Faux Fur Stole Tutorial

In Italy, faux and real fur clothing and accessories were EVERYWHERE. Fur vests, little boxy fur jackets and fur stoles are on trend for Fall/Winter 2010. Nothing looked terribly difficult to construct, so when I got home, I decided to make a stole for myself. It's SUPER easy, incredibly quick and delightfully chic. Make one for yourself! Here's how:

Supplies:

• 1/8 – 1/4 yd. faux fur
• 1/8 – 1/4 yd. lining fabric
• tracing paper, pen, ruler, scissors
• razor blade 
• needle and thread
• one chopstick

How to:

Step 4

Step 6

1. Make a paper template that is half the length of your finished stole. Mine was 31"L x 6.5"W. Taper and round off the ends so they're not square. 
2. Cut out your lining fabric on the fold with this template.
3. Lay the template on your faux fur with fur side down. Leave enough room on the fabric to "flip" the template horizontally when you're done cutting out half of the stole. Pin template to faux fur.
4. Using a razor blade (never scissors!), cut out faux fur, slicing only through the backing of the fabric, not the fur.
5. Flip the template horizontally and complete cutting the faux fur with the razor.
6. With right sides together, pin the faux fur to the lining, using the chopstick to encourage all the little hairs to stay inside the "burrito". Leave a 6" gap open to pull the fabric through. (see pic, Step 6)
7. Sew everything but the 6" gap. I used a 5/8" seam allowance.
8. Pull the right side of the stole thru the gap.
9. Pull out any hairs that were trapped in the seams with the chopstick.
10. Sew up the gap, by hand, with a running stitch.
11. Secure wrap in place with a decorative pin or drape it over yourself like a diva!

Go forth and rock that stole!