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Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 40 mins

Backless scarf top with chain ties
This is an edgier version of the ribbon-tied backless top on page 38 and would
be great for a night out dancing or with a pair of cut-off jeans. The idea with this top is that the chain straps are attached, doubled up, and then hooked over the buttons at the back of the top to secure. You can buy chain from a craft store; alternatively, pick up a couple of necklaces from a thrift store and bling it right up! You don’t have to have the chain really tight across your back; in fact, having a little slack allows for more freedom of movement.

STYLIST’S TIP
Why not criss-cross the chain at the back? You will need to allow more chain for this and to stitch buttons to the top, center, and bottom point of each side.

Posted by Ryland Peters & Small • Published 6th February 2013 • See Ryland Peters & Small's 148 projects » © 2025 CICO Books / CICO Books · Reproduced with permission. · Thrifty Style by Janine Chisholm is published by Cico Books at £12.99 and is available from www.rylandpeters.com . All photography is © Cico Books.

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Luna D. favorited Backless Scarf Top 27 May 09:16
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Step 1
Lay the scarf right side down on your work surface. Using tailor’s chalk or a pin, mark the top, center, and bottom points of opposite sides. Using buttonhole thread, which is stronger and thicker than normal sewing thread, stitch a button to the top and bottom points on one side and to the center point on the other side.
Step 2
Cut the chain into three 39-in. (100-cm) lengths with a pair of side cutters. (If the chain is fine enough, you can cut it with a pair of pliers.) Remove any sharp edges, so that the end of the chain is neat and rounded.
Step 3
Place the scarf face down again, with the chain down next to the marked points that do not have buttons. Hand stitch one end of each length of chain in place at each point.
Step 4
Put the top on by holding your scarf at the front. Ask a friend to hook each length of chain over the corresponding button, take it back across to the starting point, and mark where the chain will end with a safety pin. Check in a mirror to make sure that you are happy with the look before you cut the chain.
Step 5
Remove the top, cut the chains where required, and then hand stitch the end of each chain to its corresponding starting point on the scarf, overstitching with buttonhole thread in a color of your choice for a funky look.