Monster Scarf
Ever since I saw it, I’ve been in love with a scarf by Jeremy Scott available in either bright orange or bright pink. It was like a monster dropping around your neck. It was super fun!!!! I have been looking for one for years and years but sadly without any luck; so I decided I was going to create one of my own!
I wanted to go for a ‘My Pet Monster’ because as a kid I ALWAYS wanted one. I remember a cousin having one which came with an American Football jersey and helmet on and orange handcuffs. I searched and searched on eBay for one of these monsters but they were going for HUNDREDS! I did manage to find this 2009 edition for £25 so I OBVIOUSLY snapped it up!
What I used to make this creep;
monster soft toy (I went for a ‘My Pet Monster’)
faux fur fabric in a colour of your choice
fabric scissors
thread scissors
a pencil
pattern paper
The first thing I did seems a little brutal, it was to unpick the soft toy. I started with the head as the seams from the head ran down to the arms and legs. It can take some work and a whoooooole lot of patience to do this step. To get it started I got a fine pair of thread scissors and dug in into the seam on the neck then snipped the first thread I found. I slowly worked my way around the neck seam by snipping each stitch. Now, this CAN be a little messy, with the bits of faux fur flying through the air. Once I had completed the snipping of the stitches around the neck I removed the stuffing from the head and the body. I did keep this just in case I needed some stuffing to put in the head to give it a little shape. Once I removed the stuffing from the body I was then able to unpick the side seams to free up the arms and legs. Once the limbs were free I then made the decision to make a little tail from the faux fur from the body of the soft toy. I did this by cutting a rectangle out, 10 cm by 15 cm. I folded the rectangle then curved the unsewn seam. I then SLOOOOWLY stitched, on the sewing machine, along the edge with the curved top.
Once all the bits were ready I made a start with the main body of the scarf. I had this crazy plan of having a purple jersey on the underside of the Monster’s belly but this dream flew out the window when I tried to stitch the faux fur, sadly. I had spent a few hours running up the pattern for this elaborate scarf design but I quickly simplified the design. I cut the blue faux fur into a rectangle 50 cm x 120 cm (plus a 1 cm seam allowance). I then folded the rectangle in half to get the center and I cut a notch to mark it. To sew the scarf I turned the faux fur fabric, right sides facing, and then SLOOOOWLY stitched it on the sewing machine. I left 25 cm in the seam in order to turn the scarf back through on itself. Leaving the rectangle right sides facing, I then matched the seam down the centre to the notch I cut then SLOOOOWLY stitched along one end (where the monster’s head will go). I then turned the scarf the correct way it would be once finished to make sure I get the feet pointing the way I want them to. At the open end, I then pinned the feet and tail to the faux fur scarf. I needed to turn the scarf back to the right sides facing each other. To ensure the tail was in place in the centre, I notched the tail the same way I did with the main body and pinned it to the centre before pinning each leg to the outer edge of the scarf. I SLOOOOWLY stitched this end making sure not to trap the legs and tail under the foot of the sewing machine. I turned the scarf the right way through the seam in the scarf where I left a gap, being careful not to put too much tension on the back limbs.
Now, this bit is a pretty important part of the overall finish of the scarf………… The head.
I found the best way to attach the head to the scarf was to stitch it on by hand. This way I was able to control where the head was placed much more easily. I placed the face of the monster touching the underside of the scarf, then stitched the head to the scarf making sure I was flipping the head the right way up to make sure it was looking right. Once the bottom was attached I then stitched the arms using the exact same method. After attaching the arms I flipped the head, making sure it covered the arms and then hand sewed the head in place by stitching through the soft toy’s hair (and with every stitch making sure the hair covered the thread. And BOOOOOOM, I’ve finished!!!!!!
Jumper - Jeremy Scott
Roll Neck - Zara
Tousers - Zara
Bag - Moschino
Trainers - New Balance
Sunglasses - RayBan