Cloud Scarf
23 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in Crochet
This is a great cute scarf idea I had involving Lion Brand Homespun wool and a metallic wool. It would be in dark gray or blue, or a mix of the two. I suppose you could do white, but I feel like thats a little boring.
Here is one I made for my friend Alison.
If you would like to make your own Silver Lining scarf, just follow the pattern below.
Crochet Hook: H
Wool: Lion Brand Homespun, Sky Blue
Silver Metallic
Rnd 1: (makes an oval) work 3 dc in 4th chain from hook (1st 3 ch count as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of next 6 ch, 8 dc in last ch, turn piece counterclockwise and work 1 dc in each of next 6 unworked loops of base ch, 4 dc in last unworked ch loop, join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. (28 dc)
Rnd 2: ch3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same stitch, 2 dc in each of next 3 dc, 1 dc in each of next 6 dc, 2 dc in each of next 8 dc, 1 dc in each of next 6 dc, 2 dc in each of next 4 dc, join with sl st to top of starting ch 3 (44 dc)
Rnd 3: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in next dc, sk 1 dc, sc in next dc, sk 1 dc, 7 dc in next dc, sk 1 dc, sc in next dc, sk 3 dc, 7 tr in next dc, skip 2 dc, sc in next dc, sk 1 dc, 6 dc in next dc, sk 1 dc, sc in next dc, sk 2 dc, 8 tr in next dc, sk 2 dc, 1 sc in next dc, sk 1 dc, 5 dc in next st, sk 1 dc, sc in next dc, sk 1 dc, 4 dc in next dc, sk 1 dc, 1 sc in next dc, sk 2 dc, 9 tr in next dc, sk 2 dc, 2 sc in next dc, sk 1 st, 6 dc in next dc, sk 1 st, sc in next dc, join with sl st to top of beginning ch 3. Finish off and weave in ends.
With Silver wool: For each curve, 2 sc, 2 sc in each dc till you reach the last two dc of the curve, 2 sc. Repeat around entire cloud shape, finish off and leave 6 inches for sewing pieces together.
Enjoy!
Strawberry Crochet Scarf
27 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Crochet
So I recently got into crochet and have been obsessively making scarves for all my friends. A lot of the designs required me to do a lot of the conceptual structuring myself, although the original basic designs may have already existed.
Here is the strawberry scarf for anyone who wants to make it.
.
Strawberry:
Hook Size: H
Wool: Red 4ply WW
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R1: With Red, ch4, 4dc in 4th ch from hook.
Rs2-6: Ch3, turn. Dc in same st. Dc in ea st across to last. 2dc in last st.
R7: Ch1, turn. Sc in same st, hdc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, hdc in next st, sc in next st.
R8: Ch1, turn. Sc in same st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st.
R9: Ch1, turn. Sc in same st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, 2dc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in next st. Sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st.
R10: Sc around bottom edge of strawberry until you reach top R edge. Leave long tail for sewing.
Flowers:
Hook: Size E
Wool: WW yellow and WW White
(in yellow)Ch 2
R1: 10 sc into first ch. Pull tail to tighten, fasten off. Tie yellow tail to white wool.
R2: sl st in top of first SC. *ch 2. 1 DC, 1 HDC into next stitch, sl st into next stitch* Repeat between the *s four more times for a total of 5 petals. Leave tail to sew onto strawberry.
Stems and Leaf
Hook: H
Wool: WW Green
Ch 6
R1: *sc, ch 6, turn, on the chain *sl st, 4sc*, sc to next ch* 4 times
R2: on “top” of piece, 2sc, ch 5, turn, 4sc down chain, sc. Fasten off, leave tail for sewing.
Style of the Week
26 Apr 2010 Leave a Comment
As a closeted consumer of all things trite and overdone, I have been watching the latest America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 14. My latest experiment with style is a combination of my love of belts and color as applied to the simple “model style”.
This involves a tucked in camisole or shirt (nice not t-shirt), A colorful a-line skirt and a complementing belt. I top the whole look off with vintage inspired, home-made hair accessories, modeled after the ones I found at Modcloth, but at a much cheaper price, since I made them from deconstructed mardi gras masks, buttons and felt.
They’re actually pretty easy to make:
1: cut felt in rough tear drop shape
2: arrange feathers how you would like them, then glue them on from the top down, conforming to the shape of the felt(you may need to trim the edges somewhat)
3: add a pretty bauble, buttons or jewel to the bottom, where it is thinnest, over the edges of the last couple feathers.
4: attatch to head with bobby pins, or glue/sew on a hair clip to the featherless side of the felt.
5: Wear to wow your friends and neighbours.
hate shopping?
23 Apr 2010 Leave a Comment
The arduous act of shopping in department stores, thrift stores and especially online is an exercise in self destruction, futility and frustration. There will always be something absolutely beautiful in the new line of clothes or an old vintage dress hidden in the corner or a gorgeous new ensemble on your favorite clothing site that is completely out of your price range, not in your size or makes you look like an idiot. Since there is really no way to avoid this situation, I have come up with the most efficient method I can to eliminate clothes not worth spending money on and finding the perfect dress/shirt/pants.
1. Get an idea of what your size looks like, but stop labeling yourself. You want to only take clothes that are interesting and attractive to you, so just start grabbing things that look like they would fit you and don’t worry about checking the label. I have bought sizes from XXL to S for many different types of clothes .
2. Don’t limit yourself to what your budget is. Grab things you like, find the right dress/shirt/pants and then when you’re finally sure on what you like the most, you can check the tag and see how much it costs. I mostly shop at thrift stores, so the prices are a little lower than shopping at Forever 21 or Macy’s, so it usually isn’t all that expensive.
3. If your favorite items are out of your price range, don’t give up on buying them, but save and buy the equivalent online, do layaway or come back in a month. You can ask a cashier sometimes to hold an item for you but if you wait long enough the item may go on sale. My regrets about not being able to find the one shirt or dress I loved but decided not to buy last for months.
4. When in the dressing room, split up your clothes into Yes, No and Maybes. Try everything on in fairly quick succession, and make a decision about which category each should be in, then move on to the next item. This tiered approach gives you a quicker clean up time, and helps organize your thoughts visually.
5. If it’s not in your size, or fits you in an odd way: DO NOT BUY IT. A beautiful dress that’s two sizes too small and too short for your body will not do you any favors, only buy clothes that make you feel beautiful. If you absolutely feel you must find it, and the store has a website, you can order the next biggest/smallest size there,
HOWEVER:
6. If you must buy online always check the measurements for their sizes. A medium at one site is the small of another. Pay attention to bust, waist, hip, inseam and length before you buy an item. You should know your own measurements as well – use a flexible measuring tape to find them (or a strip of paper and a yardstick)
Maybe by the end of the day you find only one thing you really like but that’s OK. The idea isn’t to find a complete wardrobe in a day but rather to go home feeling pretty and accomplished.
