Prayer abaya with an attached scarf: what to ask for

How the scarf is attached

There are three common constructions, and they wear quite differently.

• Sewn in all the way round, like a hood. The head covering is stitched to the neckline and has a shaped opening for the face. Nothing to wrap, nothing to pin, and it cannot slip off, but the face opening has to be the right size.
• Attached at the back neck only. A long scarf is stitched to the back of the neckline and its ends hang free to wrap and tuck. Slightly slower, and more adjustable.
• Hood with a tie or elastic. A sewn-in hood with a drawstring, a tie at the nape or soft elastic around the face edge, so it adjusts to the head.

Measurements for the head, neck and sleeves

For a sewn-in hood, give two extra measurements: around your face from the top of the forehead, past the cheeks and under the chin, and around your head at its widest. Say whether you wear an underscarf or a bun beneath, because both need room.

A slip-on garment has to pass over the head, so the neck opening is cut wide and the attached scarf covers it. If you prefer a closer neck, a short zip or a few snaps at the front does the same job. Sleeves are usually wide through the arm, with elastic or a soft cuff at the wrist so they stay put when you raise your arms and push up when you wash; wudu-friendly abaya sleeves compares the cuff types. Standing, bowing, kneeling and sitting on the floor all need room at the hips and knees, so a generous A-line or flared cut is the norm.

Length for wearing without shoes

Prayer abayas are mostly worn indoors without shoes, so measure from the shoulder to the floor barefoot. Many women like the hem to reach the floor so that their feet stay covered as they bow and kneel, and a slightly longer back helps with that. Too much length is a nuisance, though: a hem that pools on the floor gets trapped under your feet as you stand up. Try it with a garment you own: kneel, sit back and rise, and note where the hem needs to be. Our guide to measuring for an abaya explains the shoulder-to-floor measurement.

Fabric that suits the job

A prayer abaya is washed often and worn for short spells, which points to a particular kind of cloth.

• Opaque in one layer, including against a window. Non see-through fabrics explains how to test.
• Soft and quiet. Stiff or rustling cloth is distracting.
• Not slippery. A slick fabric slides back off the head; a matte crepe, cotton or soft jersey grips better.
• Comfortable in the room. Cotton and viscose absorb moisture; polyester blends dry faster and crease less.
• Light and crease-resistant if it travels, so it folds into a small pouch. See travel abayas.

Requesting one

We make abayas to measure, as Fabric + Stitching or Stitching Only. An attached head covering is a design detail to ask for, so send a photo or sketch of the style you have in mind through the design quote form, with your measurements and the points above: how the scarf attaches, the face opening, the cuff and the barefoot length. Ask for it in your quote, and we confirm what is possible on your fabric and design.