Scarf Tying Guide: Basic Techniques

There are no secrets to the art of scarf tying, however there are a few 'tricks' that will help you on your way.

Read through the following notes, then take a scarf and try out some of the styles listed on the left. With a bit of practice, you'll find that tying these styles isn't difficult at all, and you'll soon be receiving admiring looks for your scarf-tying expertise and polished appearance.

Folding your scarf in preparation for tying

There are three basic ways to fold a scarf:

1. Folding your scarf into a triangle

Nothing could be simpler - lay the scarf out flat, and bring two opposite corners together.

2. Folding your scarf into an oblong (rectangle)

Lay the scarf out flat, then fold two opposite sides inwards, one after the other. Repeat until the scarf is your required width.

3. Folding your scarf on the bias

a. Lay the scarf out flat, then take two opposite corners and fold them into the centre, one after the other. Repeat until the scarf is your required width.


b. For a fuller look, first fold the scarf into a triangle then, starting at the point, carefully roll the scarf up into a long thin strip

Tying your scarf

Simply taking the two ends of a scarf and tying them together will usually result in a lumpy, unsightly knot. Instead try the following techniques for tying elegant knots:

1. The 'fake' knot

First tie a neat knot in one end of the scarf. Then simply slip the other end of the scarf through the knot and adjust so that both ends are of similar length.

2. The square knot

This makes a smooth, well proportioned knot that lies flat. It is really a double knot - take care to do the actual tying with the same end of the scarf for both knots.