Posts tagged with 'patterns'

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Cool Website Alert: MetaPostModernKnitting!

POSTED BY LEE MEREDITH, SEPTEMBER 04 2008 04:56 PM | PERMALINK

I just discovered a semi-new knitting website I have to share with you! It's called MetaPostModernKnitting (aka MPMK) and the creators describe the site as "a celebration of fashion-forward and avant-garde knitting." From the about page: "We want to bring you knitting patterns, trend analysis, and news that represents the more artistic, unconventional and forward-thinking realm of knitting." They release an issue full of free patterns and more two times a year (Spring/Summer and...
Weekly DIY Roundup: Skirt Tutorials!

POSTED BY LEE MEREDITH, AUGUST 08 2008 03:30 PM | PERMALINK

Oh man, it's been hot! And for me, this kind of weather means skirts skirts skirts! I can never have too many! Especially the cool, flowing, lightweight kind. I'm hoping to find the time this weekend to make a couple from some thrifted bedsheets! So I've rounded up a bunch of tutorials, pattern how-to's, and inspirational designs to help you with any last-leg-of-summer skirt making you might want to embark on...

The "5-minute skirt" by Amy Karol of angry chicken might take you a lil' bit longer than...
Japanese Craft Books!

POSTED BY LEE MEREDITH, AUGUST 06 2008 08:00 AM | PERMALINK

So I know I'm a bit late on the bandwagon, but I just recently discovered the awesomeness of Japanese craft books! I visited my local Kinokuniya bookstore last week and was completely overwhelmed at the vast amazing world of these gorgeous books, with subjects ranging from sewing to knitting/crochet to felting to embroidery to beading, and on and on. All with beautiful photography and design, even without the ability to read the instructions, I wanted to take every book home with me!

Well now...
Celebrity DIY Style: Fashionable Politics

POSTED BY STACY SCHLYER, JULY 14 2008 04:09 PM | PERMALINK

While Barack Obama and John McCain duke it out in the political ring, there's a new debate being launched - this one in the fashion community. The question? Which potential first lady has the best wardrobe. Acorrding to Tim Gunn, host of Bravo's Project Runway and Guide to Style, Michelle is the winner - and most of American might agree with him. Shortly after Michelle Obama appeared on The View, the Donna Ricco dress she wore flew off store shelves. Now you don't have to wait for this hot...
Weekly DIY Roundup: Granny Square Projects!

POSTED BY LEE MEREDITH, JULY 11 2008 04:27 PM | PERMALINK

It might not be the hippest thing ever, but I just love granny squares! And, I think they make a great summer yarn craft - when it's too hot for knitting or crocheting larger items, make a few squares! So I've rounded up some granny square projects to show you how to make them and what you can do with them...

First, a couple basic square patterns. This one is by Linda Permann on Craftstylish:

And there's another basic pattern on the Purl Bee blog:

You can find tons of variations, like...
Celebrity DIY Style: Carrie Bradshaw

POSTED BY STACY SCHLYER, JUNE 30 2008 12:34 PM | PERMALINK

The movie Sex and the City has been out for a month now and achieved the top spot at the box office. Not only were die hard fans lining up at the theater to see if Carrie would marry Mr. Big, but also to check out the fashions everyone would be wearing. Now you can own a piece of Carrie Bradshaw's wardrobe with Hot Pattern's Deco Vibe Carrie-d Away Skirt Suit. This pattern not only re-creates Sarah Jessica Parker's suit she sported in SATC, but is modeled after Christian Dior's Cruise...
Celebrity DIY Style: Leggings

POSTED BY STACY SCHLYER, MAY 27 2008 12:02 PM | PERMALINK

One of the hottest celebrity garments has to be leggings - you see them on everyone from Paris Hilton to Beyonce. In fact, they've become so popular that Lindsey Lohan announced her own legging line back in March. Now you can skip the basic black style that you see on the racks and sport a trendy pair such as Paris Hilton's stripe or silver lame leggings just by sewing your own.

There are plenty of patterns available to re-create this look for yourself: Burda 7791, Vogue 8401, McCall...
The Biker Look

POSTED BY STACY SCHLYER, MAY 12 2008 05:56 PM | PERMALINK

I've always loved biker jackets - whether they be in leather, denim, suede, or a sturdy twill... this is one look that I'm happy to say is making a comeback. In fact, the March 2008 issue of Lucky magazine reported biker jackets as one of the hottest spring trends. Of course, celebrities are guaranteed to be wearing the latest styles. Take Angelina Jolie - before she became pregnant, she sported this fantastic looking jacket while on the set of one of her recent movies. If you're wanting to...
Tracing A Pattern

POSTED BY STACY SCHLYER, APRIL 25 2008 08:00 AM | PERMALINK

Last week I blogged a bit about tracking down international pattern magazines. So my question today is, "have you been bitten by the pattern magazine bug yet?" If so, you probably have your first issue in your hands, are looking at the pattern inserts (which looks roughly like a roadmap), and are now wondering "what do I do now?" Here's some tips to get you started sewing up your first pattern:

Like any pattern, you first need to determine what size you'll need. Carefully measure yourself and...
Patterns With International Flare

POSTED BY STACY SCHLYER, APRIL 19 2008 08:00 AM | PERMALINK

For many of us who sew, we've become familiar with the paper patterns that we find in brick and mortar stores - commonly known as "the Big 4" (Simplicity, McCall, Butterick, and Vogue). It wasn't until after years of sewing with these envelopes that I discovered there were other patterns out there - those that come in magazines! Not only were there lots of trendy options to sew up, but there were up to 50 patterns available in one issue alone! Now for the bad news - none of them are written in the...