Scarf Tying ... But Not As You Know It.

Thursday 10 October 2013


Brrr. Well they were right about it turning cold today. Brrr. Brrr. And an extra brrr for good measure. Brrr.

Scarf weather? I think so too.



H&M men's scarf, H&M Jeans, Gap Cotton Jumper, Medwind Boots, Uniqlo Heattech Vest just seen


I'm not quite ready for the full on dark side yet. I'm easing in to autumn - season of mists and mellow fruitfulness according to Keats. So I'm in cream and varying shades of grey with touches of black - a little bit softer methinks. Winter will turn me in to the Princess of Darkness soon. Watch this space.

I'm on the lookout for the perfect grey scarf. It looks a lot like the one I'm wearing but is ideally made from cashmere or failing that, a lovely soft fine wool. The one I'm wearing is made from viscose. But until then, this comes close - it has the look I'm going for, but the lightness of cashmere or a fine wool will make it tie better. Go through your scarves and try them - you will notice the viscose pashmina type ones droop and drag a little. This grey one just about passes. Just.

When I sometimes have a problem knotting my scarves i.e. they are too short to knot properly or they are just not playing ball, I employ this little trick. 

Now you see it ....



Now you don't!


Ta dah!


I get one of those little non-snag hair bands to tie my scarf ends together!



My original use for the snag bands i.e tying up hair didn't work. I have hair as strong as wire - every time I put one on. Ping. Ping. Ping. You give up after a while. But at least I didn't waste the remainder of the pack. Wrap your scarf round your neck as per usual. Bring the two ends together and slip through a snag band where you would have the knot. Cover the snag band with the rest of the scarf. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Bet that's a new one for all you scarf loving gals.












40 comments

  1. That is such a good idea! I sometimes don't like tying mine because it becomes to bulky so I'll be using this trick as an alternative!

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    1. I get that problem when the knot gets too bulky and it all starts falling wrong or you just get a big bump infront of you that looks a little ludicrous. This certainly is one way to sort it out.

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  2. Genius. Seriously Sue, sometimes you kind of blow my mind. PS- love the whole look!


    www.nomadicd.com

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    1. Thanks Defne. Yeah - I come up with some weird stuff don't I? I need a job.

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  3. Great tip honey! Agree for once the weather men got it right and with my constant hot flushes of the last few months, yesterday felt wonderful and getting into a cold bed last night was pure bliss, oh the joys of getting old!!

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    1. Yep - the weather man was right. And I'm not really enjoying this cold snap at all. Having said that, I didn't feel it too much today layered up and with baseball cap too. Yes, I braved the school playground in it and strangely enough, I didn't feel too self conscious in it. I think it's the getting used to having something on your head and the fact that no one else cares.

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  4. Love the cream sweater Sue, it looks gorgeous with the grey scarf!! Beautiful colours together.

    Those bands are so useful aren't they! I use them for keeping my belts from flapping if there is excess length after notching up! I shall definitely be using them for scarves. Another great tip! Thank you!

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    1. Ah the cream sweater with the overly long sleeves but which I made an exception for because I liked the jumper too much. This one is a really soft cotton and I paid full price for it and then returned it when I saw it was cheaper online by £5 and then bought it again when it went to half price literally 3 days later. It's the kind of jumper the Grumps thinks "that old thing" and doesn't quite get.

      And I do that thing with overly long belts too - they really are useful little things aren't they? I wonder if there are any more uses we can think up for them?

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  5. Wow it certainly looks like the temperatures have dropped severely! I'm always wondering how to tie my scarves so that they actually protect my neck but still look elegant, I'll have to try that trick. Termperatures are getting "scarfy" here too :)

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    1. Oh how they've dropped. It's had me hunting down the Heatech vest and dragging out all the boots ... and the furry trapper hat that I have.

