the evolution of a scarf

 
I've been playing with a new scarf design in the past week or so. Its a simple design, a summer-weight scarf that utilises the characteristics of knit fabric. 

The origins of this design lay in the black and white spotted scarf I made my mum several years ago. I'm really drawn to buttons, especially when the ends of the cotton used to sew them on are left to trail. Its a very honest design element and also has a Japanese aesthetic about it.

I use this tied button tail design element quite a bit: mum's scarf, the felt flowers, on the end of curtains...

So, back to this scarf design then. I needed to create a scarf that was less formal than the vintage silk scarves of the pieced fabric scarves. Plus it needed to be light weight, suited to the hotter months. And I wanted it to be relatively easy to make, and priced at a lower price point, something around $35.

When I originally envisioned this scarf it was two thickness of fabric, like all my other scarves. But as I was creating the prototype I discovered that one piece worked better. It was much more fluid and the cut edges curled in a nice way. And it reminded me of a favourite, soft, oft-worn T shirt.

 
Now for the buttons. You can imagine how much fun I had tipping out all my jars of buttons, searching for the perfect colours and sizes for each scarf. It took me forever to make a final selection. I settled on approx 17 buttons for each end of the scarf (34 in total) in three sizes (small, medium and large) and a selection of colours (light to dark).

The finished prototype scarf reminded me of small pebbles on the beach, the ones washed up on the edge of the shore. And the cotton tails on each button are reminscent of the marks made in the sand as the water washes over the pebbles back to the sea. This imagery was entirely unintentional, but I love the connection. Collecting shells and pebbles on the water's edge is one of the things I really enjoy.

 
 
So, I'm thinking this scarf should be called the "Beachcomber Scarf". Especially the scarves in this collection which have soft, sun bleached colours that remind me of a day at the beach and summer holidays.

I've also discovered, as I played with my knit fabric and button stash, that this design translates perfectly into a winter range of scarves. Darker, muddier colours. Heavier weight knit fabrics. Shiny, darker buttons.

Hmmm, can't wait to start working on those!

Comments

[Lynsey]

These are gorgeous!

[patricia]

I love these! Such a simple clean design.