FAQ

The questions we answer most often, at the booth and by email.

Is it a scarf? Is it a shawl?

Neither, quite. A shawl falls off, because it has no openings and is simply draped. A scarf has to be tied, and most people do not want to learn how. This has a single sewn seam and a head opening, which is what lets it be worn as a garment, hands free. You pull it on and it stays where you put it.

Is a poncho scarf the same as a scarf top?

No. A scarf top, in the current fashion sense, is a silk scarf tied as a halter or bandeau and worn as the top itself. A poncho scarf is a woven piece that slips over your head and layers over what you are already wearing. It is not a scarf top in that sense, though it can be worn as a scarf. We have called ours scarf tops at markets for fifteen years, so you will hear both terms used for this garment. There is a full comparison here.

How is it made?

One piece of fabric, folded once and joined with a single seam. Nothing is cut. The opening your head goes through is the gap left between the fold and that seam, which is why it cannot lie flat the way a classic poncho does, and why moving the seam changes the whole shape. The fabric arrives at its finished width, so the only sewing is that one seam.

How big is it?

About 26 by 36 inches as it hangs, from a piece that starts at roughly 26 by 72 inches before it is sewn. The lightweight styles start about a foot longer, so they hang closer to 26 by 42. Each piece weighs around 8 ounces. Bolts vary by an inch or two, so every piece is slightly its own.

Will it fit me?

One size, and it flatters more people than it fits. It does not fit the body, it wears from the shoulders, so it skims rather than clings. Most of us want to cover the midsection or cover the back, and this does both without being asked. If you have broader shoulders or a fuller bust it will sit a little shorter, which is the only thing that really changes.

How do I put it on?

Over your head, like a sweater. Then rotate it so the seam sits at the front, the side or the back, depending on the look you want. Moving the seam changes where the length falls, so the same piece hangs differently in each position, and the seam at the side covers front and back evenly. There is a full guide with photographs and video on the how to wear it page, and a printed sheet in every order.

What is it made from?

A soft woven blend. The Cozy and Fuzzy style is viscose (bamboo) and acrylic in a thick waffle weave: the viscose is where the softness comes from, and the acrylic is what makes it durable and easy to wash.

How do I wash it?

Hand wash, or machine wash cold on a delicate cycle, then lay flat to dry. No dryer and no dry cleaning.

A thread has pulled. Is it ruined?

No, and do not cut it. Tug the fabric gently in every direction and the weave will draw the thread back in. Pulls are almost always caused by jewelry.

Will the colorway I receive look exactly like the photo?

Very close, but not identical. Each one is sewn by hand and the weave varies from bolt to bolt, and the tie-dyed pieces in particular vary from one to the next. That variation is the point rather than a defect.

Do you make these for children?

Yes, in a smaller size for ages five and up, hand tie-dyed so every one is different. Because it goes on over the head with nothing to fasten, a five-year-old can manage it unaided.

Where can I see them in person?

At art fairs and music festivals across Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California. The shows and events page has the current schedule.