In the mid-19th century, Paisley scarves were popular accessories for many well-dressed women, and they have never lost their appeal. Martha shows how to make one of these chic, short scarves with Paisley silk and cashmere.

Tools and Materials
Scissors
Rotary cutter
Paisley silk charmeuse, about 1/4 yard
Cotton batting
Cashmere
Rotary cutter
Disappearing-ink pen
Pins
Iron

Paisley Scarf How-To
1. Cut the silk into an 8-by-36-inch piece. Cut the cotton batting and cashmere to the same size. Lay the cashmere face up with the silk face down on top of it; lay the cotton batting over the silk. Pin all three fabrics together.

2. Sew around three sides with a 1/2-inch seam allowance, leaving one short end open. Clip corners with scissors or rotary cutter, and turn right-side out. Press seams flat; press in the open end's seam 1/2 inch.

3. From the sewed end of the scarf, use a disappearing ink pen to mark a 3-inch-long line, centered and about 5 inches in from the end. This will serve as the scarf's buttonhole. Using a tight zigzag stitch, sew along one side of the line. Once you reach the end, keeping the needle inserted in the fabric, lift the foot and turn the fabric. Starting your stitch so it overlaps the line you have just sewn, sew along the other side of the line. Overlap your stitches again at the end of the line.

4. Use a rotary cutter to cut down the center of the buttonhole to create the opening. Hand-sew the open end shut.

Resources
To purchase the Paisley silk charmeuse used in this craft, contact B and J Fabrics.
525 Seventh Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, New York 10018
Phone: 212-354-8150
E-mail: info@bandjfabrics.com