Easy scarf and headband }{ Knitting

Remember the scarf I mentioned back in September? I realized I never shared the finished product with you. I added some pockets at the end of the scarf in a simple way, made this headband, and added a bright flower to the headband. I quite like it and decided it was worth sharing the pattern for it.

Materials:

• Size US 13 knitting needles 
• Bulky yarn

I didn't measure the gauge because I feel like scarves are so flexible. It's really up to you to decide what feels most comfortable in terms of width and length. So follow these instructions with the caveat that length and width can and should be adjusted to fit you and your taste.

What I did:

1. Cast on 14 stitches (this is where you would adjust the width - anywhere between 10 and 18, with 10 being very, very thin)
2. Rows 1-12: knit straight through
3. Row 13: purl
4. Row 14: knit
5. Row 15: purl
6. Row 16: knit
7. Rows 17-28: purl
8. Row 29: knit
9. Row 30: purl
10. Row 31: knit
11. Row 32: purl
12. Repeat rows 1-32 until you're satisfied with the length.
13. Once it's as long as you want it, repeat it one more time (to have enough scarf for pockets). Bind off and weave loose yarn. Fold both ends on their wrong sides, just enough to form two pockets that fit your hands. Sew the sides and turn them right side out. 

I'd share a self-portrait wearing them but the Dragon doesn't let me sleep enough, or wear clothes long enough without spitting up to allow for a decent photo. Maybe soon.

How are you keeping warm this Fall? 

accessories for this fall

Finally! Can you feel the chill in the air? It's that amazing time of year when my heart starts to pitter patter in anticipation for all the good things to come in the next few months. So many crafting ideas buzzing in my head too.

But with a newborn to take care of, my time is limited, and with all our stuff still packed, my resources are limited. So, I've begun to knit something for myself.

The point is to keep crafting even at times like this to keep my creativity alive. I'm planning on a matching scarf and slouchy hat of darker colors, but I want to add some orange or mustard flower on the hat. I've been loving browns, yellows, and oranges lately. Like the items below:

List of items included in collage:

Daytrip corduroy jacket
buckle.com

Michael Antonio high heels
heels.com

Gold jewelry
anthropologie.com

Brimmed hat
anthropologie.com

Leather belt
anthropologie.com




What about you? What colors are you loving for this Fall?

More projects finished

I finally finished the scarf and hat I wanted to send to my niece. I kept getting involved in a thousand other things, but I finally got to it. My daughter's little buddy is modeling the two pieces.

(yep, picture is blown)

I also decided to make a little gift bag to send the hat and scarf in. It took me all of one hour! I love these quick projects. All I did was sew the bag and the lining with scraps of fabric I have around. Here are some rough general (and maybe confusing?) directions:

1. Cut four rectangular or square pieces of two fabrics (2 x 2). The lining pieces should be about one inch shorter then the outside.
2. Line the matching pieces (RS) and pin. Sew leaving a little opening on one side. Repeat with the other two pieces (lining) but leave a 10 cm opening on the back seam.
3. Put the outer bag (RS out) completely inside the lining (WS out), line the top edges and seams, pin the tops and sew them together (I used a zigzag stitch on the machine).
4. Push the bag through the gap in the back seam of the lining, pull it out, turning the lining RS out at the same time.
5. Using a ladder stitch, close the gap, leaving just a small opening to pull the ribbon/cord through. 
6. Take a ribbon and push/pull through the gap between the lining and outer bag.
7. I left the edges of this section raw, but you can certainly finish it for a more professional look.

I hope my little niece likes it! I love making stuff for the little ones in our family.

Oh yeah!

Stay tuned for a home decor/cooking related giveaway later this week

And on to new projects

So now that Christmas is over, I'm moving on to other projects. As of today I'm working on two.

Project #1: Candy Scarf

I'm knitting this simple scarf for my 3 year old niece, who I'm told loves to dress up. I don't get to see her very often, so I like to send her little things I make of that make me think of her. For this scarf, I wanted something girly and sweet. I found this yarn that reminds me of cotton candy ad popcorn, and I thought it would be perfect. Here's the pattern:

1. Using US 15 knitting needles for a hole-y, stretchy look, I cast on 20 stitches. 
2. (Knit 4, purl 4) 2x, then end each row with knit 4

That's it. Super easy, but the huge needles and the pattern give it a bumpy, hole-y, stretchy look and feel that I'm really liking. 

Project #2: Scrap doll

This project comes from a book that I found digging through my yarn stash. It was hiding in there and I completely forgot I had it! I was so excited to find it that I decided to start one of its projects right away. It's still in the very initial stages - fabric cut up, but nothing embroidered or sewn. I'll share more as I move along. I'm hoping it will be finished this Wednesday.

I never thought of myself as a girly girl, but my latest projects are definitely showing that side. They are all pastels and pinks and light colors. Weird but fun.

How are you filling your time now that Christmas is over?