Turn old T-shirts into funky scarves

As the season warms up and the woolies get returned to storage, it's a fine time to craft a scarf that will keep you cozy while not warming you up. It's the T-shirt scarf, and it's made in a snap from old, neglected T-shirts.

Who doesn't have a cache of those scrunched in the back of a dresser drawer or high on a closet shelf?

Reclaim these outcasts by recycling them into T-shirt scarves.

Carol Schneider, a New York public-relations agent for a large book publisher, crafts scarves, children's wear and purses in her spare time. She hit upon this nifty T-shirt scarf while cruising the Internet, and made it her own by using whimsical, color-loaded Ts.

Samples of her "Reclaimed Tee Scarves" may be viewed at www.carolschneiderdesigns.com/recessionspecials7.html (listed under "recession specials" in her scarves product section).

Her scarves for adults measure at least 56 inches long. Since Schneider scavenges thrift stores for her T-shirts, no two scarves are alike.

You can make Schneider's scarves on the cheap: Your own castoffs and the kids' outgrown T-shirts will do, ensuring endless possibilities in color and pattern combinations.

Schneider suggests combining T-shirt swatches by theme: sports, food, music, the arts or cartoon characters.

RECLAIMED T-SHIRT SCARF

Supplies:

• For children's scarf (approximately 48 inches long): four used T-shirts of complementary colors, at least two with a fun design or logo

• For adult's scarf (approximately 56 inches long): four to five T-shirts, depending upon the desired scarf length. Since more of the scarf is visible on adults, it's nice to use at least four scarves that have designs or logos.

• Scissors

• Thread in coordinating color

• Sewing machine

• Steam iron

Assembly:

1. Front of scarf: For children's scarf, cut 7-inch-wide squares from four T-shirts to make a total length of 49 inches. For adult scarf, cut 8-inch-wide squares from four or five T-shirts to make a total length of 55 inches to 70 inches, depending upon desired length of finished scarf.

2. Back of scarf: For children's and adult scarves, cut four or five solid-colored squares of the same width from the backs of the T-shirts to make a total length matching the front.

3. For the front, pin each set of squares together in desired order and sew them together, one by one, using a ¼-inch seam. Press. Do the same with the scarf's back squares.

4. With right sides together, pin and sew two 3/8-inch seams along the scarf's long sides, leaving the ends free. Turn right side out and press.

5. Trim ends to the same length, if necessary. Sew a zigzag stitch 1 ½ inches to 2 inches from the bottom of each end. Cut fringe up to stitching line (without cutting the stitches).