But most of all I’ve always been attracted to scarf shops and stalls and enjoy using them as gift wrappers.  Scarves are cost effective and eco friendly as compared to conventional paper wrapping as they can be reused.  They make amazing wrap sheets and can be used to pack gifts of all size and shapes.

I use all sorts of scarves and wraps including cotton, pashmina, wool, lace, fur, jute, linen, silks and chiffons for my wrappings depending on the object to be wrapped.

My generally preference is a plain color silk scarf for small and delicate objects as silk adds royalty even to the oddest of things.  For bigger presents I use larger wraps and shawls so they provide a good covering as well as stand the weight of the stuff inside.

Having a keen eye for scarves I always end up buying inexpensive yet interesting scarf colors and patterns.  For example a light blue flannel scarf with small white polka dots would be an ideal wrap for a baby boy’s birthday gift.  At times I just wrap my gifts in simple pieces of packing scarf and at times I ornate them with additional accessories like ribbons, lace and pins.  Another example would be wrapping  Christmas gifts in a Santa print scarf and adding small bells on it.

So next time you want to wrap a present try to pick the wrapper from your wardrobe and give your gift an additional value!

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 changing weather also creates a demand to lighten the wardrobe packing and storing away the heavy warm clothes.  Latest spring-summer collections lurk new shopping and gives rise to a demand for lighter wear.

Trendy scarves with bright colors add joy to the spring celebrations. Wool, pashmina, cashmere, fleece and velvet are replaced by cotton, silk and chiffons as the heat builds on.  Marry making takes course and the demand for designer as well as casual women clothing takes a leap.    Hats, light weight formal shawls, scarf belts, bandanas and other scarf accessories appear on the racks.  Leading brands and trend setters such as Louis Vuittion scarf, shemagh scarf and desert scarf become a la mode.   Fashion scarves also create a demand in exploring new ways of how to tie a scarf in search of looking trendy.

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!

Although scarves are used all around the year still the ones for summers and lighter weathers are slightly different as their main focus is accessorizing.  The fabric used in these is mostly silk, chiffon, cotton, satin, lace and other sheer materials.

Scarves and wraps come in various different sizes and styles.  They can either be plain, multicolored or printed.  Various dying techniques such as tie and dye, screen printing, hand painting and block printing make each individual piece a masterpiece.  Similarly, numerous different ideas on how to wear a scarf add style to your existing dress collection.