"Cover"-ed Girls! - Page 47

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Magelet

Welcome.

It sounds pretty normal. I'd say sometimes I felt absurd and definitely not comfortable with it when I first started covering (I felt like it was most certainly the right thing for me, but really weird like everyone else must think that I looked weird). Slowly, I got used to it. I realized that a lot of the time people don't notice (this might be slightly less the case in a city with less covering people, however there are a LOT of hijabi and hippies who wear bandanas as fashion here, so wearing any sort of headcovering doesn't stand out THAT much.) And often they think its a pretty fashion accesory. And just getting used to it. I don't know your reason for covering, but my reason is... entirely my own spirituality and neither required nor encouraged by any branch of my religion for me (though it is required/encouraged/suggusted/not paid attention to by various branches of judaism for married women). So part of my process was figuring out why I covered. And what types of coverings felt comfortable.

I'd say keep covering for a while, and see how it feels. It may very well just be newness. (and even after a year of on and off covering and 8 months full time covering in public, I do sometimes feel weird about it. Like in a beach town if I have on a very full headcovering, and I'm with family in bikinis, it feels weird. but I stick to my convictions that this is right for me.)

And whatever issues, questions, concerns, or style advice you have about covering, know we're here to help eachother.

Thank you so much. Right now I have the 3 bandannas in various colors (pink and black, purple, and dark green) and I just triangle them and tie them back. It is helpful during the day (I stay home most of the time) because it keeps my hair back. Like I said, I keep forgetting it's there...but when I remember I'm afraid someone will see it as weird. It's helpful that my DH is Air Force and we do a lot on base...there are several Muslim families that I've seen and the women are fully covered. So, when I was at the grocery store I felt less awkward because, hey, she's covered too. YKWIM?

more later. baby is crawling away!

[AFWife]

Okay, back (mostly)

My religion (Protestant Assembly of God) doesn't really believe that covering is necessary. For the most part, they go by the "hair was given as a covering" thought.I doubt they would think negatively of me for covering...but I don't think they would understand.

I do feel called to cover. When I see women covering (esp fully covered Muslim women) there's something deep and beautiful about it and it strikes a bit of a chord within me.

[smeisnotapirate]

I've really fallen out of covering since I've gotten pregnant. For some reason, I feel ridiculous covering while pregnant, but not in the pp period. It's strange. I kinda feel like maybe I'm using it as a defense mechanism, because I had such a tough postpartum time with DS's birth (and I consider up until I got pregnant again my postpartum period).

[Magelet]

I definitely understand covering as a defensive mechanism. When I'm feel insecure I tend to opt for being MUCH more covered (like, every hair covered) as compared to usually I'm set with a bandana or scarf and my hairline and hair length showing.

I know what you mean about covering women being so deep and beautiful. I think the inspiration to start covering came when I was on my vision quest. Several of my quest sisters would drape a scarf over their heads for shade and coolness, but it was so beautiful, timeless, and felt like they were almost channeling a very powerful energy, one that I wanted to tune into. They reminded me of the ancient biblical matriarchs, and it seemed like it had such a feminine power to it. Something as simple as covering your head.

Since then I've learned more about the concept of veiling the sacred, and I think I'm off to learn more about that in the context of covering since I hadn't thought about it too much until now but am quite interested.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Magelet

I know what you mean about covering women being so deep and beautiful. I think the inspiration to start covering came when I was on my vision quest. Several of my quest sisters would drape a scarf over their heads for shade and coolness, but it was so beautiful, timeless, and felt like they were almost channeling a very powerful energy, one that I wanted to tune into. They reminded me of the ancient biblical matriarchs, and it seemed like it had such a feminine power to it. Something as simple as covering your head.

Since then I've learned more about the concept of veiling the sacred, and I think I'm off to learn more about that in the context of covering since I hadn't thought about it too much until now but am quite interested.

Can I ask more about your vision quest? What religion are you? What took place? etc...

