For a first silk scarf, choose 26 inches (65 cm): it ties at the neck and in the hair equally well. Go down to 22 inches (55 cm) for a bag handle, a wrist or a small neck knot, and go up for coverage: 36 inches (90 cm) wraps a full head of hair or covers the shoulders, and 44 inches (110 cm) works as a shawl. A twilly, a narrow 2.4 by 44 inch ribbon of silk, is for hair, bags and a slim bow.
Silk squares are sold by the length of one side. A few inches sounds like a small difference, but each step up changes what the scarf can do. Here is what each size is for, whom it suits, and how to choose when it is a gift.
Silk scarf sizes at a glance
| Size | Metric | What it does | Choose it for | Folk Form price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 inch | 55 x 55 cm | Bag handle, wrist, ponytail, small neck knot | Someone unsure she wears scarves; a gift when you do not know her taste | $75 ($64 for Peace In Mind) |
| 26 inch | 65 x 65 cm | Headband, ponytail wrap, neck knot, bag roll | A first silk scarf; everyday wear | $97 |
| 36 inch | 90 x 90 cm | Full head wrap, turban, sleep wrap, shoulder cover, halter, waist sash | Long, thick or tightly coiled hair; a gift that should feel significant | $153 |
| 44 inch | 110 x 110 cm | Shawl, everyday layer, sarong, belted light layer, pillow cover | Cold offices, planes and restaurants; the whole design on show | $197 |
| Twilly | 6 x 106 cm (2.4 x 44 in) | Hair ribbon, ponytail tie, slim neck bow, bag handle, hat band, wrist | A small silk gift; an accent on a bag | $57 |
22 inch (55 cm): the small square
The 22 inch square is bandana size. It ties around a bag handle, wraps a wrist, holds a ponytail or makes a small knot at the neck. It is too small to wrap a head, belt a waist or cover the shoulders, so do not buy it for those.
It suits someone who is not sure she wears scarves, and it is a safe gift when you do not know her taste. In a rigid gift box, a hand-printed silk square this size does not read as a small gift; it reads as a considered one. At $75 it sits just under our $90 free-shipping line, and a buffalo horn scarf ring at $15 brings the order to exactly $90.
Browse 22 inch silk scarves.
26 inch (65 cm): the everyday square
The 26 inch square does hair and neck equally well: a headband, a ponytail wrap, a neck knot, a roll around a bag handle. It is also enough for a sleep wrap on shorter or finer hair. If she has never owned a silk square, start here.
Folded into a band it sits neatly at the neck over a shirt, and tied as a headband it still leaves ends to spare. That balance is why we suggest it for a first scarf and for most gifts. Browse 26 inch silk scarves.
36 inch (90 cm): hair and coverage
At 36 inches the square becomes a full head wrap, a turban and a sleep wrap for long, thick or tightly coiled hair. It still ties at the neck, and it adds a shoulder cover over a sleeveless dress, a halter, a waist sash and a beach cover.
The price step from 26 to 36 inches has a reason. The larger square is almost twice the cloth, 1,296 square inches against 676, and the hand-rolled edge grows from about 8.5 feet to 12 feet. If the gift needs to feel unmistakably significant, this is the size. Browse 36 inch silk scarves.
44 inch (110 cm): the shawl
The 44 inch square is a layer: a shawl in a cold office, on a plane or at a restaurant, a sarong, a belted light layer, even a pillow cover. It folds down to about the size of a paperback, so it can live in a bag without taking it over.
It is also the size that shows the whole composition. On Dragon Of Grace, where small dragons repeat in symmetry around a center, the full arrangement comes together at 44 inches. One caution: on a petite frame, a 44 inch square worn loose can swamp the wearer. Fold a 26 inch narrow or tie a 36 inch neatly instead. Browse 44 inch silk scarves.
The twilly: 2.4 x 44 inches (6 x 106 cm)
A twilly is not a square. It is a narrow ribbon of silk, long enough to wrap a bag handle and slim enough to tie in the hair like a ribbon. Folk Form's twilly measures 6 x 106 cm (2.4 x 44 inches), carries the Phoenix Dance motif in pink, purple or green, and costs $57. See the Phoenix Dance twilly, and for step-by-step ties read How to Tie a Silk Twilly.
Which size for whom
- A first silk scarf: 26 inch.
- Someone who may not wear scarves at all: 22 inch, or a twilly for her bag.
- Long, thick or tightly coiled hair, wrapped at night: 36 inch.
- Shorter or finer hair, wrapped at night: 26 inch.
- Always cold indoors, or often on planes: 44 inch.
- A petite frame: 26 inch folded narrow, or 36 inch tied neatly. Skip the 44 worn loose.
- A gift that should feel significant, such as an anniversary or a retirement: 36 inch. For the silk anniversary, see our 12th anniversary gift ideas.
- A thank-you for a teacher, host or colleague: 22 or 26 inch.
Does the motif change with the size?
A little. Dragon Dreams is drawn as a picture, four dragons with open space around them, so larger squares show more of it. Dragon Of Grace is a repeat of small dragons, and at small sizes a repeat survives folding better than a picture does. For what each design means and whom it suits, see What Vietnamese Silk Motifs Mean.
What every size shares
Every Folk Form square is 100% Grade 5A mulberry silk at 16 momme, hand screen-printed on both faces, with edges rolled and stitched by hand. It arrives in a rigid gift box with a story card naming the motif, an illustrated styling guide, a care card and a small cutting of the same silk so you can test it yourself.
Orders leave Hanoi in 1 to 3 business days and reach US addresses 9 to 15 business days after dispatch. Shipping is free from $90, a flat $20 below that, and we pay the US import duty.
Frequently asked questions
What size silk scarf should I buy first?
26 inches (65 cm). It ties at the neck and in the hair equally well, which covers how most people wear a first scarf.
What size is a bandana silk scarf?
About 22 inches (55 cm) square. It suits a bag handle, a wrist, a ponytail or a small neck knot, but it is too small to wrap the head.
What size silk scarf do I need for a head wrap?
36 inches (90 cm) for a full head wrap or turban, especially with long, thick or coiled hair. A 26 inch square works as a headband or as a wrap for shorter hair.
How many centimeters are Folk Form's scarf sizes?
The 22 inch square is 55 x 55 cm, the 26 inch is 65 x 65 cm, the 36 inch is 90 x 90 cm and the 44 inch is 110 x 110 cm. The twilly is 6 x 106 cm.
What if I choose the wrong size?
You can return an unused, unwashed scarf in its original box within 30 days and order the size you need. Return postage for a change of mind is paid by the customer, and store credit comes with an extra 15%.