FINALLY finished! I have to confess, I do not like this hat anymore ;) I tend to be a bit impatient and this pattern, while fairly simple, was very repetitive. I think I'll probably take a break from crochet for a bit and perhaps do a little sewing.
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!
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!
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.
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 ;)
This is the only pair of shorts I own. (Though I do have two "rompers"). I usually wear them to work in the garden, but since today is my last day of work before I head out for my mini vacation, I figured I'd be comfy ;-)
Most days I decide what I'm going to wear the night before..some days I dress last minute in a flash just before I run out the door. Today was one of those days (hence the damp hair ;-) Fortunately, I have a few standbys that are easy to throw on and accessorize!
I'm making an exception to my "no outfit posts in above 80 degree weather" rule because I'm not wearing a dress today and that all by itself is an exception ;) In general, I wear pants maybe once or twice a month (unless I'm working in the yard). I don't find them particularly comfortable, but if I can find them in fun colors or styles, I'll wear them once in a while. I just couldn't pass up purple pants :)
I love this 1940's dress. It reminds me of something Jean Arthur would wear in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington...and since I have a HUGE crush on Jimmy Stewart, that makes it perfect ;-)
There are few things that make me happier than a paint in my hair, hands covered with glue, little scraps of fabric and paper everywhere kinda day. Saturday was one of those days.
I decided to sit down at the table in my craft room and several (5!) hours later, I had a big pile of earrings, hair clips, pins, little miniature portraits I had painted to go on brooches and headbands. It's so cathartic for me, I lose all track of time. The only thing I'm thinking is what I can put together next to create something that has a little bit of my heart in it.
I have an equal amount of passion when I sew, knit, crochet, paint or embroider (even better when I can combine two or more of my loves into one project!) It's such an amazing feeling to take something from an idea to an actual, physical object..and the best part..the more you work at it, the better you become!
The items listed here are in the shop now, and there are lots more to come (along with some fun new vintage and a few reproduction items from vintage patterns.)
This weekend I finished changing out my summer and winter wardrobes. (*Phew* What a lot of work!) I realized that I have a LOT of red in my wardrobe and 7 (yes SEVEN) white summer dresses. I'm going to have to work on adding a little more color variety ;)
In the meantime..Here is my outfit post for today, with my favorite ladybug brooch. Isn't she sweet?
“I don't mind living in a man's world, as long as I can be a woman in it.” - Marilyn Monroe
I share these outfit posts regularly on my facebook and twitter pages, but I haven't thought to share them here until now! I don't want to exclude any of my blog friends <3
I hope you're enjoying the Signature Style series so far! If you're just joining in now, you can find the previous posts here, here and here.
Ok! On to todays topic, Incorporating Your Passion.
I believe the things we are passionate about influence everything we do, from our fashion choices, to the car we drive, to the way we present ourselves to the world. Do you have a favorite book? Chances are some situation or character in it speaks to you. Favorite animal? Consider the qualities associated with it and see if they don't match up with your personality. Favorite color? Color choices can mean all sorts of things, from cheerful yellow, to passionate red, to calm, cool blue.
So how do these things influence your style?
First, I suggest making a list (or listing pictures here, like I have done) and then brainstorming your associations with each one to find out what appeals to you. Then, take those characteristics and create a definition of your style. Here's what I came up with:
Favorite Song(s) - Stella The Artist (David Gray) - Creativity, Fire, Passion, Charisma
La Vie En Rose (Edith Piaf) - Life through rose colored glasses <3
I could list all day, but even from this sample, you can see the direction I lean towards. I'm a bit of an old soul, I like the old hollywood bombshell silhouette, prefer to play up my french half (though I wouldn't have my blue eyes without my irish side ;) I love the whimsical, magical, colorful and attention getting. I love to love and *try* to always look on the "rosy" side of life. My style is bright, creative and playful, but distinctly feminine, and I prefer to stand out in a crowd.
Now it's your turn! What do your passions say about you?
I recently decided to add a new line of necklaces designed and created by myself to the ConstantlyAlice shop...of course I can't take all the credit. My inspiration came from my big brother, Len. Len is brilliant, sometimes funny (usually unintentionally..he loves a corny joke ;) and a great uncle to my two girls. He also happens to have Aspergers Syndrome, a form of autism.
There is a common misconception that Aspergians don't have feelings or intense emotions. If you've ever seen my brother teaching his nieces something about sharks, or sharing a new book or movie with them, you would understand that this is simply not the case. He feels just as much, if not more, than anyone else I know..he just has a harder time expressing it or verbalizing. Which is where the idea for the "Unlocked" series came from. Each necklace will showcase an emotion, a feeling, a whimsical concept that features a lock and a key. A representation both of "locked up emotions" and the potential to set them free. 10% of the proceeds from this series will go to the Autism Society.
Featured in todays Style It is the "Love" version of the necklace. The first option shows a playful, light outfit and the second a more edgy, dramatic style.
