Scarves are synonymous with winter, and just because you are pairing them with a boring black coat, your scarves don’t have to be! Frankly, a gorgeous scarf is one of the most exciting things about the part of the year when you can’t see the sun.  And I can’t resist sharing some lovely DIY scarf ideas, just in time for Christmas (and Christmas gifts!). I focused on jersey and polar fleece — two fabrics that don’t fray.

Jersey DIY

The internet has several variations of an easy DIY scarf made out of jersey knit, but here is the one I followed most closely for a boho look.

I purchased 2.5 yards of gray viscose jersey, and evenly cut it lengthwise into 3 long pieces, roughly 20 inches wide (three new scarves!). You can also cut and sew together strips from 3 old t-shirts to make a similar scarf.

Cut off the shirt beneath the arm holes, so you effectively have a t-shirt tube, pick a place and cut it open. Once you have done this three times, even out the width, and sew them together into a long strip. I cut each end inward 15 inches into three even sections, and then split each section into seven even strips, also 15 inches long.

I braided each end into 7 braids total and then secured them with rubber bands, which I later removed.   Instead of just knotting the braids, I decided to be more festive. I spent a few dollars on silver metallic thread and threaded it around and through the end of the braids with a sewing needle, before taking several feet of the thread and wrapping it around the end of the braid.

For a fun DIY scarf, you can pick any color jersey you want, and any color thread you want. All that said, you don’t even have to put the braided fringe on the jersey scarf for it to be cute.

Polar Fleece DIY

The classic DIY scarf is the polar fleece scarf. During the holiday season, fabric stores are flush with bolts of festive fleeces. Snow flakes on a navy background, candy canes on a red background, snow-families caroling in bucolic settings.  Very Grandma Moses!

If you find a fun pattern or solid color you like, 2.5 to 3 yards (at 60 inches wide) of fleece can be enough fleece for 5 or 6 scarves, 10 to 12 inches wide.

Fringe the ends by cutting inch wide slits about 4 inches long, then knot them individually at their base and pull them tight. You can make the fringe as skinny or as wide as you like — and you don’t even have to knot them, since it won’t fray. A sharp pair of scissors and you are good to go. That’s the great thing about fleece!

Appliqué DIY

To jazz up your fleece with contrasting colors (like white on a navy background), sew on appliqués. Cut out a basic shape from another swath of fleece and with a sewing machine or simple needle and thread, affix the cut-out to your scarf.

You could add a trio of cute snowflakes to the end of a fleece scarf, for example. Or a trio of brown polka dots to the end of a pink scarf. A wide zig-zag stitch (use more of that metallic thread!) can be adorable, if you are careful to be accurate. Pay attention to your stitching with appliqué, because they will stand out.

Quick and Dirty DIY

Only have enough patience for a fast project? Try these guerilla DIY techniques:

Sew on a ribbon to a scarf than needs some pizzaz.

Find three or four silk scarves and carefully stitch them together to make one long scarf (if you sew carefully, you can always undo the stitch later).

Pick any fabric you want, like a family plaid, and carefully iron over the edges (twice, so there is no fraying) to sew a hem.

Felt, another fabric that does not fray, makes for great appliqué. And beads and sequins will serve you well as embellishments.