Sewing Projects

Velvet Snood

Make this elegant and versatile snood using twin-needle stitching and stretch polyester.

Simply wear it around your neck as a collar, or pull up over your head to keep the cold out!

The stitching could not be easier. After covering the velvet with rows of twin-needle stitching, it is then attached to a lining and the short ends are joined to make a tube. The finishing touch is another smaller, twin needle–stitched tube that hides some of the seams.

 HANDY HINT: For tips on sewing with a twin needle, turn to Sewing Techniques - Twin Needles.

Requirements
1 m (1 yd) of stretchy polyester velvet for the outside
1/2 m (1/2 yd) of 90 cm (36") wide silk or lightweight polyester for the lining
6.0/100 twin needle
3.0/90 twin needle
Polyester sewing thread

HANDY HINT: Stretch velvet is usually 150 cm (60") wide, although this varies from batch to batch. The width is not crucial, as you are stitching at right angles to the stretch, which is across the width of the fabric. In step 1, you will need to cut a width and depth of 79 cm (31") for the snood.

To Make

1. Cut out a 79 cm (31") square of stretch polyester velvet.

2. Using the 6.0/100 twin needle, starting about  2 cm (3/4") from a raw edge, stitch from one side to another at a right angle to the stretch as shown in the above diagrams. Alternate the direction of the rows of stitching - work from top to bottom on the first row, bottom to top on the second, and so on. This will stop any distortion. Use a standard (all-purpose) presser foot as a guide for spacing the rows.

3. Continue to stitch parallel rows until the entire velvet is covered. When complete, it should measure approximately 46 x 74 cm (18" x 29") as shown in this diagram.

4. Cut the lining fabric 13 mm (1/2") wider and 2 cm (3/4") longer than the stitched velvet. The longest side of the lining can be parallel to either the lengthways or crosswise grain line.

nb: The lining can then be dyed to match the velvet using indigo dyeing techniques. (This technique is included in the book Machine Embroidery & Textile Decoration by Elli Woodsford).

HANDY HINT: Check the exact measurement of the stitched piece of velvet before cutting out the lining. Different velvets will stitch up to different finished dimensions.

5. With right sides of the fabrics together and using a 15 mm (5/8") seam allowance, stitch the lining to the lengthways edges of the velvet, with the long bottom edge of the lining being joined to matching bottom edge of the velvet, and the long top edge of the lining being joined to the matching top edge of the velvet.

6. Turn the joined pieces right side out. Flatten the tube and baste the raw edges of the lining and velvet together at one short end. Baste the edges of the remaining raw edges in the same manner. Bring together the opposite, short, basted ends. Overlap the sides about 13 mm (1/2 ") and seam them together with an overcast stitch. The fabric is now a tube, (shown in the diagram).

HANDY HINT: Use a straight stitch followed by a zigzag stitch if your machine does not have an overcast stitch.

7. Change the sewing machine needle to a 3.0/90 twin needle. Cut a new piece of matching stretch polyester velvet fabric approximately 21 x 82 cm (8 1/4 x 32) with the stretch across the width as shown in the diagram. This piece will cover the seam on the snood.

8. Starting about  2 cm (3/4") from one end, stitch seven sets of twin needle stitching lines parallel to the lengthways edge, spacing the sets about a presser foot width apart.

9. Place the stitched piece flat on the work surface. Measure the width across the stitched sets. Leave as much fabric again unstitched and trim any remaining fabric off the lengthways edge. Fold the partially stitched strip in half lengthways and with the right sides together. Sew into a tube using a 15 mm (5/8") seam allowance and straight stitching as in the diagram.

10. Turn the tube right side out. Flatten it so that the seam runs down one side of the tube.

11. With the twin-needle stitching facing out, place the middle set along the seam line on the tube. Make sure that the top and bottom of the smaller tube extend above and below the snood. Pin both long edges of the each side of the tube and stitch it down, using the outer edge of the twin needle stitching as a guide. (see the diagram).

12. Turn the snood inside out and hand sew the tube down over the inner seam.

This project has been taken from the book ‘Machine Embroidery & Textile Decoration by Elli Woodsford’. This inspiring book will have sewers itching to play with their machines and is priced at £14.99, available from good bookstores. For a full review, see Book Reviews.