, the ends of the Buff-Style Tube Scarf can be positioned in a variety of ways. A face mask is made by pulling one end up over the mouth and nose. A hood is formed by pulling one end up over the head. A balaclava can be fashioned by pulling both openings around the head—one end is pulled up over the head like a hood while the other end is pulled up over the mouth and nose like a face mask.
Alternatively, the Buff-Style Tube Scarf can be worn around the head instead of around the neck. It can be scrunched into a simple headband or sweat band, twisted into a beanie cap, knotted into a doo-rag, or fashioned into a sun guard with one end covering the back of the neck. These techniques can be combined with ball caps, hats, cycling helmets and protective headgear for even more options.
The Buff-Style Tube Scarf can also be used to manage hair as a hairband, hair tie or scrunchie. It can be twisted onto a wrist as a wrist sweat band or pulled over the head to cover the eyes as a sleep mask. It can be soaked in cold water to help keep the wearer cool in hot temperatures. In a pinch, it can even be used as a rag, towel or carrying pouch.
The Buff-Style Tube Scarf may just be handier than a pocket on a shirt! In fact, it may be the ideal gift for someone special this holiday season. It’s a fast, easy project requiring only basic sewing skills. Best of all, it can be personalized by selecting fabric in a style, pattern and color that matches the recipient’s interests and preferences.
Fabric is available from a number of sources but my go-to source is Spoonflower. As noted on their website “The Spoonflower community has grown to over 3.3 million creatives who use the Marketplace of more than one million designs”. I love how Spoonflower enables independent designers and creatives to offer their designs to the world. Check out my previous blog post, DIY Personalized Fabric-Covered Journal Tutorial Part 1, for a closer look at Spoonflower along with tips for choosing the perfect fabric. The below image references a personalized fabric-covered journal but it’s equally relevant to this project.
After finding the ideal fabric, it’s time to begin. Here are the step-by-step instructions to make a personalized Buff-Style Tube Scarf.
Supplies Needed
. Fabric: ONE fat quarter of lightweight knit fabric. I chose “Bright Rainbow Watercolor Scale Pattern 3” by Clarissa Hughes of Raccoon Girl in Performance Piqué from Spoonflower. This fabric has 1-way stretch with moisture wicking and wrinkle-resistance properties. The fabric is 56” wide so a fat quarter measures 28” wide x 18” long.
. Thread: In a color matching the fabric.
Tools Needed
. Ruler or Measuring Tape
. Scissors
. Pins
. Sewing Machine with Stretch Stitch
Instructions
Step 1 Cut Fabric Place fabric on flat surface with stretch running side-to-side. Trim off any selvages and un-printed sections. Measure 20 ½” from one side edge, across the stretch, and cut. Ensure length is 18”.
Step 2 Pin Fabric With right sides together, fold the fabric in half bringing the two 18” edges together. Align side edges and pin. The folded rectangle should measure 18” long x 10 ¼” wide.
Step 3 Sew Side Seam Select setting to stitch and overcast stretch fabric on the sewing machine. Sew the side edges together turning the rectangle into a tube.
Step 4 Finish Edges Select setting to overcast stretch fabric on the sewing machine. Finish the top and bottom edges of the tube with an overcast stitch.
Step 5 Turn Right Side Out Simply turn the tube right side out to finish.
The Buff-Style Tube Scarf is so easy to make, I couldn’t resist making another one in red and green plaid for the upcoming holidays. I chose the same knit fabric from Spoonflower in a design called “Custom Christmas Red and Green Apple Plaid” by Hialeah Florida of Eclectic House.
More Info
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The following unique products are featured in this post:
. Willow Digital Stamp by Janet Roberts of Pink Gem Designs on Etsy
. Bright Rainbow Watercolor Scale Pattern 3 fabric design by Clarissa Hughes of Raccoon Girl on Spoonflower
. Custom Christmas Red and Green Apple Plaid fabric design by Hialeah Florida of Eclectic House on Spoonflower.
Thank you all for your lovely work. And special thanks to Marian for inspiring this project and blog post.
Check out the Spoonflower website for more information about their print-on-demand fabrics. As noted, I’m a big fan—I even have a little FanningSparks shop on Spoonflower which offers a few cut-and-sew pillows. There are 6 designs with coordinating stripes—3 photos of flowers in the Floral World Tour Collection and 3 photos of ferns in the Bring in the Outdoors – Fern Collection.
You can learn more in the FanningSparks blog posts:
. Bring in the Outdoors – Fern Collection
. Basic Pillow DIY Tutorial
. Announcing the Floral World Tour Collection.
Today’s Takeaways
1. A Buff-Style Tube Scarf is a very versatile accessory.
2. Sometimes, the simplest things are the most useful.
3. Consider a Buff-Style Tube Scarf to make and give this holiday season.
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