Since today is a blustery day, I thought I’d introduce my new blustery day outfit:

Tada

I made the hat over Martin-Luther-King-weekend and finished the scarf a view days later while glued to my monitor watching 34 episodes of Heroes. (No, I never display compulsive behavior, ever) For the hat I started out with the instructions for the Twirly-Top Toque out of One Skein Wonders. I couldn’t figure out the lace pattern for the bottom part and just used a different one that was easier to read.

After I finished the hat, I had one skein left for the scarf. I used the same lace pattern for the scarf, which ended up too short to tie. Out came the buttons. My grandmother had thrifted them from some goodwill clothes. The buttons push through the holes made by the lace and can close the scarf at whatever height and in whatever pattern strikes my mood.

I can display all four buttons, just the daisies, a combination of a triangle and a daisy, you get the idea.

So here I am ready to weather the weather.

After many years of sifting through the old lady coats at Goodwill I finally found a good match for me! Unfortunately it came with some stains and hideous gold nugget buttons. But both were an easy fix! Dry cleaning help to freshen it up and I chose some buttons that were silver and had faux pearls on them so it still had an vintage feel. The tie in the back had come unsewn but after 15 minutes of mending I had a great winter coat!

Before:

After:

$7.50 for coat, $3 on buttons, and $5 on drycleaning = $15.50! Not bad!
Send a pic if you have a great update to share!

During the last year, I frequently found myself turning to Nicky Epstein’s Knitted Embellishments for inspiration and instruction.

The book is filled with ideas on how to create those little details that take a simple knitted piece from “that’s nice” to “where did you get that.” Knitted Embellishments is divided into seven major chapters:

• The Heart of the Matter, a collection of different heart shaped patterns
• Applique
• Borders and Edgings
• Cords
• Embroidery
• Fringes, Tassels, Pom-Poms, and Ties
• Creative Combinations

For the vest above, I used an embossed heart and a ribbed edge with daisy stitch embroidery.

I embellished this baby jacket with i-cords to create the letters and the frogs and closures.

The book is not for beginning knitters. You have to be pretty comfortable with charts and basic knitting techniques. But it’s a great book when you’re ready to jazz it up a bit.

This bracelet is a birthday present for my friend Jessica and a salute to her family. On October 5th 2005, after he had just turned four years old, her son was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. Last week, Spencer’s mediport was removed signifying the end of his chemotherapy and a huge milestone in his treatment. As Jessica wrote:

.. after 778 days,
approximately 200 pokes of a needle,
over 2,000 pills,
countless doses of tylenol,
anyone’s guess as to how many I-V drugs and fluids,
hundreds of thousands of prayers and wishes,
and at least 250 trips to the hospital,

I am so very very very very happy to announce that this extremely brave, tough, amazing little boy is completely finished with chemotherapy!!!

The bracelet is inspired by the red Relentless bracelets Spencer’s family and friends have been wearing to support him and anyone else fighting this disease. To put it together, I collected anything red I had in the house; new beads, old beads from jewelry I bought on a trip to Taiwan 21 years ago, charms I received as presents, glass, potato beads, sterling, clay, and metal. I then started making loops to attach all these treasures while listening to the book Jessica selected for our book club.

Happy Birthday Jessica!