As an admirer of nature I sometimes wish I were born during the Romanticism period. Perhaps, I too would have created some breath taking piece of art which would have made me famous like William Blake.
Being a person of this nature and walking around the picturesque streets of Paisley I feel like preserving every scene through my digital camera. The sublimity of nature and its untamed qualities remind me of the presence of the Almighty.
Downloading the pictures on my laptop and browsing through them casts a magical spell reminding me of all the lovely sceneries.
One picture amongst my album is quite different and unique. It is of a paisley I once saw on a scarf in a small boutique. This is the best picture among my collection as it is congruent with the name of the town, Paisley. I wish I had bought this cashmere paisley shawl but don’t remember the location of the shop.
Having a passion for scarves and putting my thinking hat on, I plan to monogram the paisley onto a chiffon silk scarf and keep it as a souvenir from my trip to Paisley, Scotland. I have lots of silk and cashmere scarves but none would be like my paisley silk scarf.
My black scarf with a paisley monogram would be my breath taking piece of art and might one day make me famous like William Blake.
The word scarf brings to mind ‘a wrap for the neck and shoulder’ but trust me there is a lot more associated with this word!
No doubt, scarves are mostly shawl wraps of different knitting pattern used as head or neckwear to stay warm in the cold or light weight silk scarf to accessorize and outfit during the summers.
However, new and contemporary ways of utilizing the scarf include wearing it as a skirt and as a poncho.
A scarf simply wrapped around the lower body can work as an excellent skirt. Likewise, scarves draped around the shoulders and pinned at the center can take the form of a poncho.
There garments are easy to craft and can be made with scarves of different size and material.
Square and rectangular scarves make good skirts and sarongs. Whereas, longer and oblong once are more suitable for ponchos.
All types of material including cashmere, pashmina, cotton chiffon, woolen and silk scarves work equally well for this style. Be it tartan, paisley or mission all styles seem admirable when a scarf of either is worn as a skirt or a poncho.
When it comes to thinking of scarves we normally think of a warm shawl snuggled around as a neck scarf. Scarves are an accessory which can be worn year round depending on the material it is made of.
A cotton, light weight linen or pure silk scarf would be one’s summer accomplice. On the contrary, woolen knitted shawls and those with a higher percentage of cashmere or pashmina would make good winter scarf accessories.
A cashmere silk scarf is quite a unique add on as slightly playing around with the blend can make it adjustable for either weather. The standard ration is 70% cashmere to 30% silk. This blend makes the scarfs quite warm. Altering the ratio by adding more cashmere would make it warmer with 100% pashmina being the warmest. On the other hand, reversing the blend by adding more silk and lesser cashmere would make it lighter and more suitable for cooler climates.
Christmas comes only once a year but I try to preserve its essence throughout the year!
Ever since I can remember, everyone starts hunting for Christmas gifts as the holiday season approaches. Great care is invested in shopping for these presents but they are soon forgotten as soon as the big day is over.
As a child I’d always looked forward to giving and receiving presents but it has always saddened me of how we all forget about them shortly after and lock them in our cupboards.
Now for the past couple of years I try to give gifts which would be used year round and still not look boring.
This year my ideal gift is going to be silk scarves for all my friends. I am going to make these scarves myself with great care. Being a big fan of simplicity and neatness my scarves will be white in color so they can be unisex. This type can easily be worn with a blazer, skinny jeans, or an oxford for a casual yet professional look anytime of the year.
Hope my friends like my idea as I want them to remember the message of Christmas by wearing these scarves year round.
Various materials are used to make scarves. Some of these materials are so soft and shabby that they have to be stiffened by starching. Starch can be applied to any material such as soft cotton, linen or even silk if it needs stiffening. Starching is a simple method requiring two basic techniques of starch cooking and ironing.
Laundry starch is easily available in the market in the form of spray starch, liquid or powder.
Spray starch is the easiest as you simple have to lightl spray the starch over the scarf and gently iron it.
The second form is liquid starch which has to be diluted with lukewarm water before dipping clothes into it.
The last and the traditional method is powder starch. This is available in the market under different brand names but you can also use normal cornstarch used for cooking. Preparation for this is a little time consuming but the results are quite satisfactory. For a single scarf you will require:
2 heaped tablespoons of starch powder
&
2 liters water (1 liter boiling & 1 liter cold)
Method:
1) Mix the starch powder in a cup of warm water and stir it into a smooth paste
2) Add the mixture to the boiling water stirring constantly to avoid lumps and cook for 2 minutes on low flame
3) Turn off the flame and after cooling add the cold water and stir swiftly till a smooth milky concoction is made
4) Dip the scarf fabric into the prepared liquid
5) Sun dry to achieve better stiffness
6) Iron on medium heat and enjoy neat and stiff scarves.
The smell of snow makes me think of sitting on top of the radiator and sipping mug after mug of warm coffee. I am looking forward to Christmas holidays where I would do nothing but make Christmas gifts for my entire family and enjoy my coffee.
I want my presents this year to be unique so the message of love I portray though them lasts all year round. My thinking-hat has advised me to make small silk scarves for everyone. I am thinking of using the color red for the men (bold and beautiful for the cold winter) and silver for the ladies (serene and sophisticated). Each red scarf would have a silver trim and the silver would have red trims. There would be wrapped with silk ribbon of the opposite colors with small bells tied around the knot.
Now that I have brainstormed my gift ideas I want the holidays to start so I get going with my silk scarf gift project while enjoying my coffee.
A scarf is a lose piece of cloth wrapped around one’s self. It serves many purposes varying from fashion to religious reasons.
Scarves are simple to make and can be easily made at home too. Making a scarf requires some very basic things.
Things Required:
1) A piece of cloth (silk, cotton, chiffon, linen, velvet etc…)
2) A Pair of Scissors
3) Needle & Yarn
4) The Design
5) Sketching Pens (optional)
6) Paint / embellishment
What to Do:
A) Take out all the things and lay them on a clean table
B) Cut the piece of fabric to the required size with the pair of scissors
A) Hem the edges using the needle and string
B) Decorate the scarf anyway you want using the provided the stationary
C) Let the add-ons settle
Viola, your scarf is ready!
Worried about spending too much on clothing and having to collect a large outfit wardrobe with limited storage space? Well don’t worry too much as a simple trick can take care of it.
Now all you have to do is pick a couple of nice and simple outfits and ornate them with fancy dress scarves. This trick works for formal as well as casual wear. Wear the same dress over and over again with different scarves to give it a new look each time. You can even wear the same dress you wore to work in the morning to a romantic dinner at night by accessorizing it with an elegant silk or pashmina shawl draped around your shoulders. Likewise, the addition of an elegant scarf can make a simple dress fit for a cocktail party or any other party.
Wow, how interesting as it helps you save money, time and effort shopping for clothes. Above all, you can try different outfit – scarf combinations to carry different looks each time with the same inventory. And when not in use you can simply fold the scarves in a small pile and stack them anywhere in your cupboard without having to worry about storage space.