Holiday Trend Forcast: The Ugly Sweater (Party)

There is so much fugly great Christmas sweater inspiration out there it was hard to decide on just one to focus on for color and trend inspiration. Much like my research on the Cosby Sweater, the more I dug into the history of the Ugly Christmas Sweater the more I became lost in a sea of images, blogs and books paying tribute to this fashion atrocity. The growing trend during this holiday time is to have an Ugly Christmas Sweater party (Google it, I promise you won’t be disappointed). There’s even a trio of dudes calling themselves “Ugly Christmas Sweater” (Team Ugly for short) who literally wrote the book on it. It looks like so much fun that Mary and I have decided next year we are hosting one of these parties!

image via Google search (can’t find source)

The first collection is by far the most popular choice when choosing to “don your gay apparel”. Bright color, crazy images and the more appliques and Bedazzled goodness the better. You wear one of these fine specimens you are sure to be the ugliest belle at the ball!

1) BROOKLYN : 100% superwash merino worsted / Cake Walk Yarns via Etsy  (go to Tangled Happy for a discount code and giveaway!)

2) GOLD : acyrlic & metallic polyester mix / Vanna’s Glamour via Lion Brand Yarns

3) FLECKY SWEATER YARN : recycled yarn from actual Christmas Sweater! / SmartMonkey via Etsy

4) CHRISTMAS TREE : silk, wool & glitz rayon mix – art yarn / Scales and Fins Yarn via Etsy

5) CHRISTMAS GREEN : 100% Peruvian highland wool / via Purl Soho

image via Google (again not sure of the source)

The second collection is inspired by those that choose to attend an Ugly Sweater Party with no intention on actually participating BUT the price of admission is one Christmas sweater SO these party goers cheat the system by wearing a traditional and now chic holiday sweater. (aka killjoys)

1) NATURAL : 100% pure virgin wool / Fisherman’s Wool via Lion Brand Yarns

2) CANDY CANE : silk, wool & glitz rayon mix – art yarn / Scales and Fins Yarn via Etsy

3) STERLING : acrylic & polyester blend with sequins / Sequin via Bernat Yarns

4) DEEP SEA : 100% acrylic / Vanna’s Colors via Lion Brand Yarns

5) MIDNIGHT HEATHER : 100% pure new wool / via Purl Soho

image via Craft Stylish • click the photo for upcycled dog sweater pattern

The third collection is what you do after the party… after your hangover is cured and you realize you are now the proud owner of an Ugly Christmas Sweater. Some hipsters may continue to wear it into the new year (making others scratch their heads) but you know better and it’s either figure out something to do with it or it’s off to the Good Will.

1) HOLIDAY YARN : 100% merino wool with beads – art yarn / Wool Wench via Etsy

2) ECRU : 80% wool & 20% silk / Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool XL via Webs

3) TOPAZ : acyrlic & metallic polyester mix / Vanna’s Glamour via Lion Brand Yarns

4) ESTES : superwash merino, cashmere & nylon / Cake Walk Yarns via Etsy  (go to Tangled Happy for a discount code and giveaway!)

5) GREEN : 100% cashmere recycled yarn from actual Christmas Sweater! / Sentimental Valu via Etsy

Matt Damon via The Today Show (check out more fun celebs & their sweaters here)

Happy Holidays from Rewind Knits & Crochet. Mary and I will be “away” for the rest of the year, busy cranking out our Christmas presents! After the first of the year we’ll be posting all about our handmade holiday gifts along with a giveaway of a Eugenie prize pack.

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Bernat CAL : My Mystery Blanket Progress

We are now onto “clue #3“. Bernat releases one clue a week and it’s the perfect pace! It’s been great because these first few clues i.e. block patterns have been back-to-basics for me which makes the process to creating my mystery blanket, so far, quite painless. I unfortunately have had to tweak the patterns as I go only because our local craft store does not carry the Bernat Softee Chunky. I’ve decided to use Lion Brand Wool Ease, a gauge smaller that what the Bernat yarn. I’m also buying yarn as I go , not following the Bernat buying guide. I’ve shared my color palette below; I plan on mixing and mingling the colors through out the the squares as I make them. When I run out of one particular yarn color, even if I’m in the middle of a square, I’m going to just add on the new color. The color palette will make it cohesive. OR that’s my thought anyway. I have a 50 / 50 chance of giving this to my mom for Christmas. I’ll share more progress when I get clue #4.

I know this may look like an odd palette but the actual yarn looks different and it’s woodsy, rich and gorgeous: Seaspray, Pumpkin, Lemongrass, Violet and Clove

If you are not participating in this CAL, it’s not too late. Find the details here.

 

xoxo – Brandy

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Bernat Crochet Along – Mystery Blanket Project

Calling all crocheters! Calling all crocheters! Brandy here, telling you about this super exciting Crochet Along brought to you by Bernat. Why is it so exciting you ask? Well I’ll tell you! It’s a mystery blanket project!! Starting Sept. 22nd the Bernat Blog will start posting weekly clues (and I assume patterns). Each clue will guide you as you begin to create a blanket, the design revealing itself as you go. I love this idea especially since it will be complete by Christmas making it the perfect paced DIY holiday gift. If you are a quick crocheter you could create a few blanket simultaneously thus crossing off your Christmas gift list even faster! AND It get’s better!! How you ask?? At the end of the project Bernat is having a contest for best “designed” blanket. So not only will you have a cozy, surprise design blanket or two, you could win enough yarn to make another. So fun, count me in! I’ll be working on this project through out the weeks and posting the progress as I go. For those who can not tackle this project because you are already up to your eyeballs in projects, you can live vicariously through this blog. Happy crocheting (and knitting…)!

If you want to participate get all your FAQ info here.

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