Handmade Holiday Gift Recap

We all do it.  Sometime in the summer we declare:  “I am going to make all my Christmas gifts this year!”

I think we all know how this sad story usually turns out.  However, Brandy and I did pull it together in the very end, and I am proud to present to you…

The Festival of Handmade and Somewhat Appreciated Gifts!  

I can tell you that the first item, a fantastic crocheted Hello Kitty scarf for my sister, wins, hands down.  Theresa, my sister, loves Hello Kitty.  She is also a FANATICAL University of Washington sports fan (hence the purple and gold).  I really thought she was going to cry when she opened this up.  Made by Brandy, with her mad crochet skillz, of course.  Hello Kitty diagram can be found here.

(She’s sporting some toasty fingerless gloves I made as well…)

Continuing on the University of Washington theme, I made my sis a striped phone cozy, and a warm and a toasty basket weave border hat.  I wrote the pattern down somewhere for the hat, if you are interested let me know.  I held two strands together for both the cuff and the body of the hat.

I slaved over this slouchy beanie concoction from Caron for Brandy.  I used Lion Brand Amazing yarn in Pink Sands.  This was a nail biter, down to the wire.  But it turned out really cute and she loves it! (at least she says she does!)

Brandy came up with a great idea for two of her male friends who are from Viking heritage.  She found this awesome pattern and knocked out these two crocheted Viking Hats.

Brandy made me the most beautiful ripple patterned crochet cowl!  I have worn it pretty much every day.  I have asked her to make me another one immediately!  🙂  I forgot to take a photo of it – my bad!

We also made a slew of other items – see the photo montage below – crocheted cowls, knit beanies, bow headbands, and more.

Now that the holidays are over, it’s back to knitting and crocheting for ourselves – Brandy is working on a bobble bunny hat.  She is now talking about bobbles non-stop.   I finally finished my Twinkle Printmaker’s Pullover, which I had mentioned awhile back.   It looks great on my dress form, but I haven’t gotten around to wearing it yet.  And I just started designing a dress/tunic inspired by the shape of this Pinterest find.  I am doing a top down, circular construction.

So for all you gift knitters and crocheters, our hats (no pun intented) are off to you!  Did you finish in time?  What is your next craft adventure?

Until next time!

M and B

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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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3 New Patterns… and… It’s Here! Crocheted Version of the Center Row Lace Headband / Neck Warmer! AKA PATTERN-PALOOZA!!

After many requests, we have finally perfected and patterned up a crochet version of our most popular pattern, the Center Row Lace Headband / Neck Warmer.  The dimensions of the finished product are very close to the knit version, and the look is almost identical.  I hope that you crocheters out there are happy with the results.  This pattern comes out just in time to stylishly fight off that winter weather!

We’ve also been hard at work creating the patterns featured in our last post!

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Post Halloween, Pre-Turkey Day Update

While Halloween at Brandy’s house wasn’t as busy with kiddos as in years past, we definitely had more time to focus on a few new projects.  The weather has turned here in the PNW, and the last few weeks I have been focused on gloves and mittens.  One, their quick, two, sizing really isn’t too much of an issue, three, I’m thinking holiday gifts.  I came up with two easy options that are NOT knit on DPNs.

The first ones are some cute cable wristlets, with the thumb added after you sew them up.  I wore them for about a week before I decided to add the thumbs,  so you can go either way.  Pattern will be posted next week.  This is some super soft bamboo hand spun yarn I got off of Etsy over a year ago, and I was happy with the results.

The second ones I think I will call my Dishcloth Candy Cane Wristlets.  These are the easiest things ever.  I came up with these for a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) who is convinced the only thing she can knit is dishcloths.  Again, knit on regular needles and then sewn up after the fact.  You could even do these in school colors (my sis is getting some Purple and Gold ones for Christmas in honor of our U of W Huskies!).  I used Vanna’s Choice yarn.  I am going to get the pattern written up for you next week on these as well.