[Magelet]

I'm now jewish (though I definitely draw somewhat from things I learned as a pagan, particularly about trancework and journeying, and ritual creation). At the time of my vision quest (1.5 years ago) I identified as judeo-pagan.

I've always wanted to go on a vision quest since about third grade when we did a role play about native americans (I think it was being a general native american, and not actually paying attention to the many different cultures, traditions and more, but I don't recall for sure, I was in third grade). Our group's character rolled a vision quest so we learned about that, and I'd wanted to do one every since.

With recomendations from some people my mom know who had done vision quests, I went on a women's vision quest with a fairly local group called Rites of Passage (though I think they also run vision quests in colorado? Regardless, we had women from as far away as florida and washington state, as well as throughout california), shortly after I graduated high school. ( I highly recomend them, the guides and whole trip were wonderful)

It's interesting, it's hard for me to type about my vision quest, I'm not totally sure what to say. I did tell my vision quest story to several people when I first got back (and of course, shared my vision with my sisters after coming back from my solo), and yet somehow it seems harder to talk about it through typing, and with so much time past.

It was a ten day vision quest, 3 of which were a solo wilderness fast. We picked a site in hiking distance of our basecamp (Several hours drive from a town) in the desert of the inyo mountains, and hiked in with water, a tarp, clothes, journals, and not much more. We placed a rock in an agreed upon spot once a day to let our partners know we were ok, at different times so we didn't see them. While we were on our solo, our guides held space for us. While we were on the rest of our quest, they helped us clarify our purpose, understand our quests by mirroring (saying what they heard us say, which can be incredibly helpful), and helped us prepare to integrate our vision into the rest of the world and our regular lives.

I am so glad that I went on my vision quest, because I got so much out of it. I've been contemplating doing another vision quest, but I worry that I am merely looking to repeat the experience and of course I know that won't work. Among other things, I got from my vision quest 12 sisters who, while I may not be in regular contact, I know if crisis arose, I or they would move hell or high water to help, and my door is always open to them as theirs to me. when we meet again, we instantly fall into place as though we had never been apart. I came from my vision quest with a knowledge that if I could do that, and face that, I could do and face anything. I've forgotten it sometimes, however I always come back to it eventually. I have a deep seated knowledge that anger, depression, hatred, despair, things I've wrestled with in the past, cannot stand in the face of love. does that mean I don't still wrestle with them? of course not. But in my core I know that as long as I love and am loved, I can move through them triumphantly.

I have to say, I highly recommend anyone who is considering a vision quest, to go on a vision quest, with someone as a guide to hold space, but certainly, if you are interested, go for it. I know all of my sisters got at least as much out of their quests as I did, and I keep learning new things from it and them every day.
I'd be happy to answer other questions you have about my experience either here, or in pm.

[Moonprysm]

Is there a name for the one piece headcovering that looks like a hijab, only instead of being a square or rectangle scarf that is wrapped, it's kind of like a hood? I saw some likttle girls at the playground wearing them and it seemed so much more practical than having to use pins and all to keep everything in the right place! (plus they were beautiful!)

*edit*

This is basically what I'm looking for.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=36266617

[kangamitroo]

Originally Posted by Moonprysm

Is there a name for the one piece headcovering that looks like a hijab, only instead of being a square or rectangle scarf that is wrapped, it's kind of like a hood? I saw some likttle girls at the playground wearing them and it seemed so much more practical than having to use pins and all to keep everything in the right place! (plus they were beautiful!)

*edit*

This is basically what I'm looking for.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=36266617

moonprysm, that kind of hijab is al-Amira style. some have 2 pieces (an underscarf and a hood to go over), and others are one piece. liquesce will have good advice on the few face shapes that can get away with this style and have it be flattering. but in terms of quick and easy (or for athletics) they seem to be winners.

[umsami]

Originally Posted by Moonprysm

Is there a name for the one piece headcovering that looks like a hijab, only instead of being a square or rectangle scarf that is wrapped, it's kind of like a hood? I saw some likttle girls at the playground wearing them and it seemed so much more practical than having to use pins and all to keep everything in the right place! (plus they were beautiful!)

