Arab Keffiyah Kafiyah Head Scarf Shemagh - Choice Of Colors

Rommel · Post by **Rommel** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:17 pm

Good price... they are usually $10.00 or more.

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:24 pm

Major Surplus has them listed at $12.95 on-line, but in their print catalog they're a two pack for $12.95. Not as many color choices, but a good bargain. They even have Jolly Roger ones.

http://www.majorsurplus.com/Woven-Coali ... 13633.aspx

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:39 pm

Mine's olive drab/black...best thing for the playa...besides being very stylish, multiple uses:

o Dust mask
o Towel
o Sun shade
o Evening wrap
o Head wrap
o Sarong (for small people)
o Bike seat cover

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:44 pm

I have a lightweight red and white one I got in Saudi, we keep that just for costuming, and yes, an olive drab and black! I just ordered Jolly Roger (black with white skull and cross-bones!) and sand/tan (to match costumes).

The two pack doesn't have to be two of the same color! $6.47 each, the sand/tan is running low, but they have lots of Jolly Rogers.

Rommel · Post by **Rommel** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:50 pm

dragonpilot wrote:Mine's olive drab/black...best thing for the playa...besides being very stylish, multiple uses:

o Dust mask
o Towel
o Sun shade
o Evening wrap
o Head wrap
o Sarong (for small people)
o Bike seat cover

The best part about them, is that like Madras cotton they get softer over time and don't fall apart after 100+ washings. Over time they also get denser and more rugged. For a very simple item, they are quite amazing.

Post by **Eric** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:06 pm

I've been looking into these- I think I'm going to get some for this year. I have to keep my head covered during the day and hats get boring....

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:14 pm

They can be a little warm. I also use light cotton scarves from India, but mine are so old they're starting to fall apart. That happens after 20 years.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:16 pm

they make nice little table covers also.

kman · Post by **kman** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:58 pm

Eric wrote:I've been looking into these- I think I'm going to get some for this year. I have to keep my head covered during the day and hats get boring....

They rock. I wore one on a backpacking trip to the grand canyon a month ago, and it was the best thing ever. My own sweat evaporating off helped cool me more than the fabric around my neck warmed me. And when my hat just got too darned hot (esp when sweat was pouring off me) it was great to flip the top over my shiny dome to keep the sun at bay.

The $9 Amazon price isn't bad, but the $4.80 (seriously?) kills it. They're only $12 at the local army surplus shop. Good color selection, though.

kman · Post by **kman** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:10 pm

Rommel wrote:Good price... they are usually $10.00 or more.

I'd recommend this one instead, if you haven't ordered yet:

8537 SHEMAGH TACTICAL SCARF

It's 100% cotton instead of the cotton/poly blend of the one you linked. It's the traditional size (42x42, instead of 48x38). And the price is better.

Not as many colors available, but still plenty to choose from.

The Major Surplus one linked above seem like a good deal, too, but only if you get the two pack, which isn't listed on the website.

EmilyD · Post by **EmilyD** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:05 pm

It's actually pretty easy to make a Shemagh if you want to do it yourself.

Most lightweight cotton fabrics are 45" wide. 1 yard = 36".

* Buy 1.25 yards of a thin, 100% cotton fabric. You can get a wild print or go for solid colors. Just make sure it's really sheer/thin so you don't get too hot in it.

* Wash the fabric, and dry in the dryer, to shrink it down and get the sizing out of it.

* Iron it out.

* Fold the raw edges down twice (preferably 1/4" & 1/4" again) and sew it down. If you don't know how to sew you can use fabric glue or iron on seam binding to seal the folded down (twice) edges so the fabric won't unravel.

Here are instructions for one of the many ways to tie a Shemagh:

http://www.hooperssurplus.co.uk/shop/im ... hs.how.gif

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:30 pm

My son lives in the Middle East and just sent me half a dozen of assorted colors. Actually, assorted sizes, too. Still practicing wrapping them. I used one last year and had some trouble keeping it in the right place. There's a YouTube for that...

kman · Post by **kman** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:34 pm

teardropper wrote:My son lives in the Middle East and just sent me half a dozen of assorted colors. Actually, assorted sizes, too. Still practicing wrapping them. I used one last year and had some trouble keeping it in the right place. There's a YouTube for that...

There are about a zillion youtubes for that...

Here's one of the better ones.
How to tie a Shemagh by U.S. Cavalry

archeolojust · Post by **archeolojust** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:22 pm

Don't the different colors represent different organizations/groups/tribes or something? I've heard that.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 4:07 am

Because a "real" shemaugh would clash with my mispelled Chinese character tattoos.

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 5:23 am

archeolojust wrote:Don't the different colors represent different organizations/groups/tribes or something? I've heard that.

That was my understanding, but he told me that it doesn't seem to be the case now. He sees all different types being worn.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 7:01 am

So should I or shouldn't I take my jolly rogers to Somalia?

As for the two pack sale at Major Surplus, you have to call in your order and talk to customer service. They have always been super nice and helpful to me. I recommend getting their print catalog, sometimes it has nifty stuff you miss on the website.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 7:31 am

...just don't "spill Kafe' on yer Keffiiyah". (GUILTY of enjoying Vampire Weekend's first album)

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 9:25 am

teardropper wrote:
archeolojust wrote:Don't the different colors represent different organizations/groups/tribes or something? I've heard that.
That was my understanding, but he told me that it doesn't seem to be the case now. He sees all different types being worn.

But some guys wear too tight, pink, Hello Kitty t-shirts because the t-shirts are American. And they don't what it says or means. My son thinks this is pretty funny.

Bluemandrew · Post by **Bluemandrew** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 10:06 am

We bought a big box of assorted colors on ebay for 30 bucks or so last year. IIRC

We loved them, kept some and handed some out. They're my favorite head garment during the day. Keeps the sun from roasting my neck, and I didn't find it too hot either

kman · Post by **kman** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 2:10 pm

teardropper wrote:
archeolojust wrote:Don't the different colors represent different organizations/groups/tribes or something? I've heard that.
That was my understanding, but he told me that it doesn't seem to be the case now. He sees all different types being worn.

The standard military colors... OD and black, or the tan and black, have been worn all over the world by special forces for so many years that it really doesn't matter.

Hoolie · Post by **Hoolie** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 2:46 pm

Mine is solid beige/khaki. Kinda boring, but still does the trick.

Arab Keffiyah Kafiyah Head Scarf Shemagh - Choice Of Colors

Arab Keffiyah Kafiyah Head Scarf Shemagh - Choice Of Colors

Re: Arab Keffiyah Kafiyah Head Scarf Shemagh - Choice Of Col