Shawl thing: the surprising rise in tiny scarves
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In this week’s newsletter: The knitted micro-scarf is emerging as an absurd yet functional must-have. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Usually, miniature things in fashion are known for their cuteness rather than their practicality. Think a teeny-tiny bag that can hold little more than a bank card. But now, the knitted micro-scarf is emerging as an absurd yet functional must-have.
![[Chloe Mac Donnell]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/11/07/Chloe_Mac_Donnell_Next_Gen.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Triangular in shape, one of the bestselling patterns on PetiteKnit, the site of Danish knitwear designer Mette Wendelboe Okkels, is for a scarf that measures just 80cm x 13cm, covering just a small portion of the glands of the neck. The Ukrainian knitwear store AnnaGriHandmade has an even tinier version of this style, measuring 68cm x 8cm.
![[A person wearing a red knitted neckerchief, costing £45 from Beyond Nine]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/94ecb31e2a0c22da068a28b821c51ecbc5c00663/0_0_1600_2000/master/1600.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
It’s a sizeable shift from the giant scarves that have, until now, been swaddling necks. The instigator of that trend was the Swedish brand Acne Studios, which unveiled its gargantuan version in 2019. Measuring 250cm in length, these huge scarves – which have been duped many times over – can be wrapped around the neck twice, with the two ends still trailing.
![[Neckerchief, £64, Cotswold Knit]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0a0ace6f1e6f754b39044d860878b901d7636bc2/0_129_2000_2500/master/2000.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Kate Kingham, who runs the knitwear brand Lucky Stitch, says her customers prefer the micro-scarf’s versatility. “They are neat and can be worn indoors as well as outside,” says Kingham, who hand-knits each scarf in Brighton. Her stock sells out within minutes when she launches weekly drops on her Etsy store. “A wool neckerchief is easy to fold or roll and pop in a pocket or bag, in case of chilly weather on the go.”.