*edit*

This is basically what I'm looking for.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=36266617

They're called Al-Amirah hijabs. One of the cheapest places to buy one (if you just one to try one) is hijabgirl.com I love them--as when I wear pins, I worry about my kids getting stuck.

If you want to go all fancy, check out veiledbydesign.com She layers them, with different headbands and stuff, to make them look cool.

[Moonprysm]

Thank you! I just ordered 2 from hijabgirl.

[GriffsKat]

Hello! Joining you all. I've been feeling the call to cover now for a few years but hubby wasn't keen on it. What's the point of covering then? But the Lord worked on him and we came together on it. I won't cover all the time, just at certain times. Although that might change. We'll see.

I do know of coveryourhair.com and tznius or something like that. What other sites have covers?

[umsami]

Moonprysm's post made me remember that I've ordered from CoveredLadiesDesigns before. While, I like the stuff I got, more than half of it was unwearable. You have to be really careful on scarf sizes. She has a few 36" square or so scarfs which basically fit my daughter. No way an adult can wrap them like in the picture. The stuff that was big enough was really lovely--just be careful. I wouldn't go any smaller than a 40" square hijab. The Al Amirahs... she says are sized medium/large...and they are roomy. One fits nicely and the other I sort of have to pin the chin.

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by umsami

Moonprysm's post made me remember that I've ordered from CoveredLadiesDesigns before. While, I like the stuff I got, more than half of it was unwearable. You have to be really careful on scarf sizes. She has a few 36" square or so scarfs which basically fit my daughter. No way an adult can wrap them like in the picture. The stuff that was big enough was really lovely--just be careful. I wouldn't go any smaller than a 40" square hijab. The Al Amirahs... she says are sized medium/large...and they are roomy. One fits nicely and the other I sort of have to pin the chin.

I like scarves down to 35". It's possible I have an inordinately squat neck though.

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by kangamitroo

moonprysm, that kind of hijab is al-Amira style. some have 2 pieces (an underscarf and a hood to go over), and others are one piece. liquesce will have good advice on the few face shapes that can get away with this style and have it be flattering. but in terms of quick and easy (or for athletics) they seem to be winners.

Ohh yeah ... the whole round face + amira = pumpkin head equation.

They do have a much more casual appearance (usually, anyway) though, so even outside of athletics they sometimes just look to make more sense if one is otherwise putting on, say, denim, t-shirts, and track shoes. (Says the chronic over-dresser.)

[smeisnotapirate]

From someone who has only ever dreamed of wearing hijab - would an al-Amira work as an underscarf say in the winter, if you have a grabby child? Or would it end up being too bulky when you put another scarf on top?

[Liquesce]

It depends on the other scarf. A lot of people do that with scarves that are a little more sheer than they'd like.

[kangamitroo]

hair accessories giveaway

ladies, the feminist review blog is having a giveaway, and the winner receives $50 worth of accessories from coveryourhair.com

details here

[kangamitroo]

sorry to serial post.....
the scarves listed at coveryourhair.com as Israeli tichels are 36" square. they have some prety prints. is there any reason one could not wear one of these hijab style? or is there something i am missing about the "tichel" designation?

now as i look above, i see umsami mentioned 36" square might be small for neck coverage. makes sense, with the tichel wrapping the hair only, not the neck.

[Tuesday]

I cover - for beauty and for modesty - I've lost my hair due to alopecia. I had no idea a "al-Amira" hijab could be worn tied back behind the neck as featured in the Etsy link above.

Does anyone know if all al-Amira are so flexiable and adaptable in styling options? Thank you!

[smeisnotapirate]

Ladies, a quick question.

Can any of you post pics of your "cover storage"? I've realized that my covers are all over the house now, and am wondering if anyone has come up with any ideas to keep them unwrinkled and neatly stored when they're not in use.