DIY - Adding Some Sparkle

Top Row:
1. Sequin Trim Panel | This is a simple, effective update, layering rows of sequin trim.
2. Fancy Glass and Bugle Beads | The fancy glass beads are very inexpensive and rimmed in "gold". Bugle beads, sewn in a spray, add texture. Hello Prada!

Middle Row:
3. Beaded Rolled Denim Sleeve Cuffs | No written instructions but visual shows project well. Anything goes here, the more variety in size, colour and sparkle is good.
4. Bejewelled Purse Strap | easy and quick project gluing on flat jewel embellishments, encrusting the whole strap.

Bottom Row:
5. Jewelled Beanie | Large Swarovski crystals were used, read expensive. Any different sized pearls, beads or "jewels" can be substituted.
6. Star Studs and Stripes | No instruction for placement on elbow but project is pretty straight forward. Additionally, would highly recommend stitching a liner behind studs on elbow to eliminate scratchiness.

Bling! Bling!

Needlecrafts - Making It Personal

Main Image | Patons Free Pattern here

Cable Capelet Free Pattern

First off I would like to mention that this is a free pattern and more importantly, a fairly simple pattern to modify.
The weight of yarn and tension can be important as it determines the finished size of your garment. In this case whether the capelet is an inch or two longer and wider is not a tragedy, but garments that are heavily cabled or have a specific sizing and structure are recommended only for knitters with strong stomachs and lots of patience.
I have neither, so this example is perfect.
Modifying in this case is really tweaking. We are making minor changes to stitches and measurements (hopefully, if your tension is not way off).

Things I Want To Change

1. Not crazy about the bulky cable at the bottom of the capelet.
2. Want a zipper or some kind of front closure - hate over the head turtlenecks.
3. Love texture and easy, so I want a border of texture, but a relatively simple stitch.

Read further for changes and stitch pattern suggestions.

Continue reading...

Needlecrafts - Knitting Stitch Primer

Images | Pinterest

Leaf pattern design
I've always been fascinated with the trailing leaf design, how it puffed out giving a 3-dimensional effect. The weight of yarn also determined whether the pattern would be slightly flatter in a double knitting or totally blown out in a bulky weight.
Examples shown above show just how versatile this stitch is and how different it can look.
Read further for pattern stitches and free patterns.

Continue reading...

DIY - T-shirt Makeovers

Top Row:
1. Bleach Pen Painting | love the painterly effects you get and really no "mistakes"
2. Stamp Printing | stamp rows, all over, in centre - it all works
3. Spray Paint | no tutorial, just a doily and fabric spray paint will do the trick.
Middle Row:
4. Ombre Dyeing | very effective on prints such as this striped tshirt
5. Marker Printing | using permanent markers to make bold graphic designs.
Bottom Row:
6. Painterly Flowers | no written tutorial, but images are easy to follow.
7. Sharpie Dyeing | bleeding Sharpie Pen ink marks with alcohol.
8. Potato Printing | great way to ease into stamping and printing with kids

We all have basic t-shirts in solid colours or at least black and white ones but sometimes you want to put your own stamp on the t-shirt you're wearing - literally.
There are so many creative ways to personalize your t-shirt with the methods shown here. Try one on, it can become addictive.

In Fashion - SpinExpo F/W '13 Knit Pattern Trends

Image and trend Info courtesy of Spinexpo New York

Happy New Year to everyone.
This time of year prompts me to think about all the new trends and the fresh possibilities they bring.
It's exciting to try something new, a stitch you've never encountered before or a colour combination you noted and liked. It's all good and gets the creative juices flowing.
One aspect of my job that I loved was attending the Colour Marketing Group Conferences. Groups from every industry and every department you could think of within each of the industries would sit down and collectively agree upon and determine the colour story and trends for the future. To my amazement, the story boards created in each group had similar themes. It was so much fun and you came back to work motivated and re-energized.
Graphicmania is a pattern trend of strong, graphic 70's patterns, particularly in black and white. We've already seen strong patterns highlighted in some collections this past fall. This trend continues into S/S '13 and F/W '13.

All Images |stylebistro.com

Look for more trend posts in the coming weeks