How to Tie a Scarf in Five Easy Ways for Cold Days

You wrap a scarf round your neck on the way out, and by the bus stop it has slipped loose, one end is dragging and the cold is getting straight to your throat. Learning how to tie a scarf properly fixes both problems: it keeps the warmth where you need it and it stays put for the whole day.

Below are five knots that cover almost every scarf and every occasion, with the length each one needs, how long it takes, and which fabrics suit it. None of them take more than 30 seconds once you have done them a few times.

Check your scarf length first

Most frustration with knots comes from a scarf that is the wrong length for the style. Lay yours out flat and measure it before you start.

Width matters too. A scarf wider than about 40 cm behaves more like a shawl, so fold it in half lengthwise before tying any of the knots below.

How to tie a scarf five ways

1. The Parisian knot

This is the one most people picture, and it is the warmest of the quick knots.

1. Fold the scarf in half so you have a loop at one end and the two loose ends at the other.
2. Drape it around the back of your neck with the loop on one side and the ends on the other.
3. Pull both loose ends through the loop.
4. Tighten by sliding the loop up toward your throat.

It works best with a mid-weight knit of 160 to 180 cm. A very chunky scarf makes the loop too bulky to pull through, and thin silk slides loose within an hour.

2. Once around

Drape the scarf over your shoulders with one end about twice as long as the other. Take the long end around your neck once and let it hang at the front. It takes five seconds, works with almost any scarf, and looks neat under a wool coat with an open collar. Pull the front end down a little after you wrap it so it covers the gap between your collar and chin.

3. Twice around

For long scarves on properly cold days, wrap the long end around twice, then tuck both ends inside your coat. This puts two layers of fabric over your throat and the back of your neck, which is where you lose the most heat when walking into wind. It is the knot I use from December to February.

4. The four in hand

Borrowed from tie knots, this gives a slim, vertical look that sits well under a blazer.

1. Drape the scarf around your neck with both ends hanging at the front, one slightly longer.
2. Cross the long end over the short end, then wrap it under and around the short end once.
3. Bring the long end up behind the loop at your neck and down through the front of the knot.
4. Tighten gently and adjust so the knot sits just below your collarbone.

Use a thinner wool or cotton scarf for this one. Chunky knits turn the knot into a lump.

5. The infinity wrap

Tie the two ends of a long scarf together with a small flat knot, then loop the whole circle twice around your neck. Rotate it so the knot hides at the back, under your hair or coat collar. You get the cosy look of a snood without buying one, and the scarf cannot slip off on a windy platform.

Matching the knot to the fabric

Fabric decides how well a knot holds as much as your technique does.

• Wool and cashmere grip themselves well and hold nearly any knot all day.
• Acrylic knits are slippery, so choose wraps rather than knots, or tuck the ends inside your coat.
• Silk needs a firm knot, such as a small square knot at the side of the neck, because it slides out of loose styles within minutes.
• Cotton and linen suit spring and autumn and hold drape styles well, but they wrinkle at the knot point.

If your wool scarf has started to bobble from rubbing against a coat collar, the method in our guide on removing pilling from a sweater works just as well on scarves.

The fashionable advice I would skip

You will often read that a big, loose blanket scarf draped open over your shoulders is the most practical winter choice, because it doubles as a wrap. In my experience it is the least practical thing you can wear on a cold commute.

An open drape leaves the front of your throat exposed, which is exactly where cold air hits when you walk. The ends catch on bag straps and car doors, and the whole thing needs readjusting every few minutes. Save the open blanket drape for indoor settings and travel days on trains. For walking outside in temperatures below about 5 C, a twice around wrap or a Parisian knot with a medium scarf keeps you warmer with half the fabric.

Small habits that make any knot look better

• Tie your scarf after your coat is on, not before. A knot tied first gets crushed by the collar.
• Leave the ends uneven by 5 to 10 cm. Perfectly matched ends look stiff.
• Check the back in a mirror. A twisted fold at the nape is the most common thing that makes a neat knot look sloppy.
• Store knitted scarves folded in a drawer, not hung on a hook, so they do not stretch at one point.

Pair a well tied scarf with shoes that are actually ready for a long walk, and winter days get much easier. Our guide on breaking in new shoes without blisters covers the second half of that.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest way to tie a scarf?

The once around style is the easiest: drape the scarf over your shoulders with one end longer, then wrap the long end around your neck once. It takes about five seconds and suits almost any length or fabric. The Parisian knot is a close second if you want a little more warmth.

How do you tie a scarf so it stays in place?

Choose a knot that suits the fabric, such as a Parisian knot or infinity wrap for wool, and a firm square knot for silk. Tie it after putting your coat on and tuck the ends inside the coat on windy days. Slippery acrylics hold better in wraps than in loose knots.

How long should a winter scarf be?

For most adults a scarf of 160 to 180 cm handles all the common knots. If you prefer wrapping it twice around your neck, look for 180 cm or more. Shorter scarves under 140 cm suit simple drapes and are best for mild days.