The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Articles
    • Starting From Scratch
    • Common Wardrobe
    • Packing
    • Start With Art
    • Project 333
    • 4×4 Wardrobes
    • Weekly Timeless Wardrobes
    • Archives by Date
    • Archives by Categories & Tags
  • Support The Vivienne Files
    • Books, Clothes & more
    • Templates & Color Planners
  • Contact
Home » Scarf tying: the square knot, two ways

Scarf tying: the square knot, two ways

repeat after me: left over right, then right over left…

I don’t wear this knot terribly often, but it’s very handy to know, as there are two variations using a square knot, and once you know how to tie this one, you can do it without a mirror…

Start with a bias folded scarf, or a rectangular scarf, and center it behind your neck like so:

 

 
Bring the left part over the right part:

 

 
 
and loop it over and through – standard knot-tying procedure:

 

Now here’s where many people go awry.  Your normal instinct is to take the “new” left end and take it back over the “new” right end.  Resist such instinct, and instead, bring the RIGHT SIDE OVER THE LEFT SIDE.  (I could get into a technical explanation of how changing direction alters the direction of the weave of the fabric within the knot, and strengthens the knot, but we’re not mooring a ship here…)

 

 

 

 Do the normal loop through and pull, and you get a knot that’s relatively square, and from which the ends will protrude in a rather horizontal manner for a few inches, until the weight of the fabric causes the ends to drop down a bit.

 
I more frequently will double wrap a scarf and then square knot it; center the scarf in front of your neck:

 

 
cross the ends behind your neck, leaving you with nice tidy short ends:

 

 
Left over right, pull through, RIGHT OVER LEFT, pull through, and this is what you have:

 

Just for informational purposes, if you tie the knot “left over right, left over right”, you have tied what my father called a Granny Knot (I have no idea if this is a real knot name – if my dad said it, it’s good enough for me!), and this is what it looks like:

if this is your desired effect, go for it!

I like the shorter knotted version in cold weather, or under a jacket – it gives a nice dash of color, and is quite insulating.  For many people, a lower square knot can be quite flattering.  I find that it’s silken coals to Newcastle to put anything additional mid-torso, for me…

Tweet
Pin14
Share
14 Shares

02.07.12 4 Comments

Tags: accessories, Hermes scarf
<<A Travel Capsule Wardrobe in soft, warm colors with green and beigeA Minimal Wardrobe from Years Ago>>

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    February 8, 2012 at 12:07 am

    Thanks for the scarf tying lesson. Now I understand what to do with the scarves in your wardrobe posts.

    Reply
  2. Alice /// VESTIGIAL WINGS says

    February 8, 2012 at 12:28 am

    haha ive been doing granny knots. thanks for the info!

    Reply
  3. LadyJennivieve says

    February 8, 2012 at 11:17 am

    I've always know them to be square knots (or reef knots) and granny knots.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    February 8, 2012 at 11:19 am

    Thanks for the eye opener, my previous to today only knot – see last picture. Your granny knot does have charm, because of the placement of the sun. :-)

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

logo
The Vivienne Files is a unique personal style blog with carefully-selected capsule wardrobes based on color palettes drawn from works of art, nature, and more. It helps women buy less clothing, and to love what they buy. Read more...
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

STAY UP TO DATE

Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

  • Build a capsule wardrobe starting with a bracelet in aquamarine and amberBuild a Travel Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a Bracelet: Forget-Me-Not Bracelets by Fierce Lynx Designs
  • Build a Warm Weather Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art Wagen in Silberner Strasse by August MackeBuild a Warm Weather Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Wagen in Silberner Strasse by August Macke
  • Japanese 24 Seasons of the Year – Shunbun – Vernal EquinoxJapanese 24 Seasons of the Year – Shunbun – Vernal Equinox
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 The Vivienne Files | All Rights Reserved - Built with ♥ by RockFort Media

THE VIVIENNE FILES IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR US TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON.COM AND AFFILIATED SITES.