DIY: How to Make a We Are Owls Inspired Poem Script Scarf

July 11, 2011 56 Comments by Lauren

Earlier this year, I had my eye on a scarf from We Are Owls. It was cashmere, hand-painted, and gorgeous. But also more than I was willing to shell out for a scarf. But it was still swoon-worthy.

source: we are owls

Because I’m trapped in way-hotter-than-I-would-like weather in steamy Washington DC, I wanted to focus on cooler times: nights when the slight chill in the air calls for a scarf messily thrown around your neck, but still allows you to look polished. So I decided to make a We Are Owls inspired scarf. It’s really simple, given you have the right tools. I didn’t experiment with many supplies, but I was really happy with Tee Juice fabric markers I used on my first try. Here’s what you need to make a Poem Script Scarf:

I told you it was simple, right? Grab a Tee Juice marker (I used the black broad tip version, found on Amazon) and a scarf in the color of your choosing and let your creativity flow.

I chose some phrases out of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 47. The Hubs recited this sonnet to me last autumn right before he left for a week for business meetings on the west coast. I picked the lines: “For thou not farther than my thoughts canst move/And I am still with them and they with thee/Or, if they sleep, thy picture in my sight.” Here’s how mine turned out:

A Few Tips

Make sure you lay something underneath the scarf/pashmina. Because of the loose weave of the fabric, the Tee Juice marker will seep through. Try not to move the scarf on your surface once you’ve started writing, otherwise the ink will smear.
Practice a few words on a scrap piece of fabric of a similar weave. I didn’t do this, so my first words are slightly different from the rest of the poem. That’s okay, it just adds character. Try different amounts of pressure on the fabric and how much you squeeze the tube. Both produce different results.
Let it dry well, then iron using a cloth over it for several minutes to make the ink permanent.

If you try this, please do send me a link to your final version!

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48 Comments

Sarah - Dodeline Design
311 days ago

Oh what fun, I love this idea! Where did you get the scarf?

Reply
- Lauren
  308 days ago
  
  Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DHSE7I
  
  Reply
Morgan @ PepperDesignBlog.com
308 days ago

How NEAT is this! Thanks so much for sharing – it turned out beautiful.

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- Lauren
  308 days ago
  
  I’m glad you enjoy it! Let me know if you make one! I want to see the poems that others pick
  
  Reply
Sara
297 days ago

so cute! my handwriting is awful – I am wondering about printing out the text in a cool font, then tracing it over the scarf. worth a try? or maybe I’ll ask my friend who has great handwriting to do it for me.

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- Lauren
  276 days ago
  
  You definitely could trace, but I think part of the fun is to just let it be freehand. It’s okay if your handwriting isn’t perfect. Maybe go over your script a few times to make it a little more “sketchy” feeling. Good luck!
  
  Reply
Geo
297 days ago

I really want to do this craft and I was wondering what fabric your scarf was made of. I kind of want a bleeded-through look and all the pashminas I want to use are made of viscose, which looks very thick. Is viscose too thick? Will it still bleed through? If it is thick enough to keep the lettering from showing a lot on the other side will I be able to paint on the other side as well?

This is the cutest idea I’ve seen in a long time, I’m so excited!

Reply
- Rachel
  183 days ago
  
  they are selling cheap-o ones at Walmart for $5 that are very see throuhg! that is what im using!!!
  
  Reply
Juice
296 days ago

I made one! I went at it differently though, but it still turned out pretty great I must say. I used a really thin scarf and a fine tipped fabric pen, and I really do like the effect. I’ll probably end up making one with a thicker material and thicker pen though too because they look so beautiful like that.
I used the chorus of “Someone’s Final Song” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Hope you like it as much as I do!

Reply
- Juice
  296 days ago
  
  Whoops! I didn’t attach the link. Here is is.
  http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m216/moose_11111/Photo07262300.jpg
  
  Reply
  - Lauren
    276 days ago
    
    I love this! I think you did such a fantastic job. Thanks so much for sharing
    
    Reply
Candice
279 days ago

Wow!! What an awesome idea! I’m totally going to make one for myself! Thanks for sharing!

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Linds
257 days ago

I’ll be making some of these for my up coming boutique! I’ll let you know when I’ve blogged em! Thanks so much!

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- Lauren
  245 days ago
  
  oh please do! can’t wait to see them!
  
  Reply
Deetz
212 days ago

I found this idea on pinterest and I love it! I cannot wait to make these for friends at Christmas! Awesome idea! Also, the scarves can be found super inexpensively on ebay!

Reply
- Amanda
  173 days ago
  
  I absolutely love this idea but I want one just like the scarf you used, Lauren. Did you get it online?
  
  Reply
  - Lauren
    168 days ago
    
    Yep! I think it was something similar to this: http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Pashmina-Shawl-Wrap-Scarf/dp/B002X0DWUA/ref=sr_1_2?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1322837074&sr=1-2
    
    Reply
Fran Babij
212 days ago

I absolutely love this idea!!!!! So totally unique and still so classy!!! I may make a few actually! Thanks so much for sharing!!!!!

