Consider this activity for: Adapt for any Study Circle.

Making a fleece scarf is a great one-hour project for the winter season. The scarves make nice gifts, which is an expression of love and service.  

Materials:

• Fleece remnants (obtain from craft stores, or fabric stores such as Jo-Ann Fabrics, you can even get at Wal-Mart)
• Scissors
• Yard Stick (metal preferred)
• Rotary fabric cutter (similar to a sharp pizza cutter for cloth - nice to have but not absolutely necessary - cost is about $10 - can use scissors if you don't have)
• Fabric cutting board (you need something to bear down on, especially if using a rotary cutter to cut fabric, even a piece of wood will work)

Preparation:

1. Fleece remnants come in widths of approximately 60 inches. Each scarf will be about 60 inches long and approximately 9 or 10 inches wide. For example, if your remnant is 40 inches by 60 inches, you can get 4 scarves out of that piece of cloth. Make sure you have enough material for everyone to make their own scarf. Also, an assortment of colors and patterns is good. You can either let the participants chose their own material, or you can do this ahead of time for them.
2. Prepare a nice big work area like a kitchen table. If you are using a fabric cutter (good for making straight cuts), then you need to put down a fabric cutting board or piece of wood, so you don't cut up your kitchen table.

Making the Scarves:

1. The first step is to stretch out the fleece cloth nice and flat and cut out a piece that is to be the width of your scarf. 9 ½ inches is a nice width, but some like it a little wider, some a little narrower. If you have the luxury of having a fabric cutting board and rotary cutter, you can make pretty straight cuts. Use the metal yard stick to guide your rotary cutter. If you don't have a rotary cutter than do the best you can with just the yard stick and scissors. The main thing is to keep the edges straight and parallel. Usually, the fabric remnant is not cut straight, so you can't depend upon any edge being straight.
2. After cutting out your piece, then trim the ends, which usually don't look nice and may even contain printing.
3. At this point, your scarf is all done except for the fringe.
4. There are several ways to handle the fringe:
   • Knotted fringe: using a ruler, measure to half of the width of the scarf and make a cut about 7 inches into the scarf from one end. Using your eye, subdivide each piece in half with two more cuts 7 inches long. You now have four pieces to your fringe. Now, using your eye, subdivide each of these four pieces in half by making four more cuts. Now, you have eight pieces of fringe, approximately 7 inches long. Gently tie a knot in each fringe. Don't pull too hard or tie too tight, since you might break the cloth. Repeat on the other side of the scarf to make a fringe at the other end.
   • Knot Together Variation: cut the eight pieces of fringe as described above. But instead of knotting each fringe separately, tie each pair of fringes together. Repeat on both ends of the scarf.
   • Other Variations: Many other variations are possible, including using beads, bells, etc. You can also use fabric paints and glitter, etc., but we aware that textured paints or glitter may rub against your neck if you actually use the scarf.