Dance Kaleidoscope Costume - Gentlemen's Neckcloths
By Iain MacPhail
A neckcloth is long; one style requires a full fathom (1.8 metres). After folding or pleating longways, the centre is placed at the Adam's apple, the ends cross over at the back of the neck, and are brought around to the front, where they are knotted low, but not too tightly, any way you fancy.
Here is a description from Hill & Bucknell, "Neck cloth or cravat – an isosceles triangle (50 to 60 inches along its base and 10 to 12 inches in height) of fine muslin. To wear, first reduce the width to 3½ inches by pleating, then centralise the strip to the throat, passing the ends around to the back of the neck, crossing them over, and then bringing them forward again to be tied in a bow at the pit of the throat."
