Handwritten Pashmina Wrap Tutorial

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Written Word Wraps are a beautiful way to carry a special poem, quote, bible verse, or song lyric with you all day.  The written words form a unique pattern on the scarf when it’s wrapped, so the message remains your own until you choose to share it.  And as with all Inspired Mess projects, this wrap requires very few materials and can be completed quickly. Inexpensive and instant gratification. Win/win, my rockstar crafting project friends.  Read on!

Let’s Do This!

You need two basic supplies for this Written Word Wrap project:

(1) Blank Pashmina

**Note: I have bought most of my Pashmina blanks on Ebay.  If you search “Pashmina scarf” in Buy it Now, you will have a massive list of sellers.  I love the sellers that have a large selection of colors.  They usually have a deal on shipping or quantity discounts.  Also, some sellers ship directly from China, but if you want it quickly, I suggest ordering from a shipper in the United States.

I DO question the validity of “Pashmina, cashmere, and silk” really being part of the fiber content in most scarves.  The ones that I’ve purchased from Ebay have a nice drape and great color saturation.  If there is a problem, most sellers will work with you on an exchange.  A lot of Pashminas are a 1:3 rectangle, around 22″ X 66″.  Don’t worry if your wrap has different dimensions – you will just plan your word spacing to correspond with your width/length ratio.

(2) Tee Juice Marker

**Note, again:  I have used many different types of fabric markers, and I find Tee Juice markers to be BY FAR the best for these scarves.  They have great, even ink flow, and they do not bleed into the fabric at all.  You will want to purchase the “broad tip” markers.  I have tried the medium and fine points, and they do not saturate well on the Pashminas.  The fabric on these scarves is very fine, so you need a marker with good ink flow, so you don’t have to press / pull.  I have ruined my share of scarves with the wrong markers.  Tee Juice markers are permanent once ironed.  **ONE marker makes one scarf.  I know that sounds crazy, but unless you have a very short phrase, allow for the 1:1 ratio.

That’s it.  Those are the two materials you need.  Once you have the pashmina and marker(s) in your hands, you’re ready to go.  Now, the process of making your wonderful word wrap.

Step 1:  Prepare the Writing Surface

To make your wrap / scarf, you will need to find a long flat surface so you can spread out your Pashmina for writing. The scarf needs to be fairly taut on the writing surface so it won’t wrinkle and pull while you write.  I have a 2′ X 6′ foldable table, so I tuck in the legs and lay it on the floor.  You will also want something ON TOP of the table that will absorb the excess ink as you write.  I bought a terry table cloth at a thrift store, but I’ve also used old sheets, towels, etc.

Once you have the long surface with absorbing material on top of it, ATTACH the Pashmina to begin writing.  I like to use painters tape to attach my scarves because it UN-adheres easily.  I’ve tried pins, masking tape, paper clamps…..and they all have caused the threads to pull or tear.  Painters tape works like a dream.  Just don’t press on it too hard.

Step 2: Plan your Word Spacing

You need to know where to put the words so the phrase takes up the entire scarf space… but you also don’t run out of room!   It’s definitely not a scientific process – you can use a pencil and paper or the computer.   I use the “text box” function in Word, and make a box about the same ratio as my scarf (again – it’s not exact, but a visual guess). From there, I type in my message and adjust the font size so it fits in the box (aka, scarf diagram).  Obviously, if you’re going to write in cursive, then make sure you pick a font style that is cursive.  Once I get my phrase to fit, I print the page so I can reference it while I write:

I divide the printed box into 4 sections across, just so I can divide the scarf into the same 1/4 sections (with fabric marker) and plan the spacing.

Once you’ve completed (1) securing the scarf on an absorbent surface and you’ve (2) planned the word spacing/placement, you’re ready to WRITE!  Shake the Tee Juice marker and begin creating your Written Word Wrap.  Even if you mess up a bit, remember, the words will form a beautiful abstract pattern when it’s worn, so the little flaws don’t show up at all.

When you’re finished writing with the marker, let it sit for several hours to dry.  I usually leave mine taped in place overnight.  CAREFULLY and gently remove the painters tape – remember, the threads are very delicate.  When I iron the scarf, I use an old sheet on my ironing board to prevent excess ink from bleeding onto it, and I also use a thin barrier sheet between the scarf and iron surface.

That’s it!  You’re done!  It might sound like a lot of work to set up the work area, but once it’s set up, you can make several at a time.  Store the covered surface (basement? closet?) so it’s readily available for your next Written Word Wrap.

I promise – these make beautiful, personalized gifts, and your friends and family will cherish their one-of-a-kind wrap.  If this tutorial has been helpful, please PIN it to your favorite board and Pinterest and I’d love to hear your comments below.  Thank you for stopping by my Inspired Mess!

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