How to make a Scoodie

You are allowed to make as many scoodies you wish using this tutorial.  You can modify the design to suit your needs, give them away or sell them either locally or online.  You cannot copy my tutorial -- the text and photos are my property.  You may not sell the tutorial (with or without photos), print it and give it away, or use it to teach someone else to make one.  Share the link to the page freely.  I do ask that you give credit if you do make them to sell and include a link back to this page.
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I use the most appropriate (in my opinion) seam allowance for the area I'm sewing.  I have tried to be as specific as possible throughout the tutorial.

I hope I've captured enough in pictures for this to make sense to everyone.  Here goes nothing.
First, you get two pieces of fleece.  You need the majority of a yard of each.  You'll likely end up with enough to make two, but it's a good way to make a friend feel warm and loved.  Yes, it can be done with only one yard of fabric, but then it would be rather boring.  Two fabrics is always better!
Fold the fabric with the selvages together, then fold again to make the piece manageable on your cutting surface.  Trim the raw edge to make it straight.
For each scoodie, you'll need one width of fabric piece of the primary fabric and one width of fabric cut of the contrast fabric.  I cut these pieces at 6" wide.  You can make it a little narrower or wider if you like.
Here is my hood pattern.  It measures 15 inches by 11.5 inches.  Feel free to use the hood on a sweatshirt to get the desired shape.  Cut two hood pieces of your primary fabric and two pieces of your contrast.
Here are all the pieces cut out.  The pockets measure 6 inches by 8 inches.  Cut two pockets.
I layered one of the primary and one of the contrast fabrics to ensure they get cut at the same length.  Trim the selvage ends off, then trim the folds at the other end.  You'll have four pieces (two of primary and two of contrast) that are 6 inches by about 28-30 inches long.
Layer the primary and contrast pieces with right sides together.

Hem the upper edge of the pocket.  I folded it over about 1/2 inch and finished with a straight stitch.
Right sides together, sew the two pieces of the hood together along the rounded, back seam.  I used a 5/8 inch seam for the back of the hood.
Turn the hood right-side out and top-stitch about 1/4 inch from the seam.
When you top-stitch, go slowly and pull both seam allowances to the same side.  I generally pull it to my left, but do what is comfortable for you.  Working within this curve can be challenging.  Go slowly.
Here are the two finished hood pieces.  You can see how the seam is nice and flat after the top-stitching.
Put the right sides together, matching the top seam and pin to prepare for sewing around the front of the hood.
Pull back the contrast fabric on the scarf ends and place the pockets.  Since we'll be turning the whole thing after it is sewn, place the pockets just as they will be when turned.  Wrong side against the right side, raw edges matching.
Pull down the contrast fabric and pin at the corners.
Sew the two pieces of the hood together using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  I also used a 1/2 inch seam allowance for sewing the scarf bits.
Start sewing down one long edge, stopping 1/2 inch from the bottom of the pocket, put the needle down, lift the presser foot and reposition to stitch across the bottom, stop again 1/2 inch from the end, needle down, lift foot and turn.  Continue back up the other long edge. 
Snip the corners on the pocket ends to cut down on the bulk.  Make sure you don't cut the stitching.  I usually leave 1/4 to 1/8 inch of fabric between the corner stitching and the cut corner.
Reach into the scarf piece and grab the pocket end.  I turn it about half way, then reach into the piece and poke at the corners to make them as flat as possible.  With fleece, this will not be very flat, but we use fleece so we can be warm.

Don't turn the hood at this point.  We're going to use it like a bag to hold our scarf bits while we sew them on.  Pin the primary fabric of the scarf end to the primary fabric of the hood.  Try to get the side seam pushed into the front seam of the hood as much as possible.
This is what it looks like once you've got both of the scarf sides pinned into the hood.
We're going to leave this bit open for turning (between the red pin heads).  About 3 inches.  Don't worry, it's plenty to turn the scoodie right-side out. 

Here, I use a 5/8 inch seam, to make sure there is plenty of fabric to hold onto those scarf ends.  I stopped stitching about 1 inch past the end of the scarf edge and start again about 1 inch before the back seam.  Back stitch at both of these points to ensure you don't pull out a bunch of the stitching when you turn the scoodie.
You can just see where I left it open.  I put the opening here so I don't have to worry about hand stitching over any seams or through more than the two thicknesses of the hood.
Trim the bulk from the forward edge of the scarf end.
Reach into that hole and carefully tug out the scarf.  Then, reach in and turn the hood itself.
Hold onto the forward edge of the hood and tug down the scarf so to is as flat as possible.
Here it is all turned.  All that remains is to hand stitch up the small opening we left when we turned it.
The scarf on this one is more than long enough for me and should be suitable for most heights.  Since the scarf pieces were cut with the stretchiest part of the fleece, they give enough for many heights.
Your scoodie is ready to wear!  Leave the scarf hanging down.
Wrap it around to keep off a horrible chill.
Or, throw the hood back and just look stylish.

