Create 365 - Free Heart Warmers Wristwarmer Knitting Pattern

After my first excursion into fair isle knitting with the tardis wristwarmer project, I decided to try my hand at writing my own pattern..so, without further ado..

Heart Warmers - Hugs and Kisses Wristwarmers

1 skein red heart super saver yarn (or other medium weight yarn) in each of the following colors - Red, White, Black

1 pair of US size 3 knitting needles

• Cast on 48 stitches
• Begin double rib row (k2, p2)
• Repeat 13 more times for a total of 14 rows.
• Knit even next 3 rows
• Purl row
• Knit Row
• Purl Row
• knit 7 stitches, begin chart.  (Chart should be done in stockinette stitch with 7 stitches before and after chart on each row.)
• Complete one row of (k1, p1) alternating white and black.
• Complete second row of (p1, k1) alternating white and black
• Cast off in (k1, p1). 
• Finish, weave in ends.
• Fold over wristwarmer so the wrong side is facing out and match both edges together.  Figure out where you want your thumb hole to be.  Pin on either side of thumb hole.  
• Sew from bottom up to the start of the thumb hole, then from the end of the thumb hole to the top of the wristwarmer.
• Turn inside out, and your wristwarmers are complete!

Here are a few resources for fair isle knitting, cast on and cast off.

This is my first attempt at pattern writing, so please comment or email if anything is unclear and I'll be happy to answer your questions.  Please feel free to share a picture on our facebook page if you decide to make these!

Hugs and Smooches,

D

Create 365 - Love Bunny Mug Cozy

Yayyy!  Toasty warm hands + Cute bunnies = Sheer coziness for my nightly hot chocolate!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Sweetheart Beret Tutorial

I love berets.  They're chic, easy to wear, and fit just about anyone!  Here are a few of my favorite ways to wear one..

Credit

 The "Faye Dunaway".  Quintessential chic.

credit

Marilyn Monroe.  Sultry beret at a jaunty angle.

Credit

 Nina Foch.  Simple and sweet.

Now that you have some ideas on how to wear one, let's talk embellishment ;)  I am currently addicted to "spiffing things up" with felt shapes and embroidery and berets are the perfect medium for this type of project!  Here's what you'll need:

1.  Begin by cutting a heart shape out of your felt.  When you have it the size and shape you like, decide where to place it on your beret.  Once you have it where you like it, pin it in place.

2.  Thread your embroidery needle with two or three strands of embroidery floss.  Begin sewing the felt heart onto your beret with evenly spaced stitches.  You can choose to do it with a running stitch, as I have done in the photo at the start of this post, or you can use an overcast stitch.

credit

3.  Once your heart has been secured, use your embroidery thread to create the "arrow".  Create the arrow point on the top, a stitch in the middle of your heart at an angle in line with the point, and complete it with the base of your arrow following the same angle.

4.You can embroider "sweet" in a few different ways.  I chose to do it freehand using a backstitch because I wanted it to have a "handwritten" effect.  If you prefer a different type of font, I would recommend printing or tracing it onto tear away stabilizer.  You can then just place it where you like on the beret, embroider over the letters and tear the stabilizer away when you are finished (be sure to keep some tweezers handy..they sometimes help to pull the stabilizer out from under the stitches.)

5.  Trim all threads and place on your head at the angle of your choice ;)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Wine with Everything

Wine is my new color obsession.  Especially in rich textured fabrics like wool and velvet.  I plan to add a lot of it to my winter wardrobe this year :)

Hugs and Smooches,
D