Fitted bandannas/'doo rags'

[Indoorsout]

I like wearing bandannas but hate tying them so I usually try to get myself those fitted bandannas the Americans refer to as doo rags (for some reason!). I wanted to make my own and have finally found this freely available pattern online

http://clairekennedydesign.typepad.com/the_atelier_of_claire_ken/2007/07/pattern-layout.html

Hope it's of use to some here as well!

 

[dommyracer]

those fitted bandannas the Americans refer to as doo rags (for some reason!).

Correctly, it's "Do-rag"

It's name comes from the compressed muslin triangular bandage that was part of US Army medical kit, and was called the "Drive On Rag" or "DO Rag".

They were used very much like modern soldiers use a Shemagh - keeping dust / insects off the face, as a washcloth and of course, to shade the head.

 

[Indoorsout]

Ye learn something new every day

 

[ForestNH/VT]

I had always believed the do-rag got its name from the fact that it was worn by bikers etc. to protect the hair-do. Not arguing - just seems a little bit simpler than the more arcane Drive on Rag. Curious as to your source. As for me, I have no source

 

[Wallenstein]

You should always be suspicious of backformed acronyms

"Do Rag" refers to any piece of cloth used to protect your hair-do.

 

[Tadpole]

I had always assumed that a DO rag was just short for a “dirty old rag”, as an ex-stick welder, I’d wear a rag under my leather hood to stop the sweat from running in to my eyes. Didn’t know it had a name and all that ‘history’

 

[PJMCBear]

Well there you go, I never knew that. I alway thought it was Dew-rag, ie. something to mop up the bodies dew (sweat).

 

[Tengu]

This is worth knowing; my fathers wifes a Cytologist, she spends a lot of time looking down a microscope, and so wears a bandanna to keep the sweat off the eyepiece.