Evolution of the Scarf - a Celebration in Free Knitting and Crochet Patterns

Traditional scarf-wearing has an interesting history. Scarf patterns have grown to include shawls, too, knit and crocheted and worn as shoulder wraps or triangle scarves. After a short history lesson, find several links to free patterns, including the 3 button shawl, a triangle scarf, and an easy scarf pattern you can knit on US 9 needles, plus a lovely crochet shawl pattern. Read farther, find a ruffle scarf pattern, and lots more scarves, all with photos,

Our customs in dress and haberdashery have evolved primarily due to necessity and comfort. Sandals were created out of tree bark originally for relief against the warm temperatures, rocks, and impediments. The oldest known pair of footwear found to date, believe it or not, was in our very own state of Oregon, at Fort Rock Cave. Radiocarbon dating of the sandals' woven sagebrush bark revealed an age of at least 10,000 years. Surprising is the fact that Oregon was the location of this discovery. One would have thought Ancient Rome or Greece.

But we can return to Ancient Rome for the origin and use of the scarf, used by Roman soldiers in the desert for cleanliness not warmth, it was called the 'sudarium' or sweat cloth, worn by men around their necks or tied to their waist. It wasn't long before women picked up the trend, wearing scarves made of cloth, not pashmina, silk, or wool, as is generally perceived.

Scarves have been used as part of uniforms, notably by the Boy Scouts; pilots of early airplanes wore silk scarves to keep the oily smoke off their faces and out of their mouths. Fighter pilots wore scarves around their necks to prevent chafing as they turned their necks from side to side. Scarves are worn by worshipers in many religions, UK academia, and of course, we know scarves by designers: Hermés, Ferragamo, Pucci, Liberty of London and the like. Scarves are used in sport, traditionally in British and Australian rules football, knitted in the colors of competing teams and worn by their fans. This custom has spread throughout World Football and scarves are used by fans in the viewing stands to make a supporting 'scarf wall'. Scarves also make great gifts, knitted and crocheted.

So wrap it up and have a look at some of the scarf and shawl free patterns available in this article and in the supporting links to the right, you'll find many, many more free patterns with photos..

Beautiful for a summer wedding
Fashion Shawl with two strands
Wayward Waves Scarf

3 Button Shawl

Free Ruffle scarf pattern

Sources:
Garnstudio.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarf
Copyright, Sharon Watterson, 2010. All photos used with permission of the owner or writer's own.