So I'm working on a fun little project for you all! I'm rounding up Fall fashion trends for the kiddos, just in time for back to school! One of my favorite cold-weather pieces I keep stumbling across is the animal hooded scarf. Immediately I thought of the Living DIY Style's Hoodie Cowl pattern, and how cute it would be if I added "arms" to the pattern! I decided I couldn't tease you with the finished product in my fashion trend post without including a little how-to first! So here's your tutorial folks, I hope you love it!!

DIY Bear Scarf Tutorial - A @livingdiystyle1 Hoodie Cowl Pattern Modification

First, start with your favorite animal hood pattern. I chose this one from Living DIY Style (show them some facebook love, too, ya'll!) and stitched up the hood per pattern instructions.
Make a mark inwards 6 inches from the front corner of your hood, along the bottom of your hood.
Mark from the back of the cowl/hood at the base of the neck to the 6 inch mark you just made. Cut. These will be the parts of the scarf that slope forward over your child's shoulders.
I tried the hood on my mini model, and measured from the end of the scarf pieces down to her finger tips. Add 1 inch. This is measurement Y (in the case of my 2-3T, 8 inches).
Cut 2 main and 2 lining, 6in x Y measurement. These are your scarf "arms".
To add an optional pocket, measure your child's hand. Add 1 inch for hem allowance. This is measurement Z. Cut two 6in x Z. Fold over your hem allowance and sew. Baste onto the bottom of your main arm pieces.
To add an optional paw print, cut 2 more 5in x Z. I traced paw prints (one mirror image) from my laptop screen onto interfacing, and followed this intro to embroidery tutorial.
Then stitch the the arm main and lining pieces together at the bottom. It's not necessary to do this in this order, but it helped me to make sure I didn't stitch over my embroidered paw print.
Stitch RST the top arm pieces (main and lining) to the bottom of the hood.
Sew around the perimeter of the hood arms, leaving a 4 inch opening in the back of the hood for turning.
Turn and stitch opening closed.
Add optional button and button hole at the base of front hood.