And here is what Halloween looked like at Brandy’s house.  We went with a funeral parlor/graveyard theme.  I was D. Eadly and she was D. Ceased.  Please note that we hijacked our store mannequin and planted her body parts in the lawn.  I was worried her leg was going to get stolen, but she is all back in one piece now.  We watched Anchorman, knit and crocheted between ‘customers’ and I tried to not eat all the Smarties out of the candy bucket. All in all a successful evening!

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Glam-tastic Yarn

Facebook and I fall in and out of love on a daily basis, but it was definitely a love moment when it ping’d me to let me know Vanna’s been busy cooking up new colors for her Glamour line – Lion Brand Yarn Studio’s yarn of the month (so sad I can’t take advantage of the 15% in studio discount).  I’ve loved this yarn from the minute I saw it however the available colors were basic and boring, I never had enough interest to actually purchase any. For me the louder the better, so when I saw the new color assortment I nearly died!  Loving all the new colors and their lux names, I put some in my digital shopping cart and merrily skipped to the check out.  I picked up some Jewel (my fav color), Gold and Onyx… very Betsy Johnson!  Once I receive it and whip an accessory or two I’ll post my thoughts about the yarn.  So far many of the reviews I’m finding are positive; most metallic threaded yarns tend to be scratchy and hard to work with, Vanna’s Glamour yarn has “a soft hand to it”.

Betsy inspired color palette: Jewel/Gold/Onyx

What I also love about these yarns is the new wide range of colors makes it possible to create interesting and beautiful color stories. Below is a few samplings of the yarns in our Rewind Knits and Crochet color stories.

Unique: Ruby Red/Bronze/Copper

Sweet: Topaz/Jewel/Copper  (very cupcake…yummy!)

Geo: Diamond/Lapis/Onyx

Fresh: Diamond/Topaz/Moonstone

Elegant: Moonstone/Garnet/Onyx

Brandy the Glam-tastic Yarn Diva aka Hoarder

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Pattern : Lantern Date Night Purse

Category: KNIT
Featured Color Group: Geo / A Night on the Town
Featured Yarn: Vanna’s Choice in Black / Patons in White Twinkle

The dreaded first date – so  many things to think about!  What to wear, what to say, hair up or down?  Call and feign illness prior to date?  Show up fashionably late?  Get there early?  Well, let’s take care of your purse selection now.  If you have 2-3 hours, you have time to knock out this sophisticated and flirty purse.  Perfect size for your cell phone, lipstick, cash, brass knuckles, etc.  Would look great with your little black dress! Click here to download.

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Pattern: Convertible Center Row Lace Headband / Neck Warmer

Category: KNIT
Featured Color Group: Fresh / Weathered Wood
Featured Yarn: Vanna’s Choice in Taupe

With curly hair, a busy work schedule and winter doing it’s thing, a headband that doubles as a chic neck warmer seemed like the perfect pattern to offer up in January.  It’s perfect to glam up that quick ponytail.  Inspiration comes from quite the variety of places, from beautiful movie stars of an earlier era, to runway looks of today, to vintage pattern photos to YEP, that’s right, Slick Watts circa 1979 Seattle SuperSonics.  You must forgive me, I grew up in Seattle and this team and especially this guy with his jaunty ever-present headband captivated the city as they brought home the only men’s professional sports championship this town has seen since, well, ever.  (heavy sigh over the Seahawks here).  Click here to download.

Back view

Converted to Neck Warmer

 

Bear (Mary’s Saint Bernard) got in on the photo shoot. He’s such a prima donna!

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Pattern: Plaid Neckwarmer

Category: CROCHET
Featured Color Group: Fresh / Weathered Wood
Featured Yarn: Vanna’s Choice in White, Pearl Mist and Taupe Mist

The first pattern of the year takes it’s vintage inspiration from the mod ’70s and all it’s plaid and fringe glory.  Keeping a modern silhouette that seems to resonate with needle artists everywhere, we have reinterpreted the cowl.  This crocheted pattern uses a simple mesh stitch along with a weaving technique (don’t worry… super easy and we explain in the pattern) that adds depth and dimension to the plaid itself.  We made our plaid oversized, but feel free to check out http://www.tartanmaker.com/ to design your own plaid.

Click here to download.

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