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Erica
209 days ago

Love the idea. I think I will tea dye mine also to get that antiqued look as in the inspiration scarf. Thanks!

Reply
Alexis
208 days ago

Is this washable? I don’t want the ink to smear even if I hand wash it…

Reply
Ester
204 days ago

I’ve shared this on my blog! http://drawingdreaming.blogspot.com/2011/10/love-me-some-inspiration_27.html
xx

Reply
Krissy
197 days ago

such a great idea! i’m going to have to try this one!

krissykreates.blogspot.com

Reply
Jennifer
196 days ago

Question…in the scarf pictured, did you write on both sides? Is that bleed through (the gray script)? I love this and am so excited to try for some girls in my family. I going to work on picking a different quote for each to make it more special for each of them!

Reply
- Lauren
  168 days ago
  
  Nope, I just wrote on one side. The bleed through you mentioned was from the inspiration scarf. It did bleed through a little bit on mine, though.
  
  Reply
Jennifer
196 days ago

This might be a duplicate post…sorry. I don’t see my original post from about an hour ago, but I am revising my question anyway.

QUESTION…in regards to the scarf shown above, at the very top…did you make that scarf too or is that the original? I like the gray scale and black script combined. I am curious, is the gray bleed through or an actual gray ink?

Reply
- Lauren
  188 days ago
  
  Hi jennifer, The one at the top is the original from We Are Owls. I’m not sure how they made that one, but I do think it’s hand painted. Mine did bleed through a little bit on the back side, but wasn’t gray really.
  
  Reply
Liana.Danae
189 days ago

This post is fabulous!! I fell in love with the idea the moment I saw it. I made one for myself last night. Thank you for sharing your wonderful idea, tips and tricks! http://lefoof.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-latest-diy-project-personalized.html

Reply
- Lauren
  188 days ago
  
  love it! thanks for sharing!
  
  Reply
Breanna
188 days ago

such a wonderful idea! I’ve shared it here: http://dollarstoremom.com/2011/11/pinterest-picks-15/

Reply
- Lauren
  188 days ago
  
  thanks, Breanna!
  
  Reply
Liz
184 days ago

These are a fabulous idea and I’m definitely going to make some for Christmas!

I have one question, though. How do you keep the scarf from sliding all over the place while writing on it?

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Emily
183 days ago

Love this! I have already bought everything and am going to do this project this weekend. Question – what kind of cloth did you use to iron over the scarf after it had dried? I was thinking maybe an old t-shirt or something??

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- Lauren
  168 days ago
  
  Yep, exactly! Muslin scraps would probably work well, too.
  
  Reply
danette
180 days ago

You could also use quilting stands to secure the scarf while writing. It would be easier to write too. I am trying soon!!! Love this scarf!!!

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Angie Shaw
179 days ago

I am excited to make this scarf! Thanks for sharing. I have one question. How do you secure the scarf when your writing the script so that the fabric does not move while writing?

Any tips would be great!

Thanks,

Ang

Reply
- Lauren
  175 days ago
  
  Hi Angie! I just held it down with my non-writing forearm. It was a bit tricky to contort myself as I wrote, but it was easy enough.
  
  Reply
Sabrina
175 days ago

Wow this is a really creative idea. I think I may want to make some of these for my bridesmaids in my upcoming wedding. Granted my wedding is in June, but a light scarf that will be great come fall and winter here would be a nice usable gift that wouldn’t cost me too much money. I can’t wait to try it. Now to think of my verse???

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Amanda
174 days ago

I came to this site to see how it is you made this creative scarf. But what fascinated me more is that your husband recited Shakespeare to you!! Wow! What an incredible guy! I am completely impressed. (Does he have a brother?!! lol)

Reply
- Lauren
  168 days ago
  
  Hahha! Unfortunately just a sister. He’s got some awesome friends tho
  
  Reply
Jamie
174 days ago

Just wanted to let you know that I featured your project today on “You Sew Rock Me Fridays” on my blog Sew Rockin’. Here’s the link if you want to check it out: http://wp.me/p1VAkT-bU

Awesome job, I can’t wait to see what else you come up with!

Jamie

Reply
- Lauren
  168 days ago
  
  Awesome! Thanks so much.
  
  Reply
Liz
172 days ago

What kind of fabric do you recommend using?

Reply
- Lauren
  168 days ago
  
  Hi Liz, mine was just a generic “pashmina”- some sort of blend. Cotton would likely work best.
  
  Reply
Kortney
170 days ago

This is what I’ll be making tomorrow! Sooo excited, can’t wait!! I’m a scarf addict so this is great!
Thank you for sharing it!!

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Tacea
168 days ago

Thanks for the idsea, I made a number of these scarves for gifts! They turned out great!

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Kaycee
167 days ago

I want to make 4 or 5 scarves. Do you think I would need more than one marker? I’m not familiar with tee fabric markers. Thanks!

Reply
- Lauren
  166 days ago
  
  Yes, probably. I used about half of the marker on mine.
  
  Reply
  - Kaycee
    165 days ago
    
    Thanks! Can/t wait to try this!!
    
    Reply

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DIY: How to Make a We Are Owls Inspired Poem Script Scarf

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