Linen Gauze Wrap
This project starts and ends with the beauty of Globalweave’s Linen Gauze. The fabric’s open weave makes it light and airy to the touch, while its fine linen threads give it strength and durability. Although soft and fluid, this Linen Gauze Wrap perches around your shoulders in a wonderfully voluminous puff, full of charisma and elegance!
The understated beauty of this fabric calls for a modest treatment, and so I used a simple straight machine stitch to finish all the edges. Using a bright neon thread, a thin yellow line travels the hills and valleys of the fabric like a streak of light.
A few straight cuts, some quick stitches and some easy fringe-pulling and you’re done. Nothing could be easier… or prettier! – Corinne
Update: New Fabric
May 25th, 2016
We created a new version of this wrap using Purl Soho’s beautiful Watercolor Linen. To see more photos and to pick up the materials, check out our Watercolor Linen Wrap story!
Materials
- 1 yard of Globalweave Textiles’ Linen Gauze in White
- 1 spool of Mettler’s Neon Thread in Sour Apple
You will also need a pair of large, sharp scissors; a pair of small, sharp scissors; and a straight pin.
Size
26 inches wide X 63 inches long
Note
Do not prewash the fabric. The finished Wrap will be handwash only.
Pattern
Cut
Trim one raw edge of the fabric straight along the grain line. Because the weave of the Linen Gauze is so loose, if you cut carefully with a sharp pair of scissors, it is fairly easy to trim right along the line of the weave (but don’t worry too much if you don’t stay exactly in line).
Once you have a clean, straight edge, cut the other raw edge in the same manner so that the fabric is 32 inches wide.
Cut off the two selvage edges, again following the line of the weave.
Fold the fabric in half so that the two 32-inch sides meet. Press the fold at one end to create a crease. Starting at this crease and following the line of the weave, cut the fabric in half so that you have two 32 by 26-inch pieces.
Piece the Wrap
Lay the two pieces out flat so that one piece’s 26-inch side overlaps the other piece’s 26-inch side by ¾ inch. Pin in place. The Linen Gauze is quite slippery and prone to shifting, so use a lot of pins to keep the fabrics straight.
Sew along the pinned line ¼ inch in from one raw edge twice.
Remove the pins and turn the scarf over. Now sew ¼ inch in from the raw edge on the other side twice.
Pull out the threads of the raw edges that run parallel to the two sewn lines. Use the sharp point of a straight pin to help pick each thread.
Sew the Edges
Starting in the middle of one side, sew ¼ inch in from all four sides, going around the entire perimeter of the scarf twice. Backstitch at the end of the seam.
Pull the Fringe
Working one side at a time, pull out the threads that run parallel to the seam lines The threads are woven in groups of three. The first grouping can easily be pulled out together. As you get closer to the seam line, pull the threads one by one until you have reached the line of stitching. Use the sharp point of a straight pin to help pick each thread.
If a thread is partially caught in the stitching, just use a small, sharp pair of scissors to trim the thread so that it is the same length as the fringe.
Continue in this fashion around all four sides and you’re done!
Update 2024: You can explore our current collection of beautiful fabrics and supplies on our page of Sewing Tools + Notions!
Beautiful, such a great idea! Love all the options too, the green linen would be so pretty with the tropical pink neon thread
Hi- I love this! I am trying to visualize it. If I were to make two scarves out of two yards, could I just cut down the center, and then square all the edges? (This avoiding the piecing together.) Thank you-
Hi JW-
You certainly could! Thanks for getting in touch and good luck with the project!
Best-
Molly
Thank you!!
What lovely looking fabric – I’m a sucker for linen and this looks so light and airy. I’m imagining a simple sunshield garment for those hot summer beach days. Perhaps a poncho style? Hmmm. Not very elegant sounding I suppose. But perhaps this lovely linen could elevate a simple poncho… just musing out loud!
Hi Christi York –
I love your musings! I am a true believer that a beautiful fabric can elevate almost any garment. A poncho in this lovely linen would be gorgeous!
-Corinne
Oh! Hello – better than a poncho! https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/07/17/corinnes-thread-wear-anywhere-tunic/
love this idea – is it just a simple straight stitch? and how long are the stitches? thank you!
Hello Paula –
We sewed all of the seams using the straight stitch setting on a sewing machine. I recommend using a medium length stitch (my machine was set to stitch length number 2 of 4).
I hope this helps!
-Corinne
Did you sew this by hand or machine ?
Hello Therese-
This was sewn by machine. Thanks for getting in touch!
Molly
Just to be sure, the two “formerly” selvedge edges are opposite the fold, and the cut is parallel to the selvedge – right?
Hello Celeste –
You are correct! The two formerly selvage edges are the 32-inch sides. The cut is down the center of the fabric, parallel to this edge.
Happy sewing!
-Corinne
I’m just about to stitch around the entire piece – super excited about pulling the fringe.
I think I’d like to hand embroider a stitch around the piece – maybe add some design in the corners. Would you suggest I embroider first then pull the fringe, or go ahead and pull the fringe first??
Thank you!!
Hello Kim –
Embroidery will be a lovely accent to this wrap. What a great idea! I would add the embellishments before you pull the fringe so that you have a good amount of actual fabric to hold on to as you do your work.
I hope this helps!
Happy stitching,
Corinne
Would this technique work on double gauze fabric such as ones by Nani Iro?
Hi cc,
Thanks for writing in! I think that making this out of double gauze would be lovely! The final product would be a bit thicker than this one here. Additionally, due to the structure of double gauze, you would not be able to fringe the edges. Our pattern for Incredibly Simple Scarves might be a batter option for double gauze!
Best,
Cassy
Hello,
I don’t own a sewing machine, but I would love to make this scarf! Would you recommend I try sewing this by hand?
Thank you,
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
You can sew this by hand you will just want to make sure that you maintain the same tension throughout your sewing so that the fabric does not pucker.
Melissa
Why can’t I save projects to my favorites anymore?
Hi Anne,
Thanks for reaching out. The Favorites option was disabled for a while, but we have updated it and brought it back. Thanks for your patience!
Kindly,
Anna
So, it’s RIP for the last of my collection of gauzy wraps that I purchased when we lived in Egypt a few years ago. I intend to replace (and upgrade!) them with your gorgeous linen….
I do have a question about the fabric, since I do use my wraps in hot weather…formerly in humid middle Tennessee, now in the high desert of New Mexico: I was wondering about the handkerchief linen in the same pattern as featured for the watercolor….given the difference in weave/weight, would that work equally well, or would it loose something in translation? The watercolor wraps with their fringe are stunning, and wouldn’t want to lose any of that gorgeousness ( 2X per year we visit a daughter is permanently settled in Paris with her family, and this would compete with anything you see there…..)
Hello Elizabeth,
Thank you for writing and for your kind words! Our Handkerchief Linen would be a lovely substitutes in terms of weight, though it is all woven with the same color so it will not get the lovely two toned fringe that you get using the Watercolor Linen that is so special.
Let us know how it goes and happy sewing!
-Marilla
Wonderful gift idea! Thank you! Bought 2 yds of linen, squared it off and cut it down the middle. It made two beautiful wraps. Used my serger to chain stitch 1/4″ in around the perimeter. Worked beautifully without having to go around twice with the sewing machine.
Can you make this with another linen fabric? I don’t see the linen gauze in stock right now! Thanks!
Hi Callie,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes unfortunately that fabric has been discontinued so we no longer have it available, but you could definitely use another linen for this pattern!
Warmly,
Gianna