Silk Scarves · The reference collection
The shape of a scarf.
A small square, a generous carré, a narrow ribbon: proportion changes the possibilities before a single knot is tied.
Measure the object, then imagine the knot
A size name gives you a starting point. Finished measurements give you the object. The same square can be folded edge to edge or across its diagonal, but neither measurement tells you exactly how much length will remain after tying. Fabric weight, fold width and the knot all intervene.
A sense of proportion
Select a square to compare it with a 90 cm reference outline. The drawing uses one consistent scale.
A 90 cm square offers several ways to fold and tie; the cloth determines how full the knot feels.
Five useful starting points
| Format | Explore it for | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| 45 cm square | A compact accent at a collar or wrist. | Enough tying length for the intended use. |
| 70 cm square | A neck square with less fabric than a 90. | The knot and width of the folded band. |
| 90 cm square | A generous neck fold or headscarf arrangement. | Finished dimensions and the body of the cloth. |
| 140 cm square | A broader drape or shawl-like arrangement. | Composition: large formats may be silk blends. |
| Narrow rectangle | A slender ribbon of print. | Both width and length; it is not a small square. |
The diagonal is not the tying length
For a square, the corner-to-corner distance is the side length multiplied by √2. A 90 cm square therefore has a diagonal of about 127.3 cm. Folding and knotting consume part of that distance; do not use the diagonal as a promise of fit. Try the arrangement with a scarf you own before ordering a new proportion.
Three real formats
Liberty’s Shirley Smith artist square is listed at 45 × 45 cm. Thackray’s If Only We Could Keep That Hour is 90 × 90 cm. Dior’s referenced Oblique Mitzah is 105 × 6 cm. Each gives the drawing a different amount of room and the wearer a different kind of line.