      And scarves are tricky - if buying online, I like to check the length to make sure they are sufficiently long to knot but the mens ones tend to be a little shorter because they probably don't try to do all manner of fancy things with a scarf like women do. But I do love a good men's scarf and I've had a few from H&M mens' section which have been really nice. Oh and it's good if you can borrow from the other half too.

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  6. Hi my dear-fabulous tip and I will definitely be trying this-I'm not a fan of knotting so this is an excellent alternative! Love your whole look here-relaxed and chic and cosy, what's not to love!! xxx

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    1. It came about originally when I was holding a scarf together to see how I could make it just right and I just needed something to hold it in place at the right point. Scarf pins and clips are pretty scarce these days and I don't usually want anything obvious like a brooch so this was the ideal solution. Just helps with those awkard ones.

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  7. What a fab idea Sue. Gorgeous scarf too xxx love Liz xxx (from whatlizzyloves!) xx

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    1. Hi Liz. Thanks about the scarf. I love it ... till I get the cashmere version ;o)

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  8. Hi again!! If you come to London, then do let me know-it would be fabulous to meet for an affogato or two and we can be Autumn cap twins! xx

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    1. Affogato yes, hat twins no. I'm not ready for that yet and besides we will look like proper tourists if we do that. I went on a trip to China once where they gave everyone a baseball cap so it was easy to identify the group. I didn't wear it.

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    2. LOL very loudly!! Agreed, no caps and you've really pictured a scene that I'm mentally picturing is so funny! xxx

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  9. I totally LOVE this post! This will revolutionise my life! Thank you!

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  10. Susie - you truely are a lady of many talents and tips!!

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  11. Clever clever clever!! And I totally agree on viscose scarves being droopy. An expensive lesson to have learned. Wool with silk or cotton is lovely. And, of course, cashmere is sublime. I'm also on the look out. I'm dedicated to my cause!

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    1. It took me a few pashminas to work that out. Like you say - an expensive lesson to be learned but learn it I did. And if you spot my perfect cashmere scarf on your shopping travels - do let me know!

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    2. Will do! I am also looking for a silvery grey cashmere scarf, which sounds like what you want, so will let you know if I see anything good.

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  12. I may steal this idea Sue on days my scarf won't cooperate with me! Have a good weekend:)
    ~Anne

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    1. Oh you should Anne. It's life changing (no not really but quite useful) :o)

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  13. that's such a good idea!! I always get so annoyed by scarfs that aren't quite long enough to knot properly!! Definitely going to be trying this one out :)

    Hannah xx

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    1. I like buying men's scarves and men must not do fancy things with their scarves and so they come up a bit shorter which makes tying them a little difficult. So yep - this is one way round it. And cheap too.

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  14. Well, aren't you a clever clogs? Great tip! Thank you :)

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  15. What a great tip, i love it. Your scarf looks great and I love your jumper too x Dawn

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    1. Thanks Dawn. Where there's a will, there's a way. I refuse to be dictated to by an awkward length scarf.

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  16. Oh haha that's quite genius Sue. It was 35c yesterday but today it's back to scarf weather too, talk about bonkers! Love the outfit too xx

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. That's literally blowing hot and cold. Mind you, we had gorgeous temperatures the weekend before last and then bam - all change. Not so different here.

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  17. Genius! And even more so for hunting down that great scarf in the men's section! xx

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    1. Ta very much girl! Some good scores to be had in the mens section if you know where to look. And the kids sections too - sometimes it helps to be a titch.

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  18. What a fantastic idea Sue, totally genius. I'm loving the creams and greys together too x
    www.mymidlifefashion.com

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    1. Along with the navy, these are my other favourite colours for the cold months. A little bit softer than full on black.

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  19. Great scarf (again from the Men's section! I'll check it when I get back in Europe) and useful tip! I love long scarves but from time to time there's always one that's just too short for endless loops around the neck.

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    1. I know - it's annoying when you get a scarf and you can't tie them properly. I also seem to be building up a little collection of H&M mens's scarves but honestly, they are good. Nicer than the women's.

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Susie So So