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All Tied Up!

Most crafters enjoy creating scarves. They are quick and easy to make in a variety of techniques such as knitting, crocheting, felting, weaving, sewing and even silk screening, dyeing and batik with ready-made scarves. Scarves come in many sizes and shapes including square scarves, rectangular (or oblong) scarves and infinity scarves. Some have smooth, straight edges, while others are curvy or feature fringe.

Tying scarves is simpler than it seems, and various attractive scarf-tying techniques are easy to learn. Though a square scarf can be folded diagonally and tied around your head, shoulders, neck or waist, it is most often folded into an oblong shape and then tied like a rectangular scarf. Below are three basic ways to fold a square scarf. The first results in a shorter finished length than the other two, so the fold you choose can depend on the way you will be wearing the folded scarf. The scarf can also be simply gathered or twisted together to form a rectangular shape.

• Straight or oblong fold: Lay the square scarf on a table and fold two opposing side to meet in the center. Repeat, bringing the outside folds to meet in the center until scarf is twice your desired width. Then, fold in half with the center folds inside. This results in a shorter scarf length than the next two types of folds.
• Triangle fold: Fold scarf diagonally to form a triangle. Start folding the scarf from the point opposite the center fold. Fold a section approximately the same as the desired end width. Continue folding from the same side until you reach the center fold.
• Bias fold: Lay the square scarf on a table and fold two opposite corners to center. Fold the outer folds to the center and repeat until you have the desired width.

Classic Drape

Simple Wrap

Wrap and Tie

European loop

Rectangular (or square scarf folded to rectangle) scarf ideas:

• Classic drape: Drape scarf around your neck leaving ends draped in front.
• Simple wrap: Wrap scarf around your neck with one end longer than the other. Wrap the longer end around your neck. Adjust the ends to either make the wrap loose or close to your neck.
• Wrap and tie: Wrap scarf around your neck with one end longer than the other. Wrap the longer end around your neck. Tie the ends in a loose knot.
• European loop: Fold scarf in half holding tails in one hand and looped fold in other hand. Place around neck and thread tails through the loop.
• European twist: Fold scarf in half holding tails in one hand and looped fold in other hand. Place around neck and thread one tail through the loop. Twist the loop and then thread the remaining tail through.
• Waterfall: Wrap scarf around neck twice. Pick up tip of one tail and tuck it in the loop letting the rest of that tail drape loosely.
• Fake knot: Drape scarf around your neck. Tie a knot in one tail, but don't pull it tight. Insert remaining tail through the knot. Adjust the fake knot close to the neck or farther away as desired.
• Ascot: Place scarf around your neck with ends hanging in front. Fold one end over the other twice, and then bring it up through the loop around your neck from the back. Spread the front layer so it covers the knot beneath.
• French knot: Fold in the same manner as for ascot to desired width. Put scarf around front of neck so ends hang in back. Wrap ends around to front and loosen loop so that it's comfortable. Tie a loose knot and then a second, tighter knot.

There are many more ways to tie a rectangular scarf. See the Nifty & Thrifty section of this newsletter for videos showing several ways to wear a scarf.

A long infinity scarf can be folded in half and tied like a rectangular scarf if desired. Alternatively, fold a square scarf into a rectangular shape (or use a rectangular scarf) and tie the ends together so it can be worn as an infinity scarf. Here are some possible ways to wear an infinity scarf:

• Double loop: Place around neck with seam (or knot) in back. Make a figure-8 in front and pull loop over your head again to result in two loops in the front.
• Infinity loop knot: Begin with the double loop, adjusting so one loop is quite a bit longer than the other. Tie the longer loop in a knot leaving a small loop below the knot.
• Infinity scarf twist: Place an infinity scarf around your waist. Twist the scarf once to create a figure-8. Pull loop over your head.

Now, go out and make some scarves!

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