Ways to Tie: The More Joy Tie Library

Every More Joy scarf is a flat piece of fabric waiting to become something. Fold it, roll it, twist it and knot it, and one square turns into a top, a headwrap, a bag or a cape. I think of it as origami dressing: no buttons, no zippers, no tags, just you deciding how close the fabric sits and how it moves.

Each tie below has its own post with an illustration, step-by-step instructions and a sensory note. Pick the piece you have, or the shape you want to feel.

Meet the pieces

• Wild Rag: a 36″ square of silky 100% rayon challis with an eyelash fringe.
• Festival Scarf: one 36″ × 110″ rectangle of rayon challis with an eyelash fringe, about three yards long.
• Festival Sarong: a 60″ square of airy rayon crinkle gauze.
• Athleisure Bandana: a 22″ square of soft, stretchy rayon jersey that rolls instead of fraying.

Ways to tie a Wild Rag

• The Riveter: A rolled band with a knot on top: a headwrap that says I came here to work and to play.
• The Headband: A twisted headband that keeps hair back and puts color right at your hairline.
• The Boy Scout: A small knotted neckerchief: tidy, classic and ready for anything.
• The Babushka: A full head covering that tucks around a low bun, for bad-hair days and good-color days.
• The Choker: A slim twist of color worn close at the neck, like a soft necklace.
• The Road Trip: A head-and-neck wrap for windows down, sunglasses on and hair staying put.
• The Jetsetter: A triangle worn in front like a soft bib, tied at the side: warm, polished and travel-ready.
• The Tie: A necktie made from a scarf: borrowed from menswear and dyed in whatever color you need.
• The Halter Top: One Wild Rag becomes a backless halter top for warm days, festivals and dance floors.
• The Cowl-Neck Halter: A softer, draped halter with a rolled cowl neckline: polished, flowing and easy.
• The Cape: Knot two pairs of corners and slip your arms through: a scarf becomes a little cape.
• The Blanket Wrap: A triangle shawl crossed at the front and belted: your blanket, but make it an outfit.
• The Bag: Two knots turn a Wild Rag into a shoulder bag, the way I tied bags for the runway.
• The Biker: The quickest head tie there is: a triangle over the hair, knotted at the nape.

Ways to tie a Festival Scarf

• The Loop: The easiest way into three yards of color: a soft loop at the throat that hides its own knot.
• The Playsuit: Three yards of rayon challis becomes a halter playsuit, knotted and bowed at the waist.
• The Understatement: A long scarf thrown over both shoulders: easy, warm and quietly dramatic.

Ways to tie a Festival Sarong

• The Sarong: A wrap dress made from one square of crinkle gauze, crossed over the chest and tied at the neck.
• The Dress: A twisted-halter dress: wrap, twist, cross and knot one square into the center of attention.
• The Cape: Knot two pairs of corners and slip your arms through: a scarf becomes a little cape.
• The Blanket Wrap: A triangle shawl crossed at the front and belted: your blanket, but make it an outfit.

Ways to tie a Athleisure Bandana

• The Biker: The quickest head tie there is: a triangle over the hair, knotted at the nape.
• The Headband: A twisted headband that keeps hair back and puts color right at your hairline.
• The Boy Scout: A small knotted neckerchief: tidy, classic and ready for anything.
• The Choker: A slim twist of color worn close at the neck, like a soft necklace.

Caring for your pieces

1. Wash cold on delicate, with similar colors, or hand wash.
2. Rayon is made from wood pulp and is weaker when wet, so be gentle and never wring it.
3. Hang to dry. Crinkle gauze is meant to stay crinkled, so skip the iron.
4. Smooth the eyelash fringe with your fingers instead of pulling it.
5. Store folded, out of direct sunlight, so the colors stay bright.

Find your color

Not sure which color is yours? Start with Color by Season, or browse the color family you keep coming back to in The Color Spectrum. Love pinks? Start with my guides to pink and magenta, or find any color in the Color Library. Or dye your own with activated dyes and a blank from the studio.