www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Making a Head Covering

Has anybody ever made their own head covering? If so, how would I do the same? I got a sewing machine for Christmas (though my husband was hoping for a suing machine with no liability). :P

Thank you,

Rachel

Dear Rachel,

A headcovering is simply a scarf, i.e. a square or, more usually, rectangular piece of material hemmed on all four sides. How big it is depends upon how you wear it.

If it is square and Bandana sized, it can be folded in half into a triangle and tied back under the back of your head under your hair. This is how my younger daughters wear theirs.

If it is larger it could be tied "baba-style" under your chin.

Many women have large sized scarves which the cross under their chins and then around their necks. This is how my Matushka and older daughters wear theirs.

Fr David Straut

I made a mantilla for a friend of mine, from a piece of black mesh fabric (sort of like tulle only heavier) and trimmed it with black lace; I copied it from the one I wear and it is sort of an elongated oval, perhaps 20" across the narrow width and 40" or so in length.
If you didn't want to have to tie it, you could make either a triangle or a rectangle to whatever size suits your preference, and then sew a little comb at the center of one side to put into your hair to hold it in place.

Sieglinde

What materials work best for scarves?
It seems like the cottons I see in the fabric store are much to thick, but I admit I haven't looked around extensively. Next time I go to Europe I'm going to stock up on scarves, what a shame they're not readily and inexpensively sold here- or does someone know of someplace? I got my last scarf at a thrift store and plan to return and look for more.

I've been trying to work up the nerve to make one. I found some really nice light plain cotton fabric in the remnant bin that would be great for a headcovering, but my sewing skills are very bare minimum, so I'm a little nervous! I'll probably start tinkering soon. Do you crochet? There are some nice crochet headscarf patterns to be found on the internet too, if you wanted to make one that way. Good luck!

Andrea

Sieglinde,

I'd ask this privately, but an answer to a question I have could be helpful for others.

Some of the linen stores I've been in sell fabric at what I believe to be high prices. Wal-Mart has material which looks good for table cloths selling at $1.00-3.00 a yard while the material that feels near a good quality sells for $6.00-8.00 a yard. When Rachel and I look for material, we can get overwhelmed when trying to balance value and quality. (I am looking for a 19th century cape, which I would like to wear while reading Sherlock Holmes and smoking a pipe.)

What are the prices we should be looking for, and where could the material be purchased?

This could apply to a head covering, but if you could give any tips for general needs, we would be glad to see an answer.

Terry

Could you please post the urls to sites which have crocheted head scarves?

Thank you for the responses, everyone.

Andrea, my sewing skills are minimal, too, but we'll learn! I eventually want to make handbags. And I can't crochet, but it would be interesting to look at those patterns anyway. Maybe someday that skill will be added to my repertoire of crazy craftiness.

Sure! This site has a lot of patterns for different types of covering, triangle, scarf, headband, etc. http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/hair_accessories.php

I'd love to try this one: http://www.karensvariety.com/NEWSLETTER/Patterns/HeadScarf.htm

Here are some patterns for shawls that can work as headscarves too. I did the "spring has sprung" shawl and just stopped working the pattern when I thought it was the right size for a headscarf. (I didn't add the fringe either) and it turned out nice and light.

http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa031905.htm
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/shawls_etc.php

Hope some of those work for you!

Andrea

I have dreams of eventually making my family's clothing. Pretty lofty ambitions for me.

Good luck!
Andrea

While I was pregnant with my son, I sewed a lot of baby clothes using cotton fabrics.

Then after he was born, I continued sewing clothes for him.

It was fun, but sometimes challenging when the pattern directions were not as clear as I would like.

Thanks for the crochet patterns. I already make small triangular crocheted scarves. They are great when the weather is on the cool side.

It has really been much colder this year, so I really doubt that Al Gore has his facts straight. Our heater has been running a lot lately, so I really appreciate the urls you posted. Thanks.