Hats, Scarves & Wigs

I might add that I used zig zag scissors for the first cut then zig zag the stitching....

I found that using the additional under scarf makes my head too hot.

Good will is good for scarves too

I have found all of my scarves in easy places.  I found a really beautiful rectangular cotton scarf that is blue and gold at Ross for 8.00.  I also found a solid color cotton scarf at Old Navy.  They have loads of them and they are a great size.  Surprisingly I also found some really pretty cotton scarves at Payless Shoe Source.  I like the cotton ones better than the silk as well, and I generally find that the rectangular are better than the square-easier to wrap.  Good luck!

I've bought some 100% silk scarves that they call "wild rags", they can be found in western wear catalogs and stores, generally will measure 35 inches square.  The ones I picked up are a nice jaquard weave but I've seen all kinds of prints and patterns.  The colors are beautiful and there is a wide variety available.

SCARVES, COTTON, SQUARE, 35 to 45 inches

I have spent many happy hours recently on the internet finding and spending too much money on scarves.  The websites of dealers I have personally found reliable and prompt are listed below.  Others where I have found problems are not included in my list below.  Problems included not keeping websites updated, slow delivery, substituted items, etc.  If you are uncertain, call by telephone to make sure of availability, etc.

My recommendations are the larger square cotton scarves, 40 to 45 inches, because the long diagonal folded edge can be rolled several times to add a wider flattering band around the side of the face.

The larger scarves folded into a triangle can also be double-wrapped around the head and tied in the front.  Then you then flip the original folded edge over to cover the tied ends of the knot.  This adds additional flattering bulk around the edge of the face.  This is like the scarf-tying technique described on the Tznius webpage as The Jeruslam:

www.tznius.com/cgi-bin/tying.pl

You can insert a thin foam rubber strip inside the diagonal fold before rolling to add more bulk and width.  It helps keep the scarf on, and adds.  Use 1/2 inch thick foam rubber, 2 inches or less wide, 18 inches long.  Taper the long ends to a point and bevel the square edges.  Make the edges irregular shaped.  Get cream-colored foam rubber from fabric and craft stores.  Dark gray foam rubber comes from hardware/home-improvement stores sold as insulation and weather stripping, which needs to be cut to 1/2 inches thick.

WEBSITES

35-in wood block hand-printed cotton scarves (and rectangles), as well as solids from Anokhi USA.  Have seen these in wig shops. 

www.anokhiusa.com/index.html

45-inch rayon thin bandana-style scarves.  Call to make sure of availability and to get the quantity discount.  Also very educational high-end wig website.

www.savvysheitels.com/

43-inch solid color cotton squares, but they seem to be sold out of most colors at present:

www.tznius.com/

MUSLIM HIJAB SCARVES:  There is a fashion craze among Muslim women for scarves, called hijabs.  Use the word hijab in your searches and you will find a huge number of sites, but I have found that not all are dependable after ordering.  If you love a particular item and are not sure, call them by telephone since they may not be keeping their website updated.

40-inch cotton voile scarves in large number of floral prints.  AngoraShop ships by mail directly and promptly from Turkey, and you will need to sign a delivery receipt.  Fun exotic shopping experience.

www.angorashop.com/main.php

37-inch and 40-inch animal print and batik-like prints, cotton voile from Al-Muminat.  Very good service.

www.al-muminat.com/cotton-square-hijabs-c-21_48.html

The StarScarves site was recommended by, and I found their service exemplary.  An inter-cultural adventure.  Only polyester georgette scarves (square hijabs), but many short cotton under scarves that are sometimes beaded, and some interesting Turkish beaded turbans that seem to sell out from this site very fast.

www.starscarves.com/index.html

TLC Direct, a division of the American Cancer Society has 35 inch scarves, caps, etc.

www.TLCdirect.org

Headcovers.com also has 35 inch cotton scarves, caps, etc.

www.HeadCovers.com

Anokhi makes solid color scarves in 30 inch square.

I had some beaubeaus that were beautiful ( www.4women.com ) and some hats from headcovers.com, but what I found I wore the most and felt the most comfortable in were the skull caps from sparklingearth.com. The price was right, the prints were fun, they could be tied to adjust to my larger than average head, and since I was bald during the summer the terry cloth lining along the forehead was a nice touch. They are biker wear evidently, but were perfect for me. I'm not to coordinated, so just having to tie the tails was about as complicated as I could go.

Cheryl, that's a neat pattern. Amazing the things you can find online! I would guess it could be made in something nice and soft and fuzzy for cooler temps too.

I decided to  stop wearing scarves even though I love them. I am now onto wigs. They can sometimes be itchy but overall it's fun!

Thanks otter. It never occurred to me to by fabric.  I wish I could find a pattern for the Buea Buea's. Not sure the spelling is correct.

Renee

Lisa, BeuasBeuas (TM) appear to be a particular brand of pre-tied scarves available from http://www.4women.com/.  You could buy one and dissect it to make your own pattern.

 ALTERNATIVE to either BeausBeaus (TM), the many other wonderful pre-tied and constructed scarf-look-a-likes (called "ladies skull caps") at www.sparklingearth.com, or the pattern that Mason204 suggested found at http://www.sewersforum.com/photogal/cancercap.pdf is the following:

 WRAP A WEDGE OF 1/2 INCH THICK FOAM RUBBER into one corner of a 30 to 45 inch scarf as you roll it, before you tie it around your head.

 Actually, I suggested this in my first post, but want to elaborate here.  The advantage is that there is no sewing.  FURTHERMORE, when you take the scarf off with the foam rubber insert, it stays in place, keeping its roll and back tie in place, and you can pop it on again as though it were a pre-tied sewn skull cap.

 INSTRUCTIONS:  Get foam rubber insulation from a hardware store, like Home Depot, under the brand name "Frost King."  Can get it from some fabric craft stores, but you would have to look for it.  Cut it in half with good scissors so you have a long piece only about 1/2 inch wide, instead of the 1 inch thick square strip that it comes in.  Cut a length about 18 inches long,  Then, taper the 2 ends to a point.  Also, round off the square edges along the long sides by snipping (like a beveled mirror)>

Place this wedge along one corner of the square scarf.  Roll the scarf with the foam wedge inside.  Scruntch some extra fabric into the foam/fabric tube while you are rolling to make a slight gathered effect.

Tie around your head.  The foam rubber roll adds thickness to your forhead and the sides of your face which is very flattering.  There is no annoying peak at the top that shows your bare forhead. 

It also keeps the scarf in place just like adding the plastic headband like someone else suggested.  AND, you do not have to tie the scarf as tight to keep it in place.

The deal breaker is the fact that you can lift this off your head, and every thing stays in place, and you can just pop it on again.  If you want, you could probably hand-sew with a very few stitches the whole thing after you get the look you want after taking it off your head. 

Lisa, I sent you a pm.

The beausbeaus sure have nice fabric, but I doubt I can explain the cost just for fashion! I've got to look into the Turkey website, looks like they have great fabrics.

After losing my hair twice while on chemo and never finding an appropriate head scarf, I designed an elastic-backed no-tie scarf that is comfortable and concealing.  I donate these through my doctor's office and have also made them available in solid colors, prints, and a reversible (one side print, the other solid) version at http://riseaboveit.etsy.com/