Scarves - how wide?

[Star]

How wide (in inches) do you prefer your scarves? I'm knitting a scarf that is about 5 inches wide, and I'm not sure if that's wide enough. I'm trying to debate on whether to rip it up and make it wider (if I do, I'm not sure if I'll have enough yarn to make it very long), or if 5 inches is wide enough for a scarf? What's the default width that scarves usually are?

[stretchmark]

Well, I don't know what the default width of scarves is but I say it depends on the kind of yarn. There are some scarves that seem nice really wide and some that are great thin.

I think no smaller than 3 or 4 inches.

I just made a recycled silk yarn scarf today and it is the thin kind. I just hated how it looked any wider than 3-4 inches. I ripped it out many times and started over.

Maybe someone will think differently but that is what I think. I have seen several scarves at our local yarn shop that are really thin too. They are generally really long too so they can be wrapped around several times.

[khrisday]

I think 5 inches is plenty. Thinner scarves seem to be more fashionable right now- and 5 inches isn't all that thin anyway.

[Star]

It's 75% acrylic & 25% wool, and my mother keeps telling me that it should be wider since it's a thicker material (not those fancy ones with holes in them). Okay, now I feel a bit better to go ahead and finish knitting. I'm glad to know that thin is in lol. Any more comments?

[Emmama]

Thin is in. I do however live waaaay up north and it gets cold up here. I am also a furnace. I made a scarf out of thick chenille and had to rip it out many times before I decided on 9 stitches which made it 5-6 inches.

For me, if a thick yarn was a wide scarf, that means that it would be more bulky and create more heat, yk? I prefer single layered thick yarns. HTH

[2devils_1angel]

depends on how cold your winters get and if you are wearing it in the inside of your coat or on the outside.
I just made myself a short cowl type scarf for under my coat. it gets bitter cold here.
its 6.5 inches wide. I like that it folds over in back kinda giving me a second layer of protection (i have short short hair).
I used lion brand "jiffy" yarn.
scarf

[Maeve]

And are you making it morefor a fashion accessory or for warmth? I'm making a hat/scarf set for my younger sister (college student) and I'm making her's very thin because it's the "in" thing and she'll wear it more for looks.

and I agree, it really depends on what the yarn looks like. I just got some yarn and had planned on making it thinner, but it really looks better wider. Then there's another yarn I have (from handpaintedyarn.com ) that I'm definately making into a thin scarf because of the colors, weight, etc.

I say just make it however you think it looks nice.

[pageta]

I've seen scarfs in all sizes in all types of weights of yarn. I think it's personal preference. If the scale you've started with works for the amount of yarn you have, then that's what that yarn was meant to be. Do I sound silly?

[alliwenk]

I have strong opinions on my scarves

My scarves (or the way I wear them...) usually double over so I tend to make them kind of wide. BUT I also tend to knit thin yarn on small needles and I'm a sucker for a good lace pattern, both of these factors tend to make scarves that are not particularly warm :LOL.

I am not a fan of the new skinny novelty scarves...I like novelty yarns, they have their place, but there is just no challenge to making them & they just look like they will look really dorky in a few years...

Opinionated-ily,
Allison