Happy Valentine's Day!

Some might have seen on my Instagram that I fractured my elbow right before Christmas. My arm needed to be immobilised for six weeks, and hence, there's been a long absence on social media and this blog. While I still need physiotherapy and exercises to regain complete movement, life has returned to mostly normal. It is a reminder of how wonderful normal is!

It has also been a while since I added a new knot to the app, and I thought the Pretiola would be perfect for Valentine's Day as it resembles a silky heart:

In Latin, Pretiola means "little reward". According to legend, in 601 AD an Italian monk invented the treat to reward children who learned their prayers. He twisted strips of sweet dough to resemble children's arms crossed in prayer. He then baked the dough and hence invented the pretzel. 

When you tie this knot, there is a moment when the scarf resembles this "little reward", so I thought Pretiola would be a perfect name for it!

If you use IOS, the Pretiola is already available on the Scarf Art app. It will take a couple of days for Android devices to get through. 

If you want to find out more about the app, please click here

Or go to the Apple App Store here or Google Play here to download.

The tutorial should play right below; if not, please let me know in the comments below:

As always, you will also find a blog post on the app that compliments the tutorial:

What the knot highlights:

The diagonal axis is the visible part of your scarf tied in this knot. The main focus is on the ends and tips, as the centre is folded behind your neck. The Pretiola's "pretzel" is formed with the upper ends of your scarf.

Variation:

You can vary the knot by wearing it closer or further away from the neck. The further you wear it from the neck, the shorter the ends become:

Worn closer to the neck, resulting in longer ends:

Tip:

For a V-neckline, wear the Pretiola lower down to frame the neckline. With a button-up shirt, wear it close to the neck, like a cravat.

Size guide:

The Pretiola works with the following scarves:

90 Silk Twill 

90 Mousseline 

70 Vintage Silk 

Plissé 

140 Silk Twill/Summer Silk GM 

140 Mousseline GM 

140 Cashmere/Silk GM (you can bring the ends behind your neck and tie them together in a double knot)

In the meantime, spring has sprung here in the South of France. 

Almond trees are blossoming, vine fields are full of white and yellow flowering weeds, Mimosas are in full bloom, and pollen-covered bees are darting around the rosemary bushes in the garden. The early signs of spring never fail to fill the heart with optimism and joy!

Homegrown romanesco from my first winter vegetable garden:

Winter salad, also from the garden. It took months to grow and is surprisingly tender (summer salads only need a couple of weeks).

I hope you enjoy the new knot and wish you a happy Valentine's Day and a bright and beautiful spring ahead!

xxx