Lesson Plan: Different Ways to Tie Scarves

I have gotten a few emails with questions about scarves and how to tie them, so a lesson plan on scarves seemed in order. However, my biggest caveat about myself and scarves is that I'm a rampant plagiarizer, so I'm linking back to some of the bloggers from whom I've stolen here. As weird as it was to take pictures of my upper body only (hence my sheepish expression in most of these), I hope this gives you a few ideas if you're looking for them!



The Ascot Wrap
If you ask me, the best way to tie a large-ish square scarf. Academichic has a terrific explanation here. Fold your scarf in half to make a triangle, and wrap around your neck with the largest side (point-downward) facing front. You can tuck the ends under, keep them loose, or knot them gently underneath. I often fluff out each side of the triangle, too.



The Rectangle Wrap
Fold your square scarf in a rectangle rather than in a triangle, and loosely wrap around your neck.



The Belted Scarf
I'm not huge on belting scarves, but if I were, I would belt a lightweight square scarf like this, making sure the ends are fluffed out enough not to look meagre, and belting high on my natural waist.



The Orchid Grey Wrap
Plagiarized shamelessly from Julie, who does an excellent tutorial here. Wrap scarf around your neck once and then tuck the ends around inside the loop you've already created.



Messy Orchid Grey Wrap
Do as above, leaving out more bits and pieces.



Basic Loop
I wonder if this even needs instructions, it's so simple. But it's also classic, and is a great way of showing off a pop of color even under a buttoned-up coat. Without wrapping your scarf a million times, it also layers more smoothly under things. And it's perfect for studying in a chilly library on a winter night.



Elaine's Knot
Stolen from Elaine of clothed much, this is a basic loop with knotted ends. I think Elaine might knot the end twice (double knot) rather than a single knot as I've done here.



The Warmest Way
Take Elaine's knot and tuck the knot under the loop, wrapping closely around your neck. I swear this is the warmest way to tie a scarf (even warmer than the Orchid Grey wrap because it leaves no part of your decolletage exposed to winter air), and it fits well under the collar of a coat. Figuring out this technique saved my neck from frostbite the year I moved to the midwest.



The European Loop
Easy and breezy--the chics also posted about it here--this loop is how all my stylish college girlfriends in the class older than me tied their scarves the semester they returned from London. Fold your scarf in half around your neck and slide the ends through the loop.



Double European Loop
Do as above, with two scarves. I prefer one with a pattern for more visual interest. Lay the scarves out together, letting the colors mix (personally, I like the look when the two are intertwined rather than layered on separately) before doing a European loop.



Double Wrap
Enfold the two scarves together and loop round your neck several times, taking care to tuck in or fluff out the ends where you see fit.

Whew! Hope this breathes some life into your beloved winter scarves!