Please, if you use this tutorial and something is horribly wrong with it, leave a comment and I'll fix it to the best of my ability.

24 comments:

  1. I have been searching for days for a decent and well explained scoodie for my grandson, who is 3. I will make one for myself as a sample (which will be used often)then figure out that sizing for my grandson. Thank you so much for your post. I can't wait to try it.

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    1. I'm so glad the scoodie tutorial is something you'll use. I had trouble finding one that really met my needs, so I had to write one of my own. If it wasn't making sense to me, chances were good it wasn't making sense to other people. Please, if you make one of these, send me a picture to share on the blog.

      Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

      Becca

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  2. Totally making this for my trip to Copenhagen (visa approval dependant of course!)! Will link it when I'm done!

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    1. I would love to see what you come up with.

      Remember, if you want a personalized response to blog comments you have to change your blogger preferences so you can receive email replies.

      Thanks for leaving a comment!

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  3. Thanks so much for this tutorial and pattern!! I can't wait to make it!!!

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  4. Awesome scoodie! I made one and I love it! Love the size of the hoodie, nice and big :-) Thank you SO much for sharing that!

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  5. Great pattern! What are the dimensions of the first pieces you cut? The scarf part? Thanks

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    1. The size is listed in the tutorial as "6 inches by about 28-30 inches long." This is something you can personalize if needed. I used this because it was easy to cut with my ruler.

      By the way, you are a no reply blogger. I hope you stop back by the page to see this reply.

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  6. What a wonderful tutorial! Thank you so much for sharing! I made my first scootie according to your directions and it came out wonderful. (used a black fleece w/colored paws for the outside and a light green marble fleece for the contrast). The only thing I think I might change is the width of the scarf. I might bring it out to 7". Thank you so much, again!!

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  7. Just what I was looking for!! Thanks

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  8. Great gift idea.I am making some for Christmas!! Thanks for the tutorial.

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  9. Great gift idea. I'll be making some for Christmas!! Thanks for the tutorial.

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  10. I made one for my daughter for Christmas & she loved it! Making one for myself now.

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  11. Grazie mille !!! Ottimo tutorial! Love from italy!

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  12. Hey Becca, great tutorial! I am looking to make a scoodie for my best friend who works on a farm, but I want to be able to make it in a patterned fabric, but can't find any fleece ones I like. Can I do the outside in a poplin or similar cotton? Do you think it will change how warm it is? Thanks heaps xx

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    1. Using fabrics with different amounts of stretch can be challenging. I think it is possible, but you would have to control for the stretch of the fleece. Stay-stitching around the edges before sewing might help. The important thing is to stabilize the fleece so it doesn't stretch when you sew it to the woven fabric. As for warmth, I think a heavy woven would help break the wind and result in a great finished scoodie! Let me know how it turns out.

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  13. I'm always looking for something new for my sons and nephews/niece! This is perfect! I will come back and post pics after I make them :)

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  14. Thank you. Great tutorial for a teen girl I work.

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  15. Made one for my niece who works in downtown Chicago (the windy city)..
    I think she'll enjoy it.. I struggled with the illustration of attaching the scarf to the hood.. but finally got it..I'm going to close the "hole" tonight and find a gift bag for Christmas..

    Susan

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  16. I made one of your scoodies for my grandson. I love this pattern I'm going to be making more!

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  17. Thank you for this tutorial! My friends daughter wanted something she could make for her friends (she is 11)! Her mama found this tutorial and tomorrow we will attempt 10! We are going to try to make unicorns!

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  18. I am going to make this to put into bags we are handing out to homeless people!! This covers it all head, ears, face, neck and I'll add a pocket at the end of the scarf for their hands to tuck into!!! THANK YOU!!

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  19. Thank you so much for posting this pattern. My mom had brain surgery a few weeks ago and I made this for her trip home from the hospital. I lined the hood with cotton so it wouldn't catch on her bandage. It worked perfectly and she loves her scoodie! All her doctors and nurses loved it too! Thank you again!

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  20. Thank for these instructions! It was exactly what I was looking for and turned out perfect!

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