Finished stitching and sewing this scarf

This scarf is all cotton,16 inches wide and 80 inches long, with some of my embroidery stitching in a few areas. 

new scarf project... but I may have to take these stitches out...

I've been working on a scarf with lots of my stitching on it. The base fabric is from a vintage sheet and super soft, however now that I've been machine stitching the two sides together, it is loosing its softness. I guess I knew the texture would change, but I machine stitching is faster and I want to finish this. I think I already know I'll have to pull those stitches out and try a different approach... hand-stitching will take too long, the scarf is at least 70 inches long and 24 inches wide. Time to think.