KloseKnitBoutique

Tutorial- No Sew Hair Bows

All these images can be clicked on for a larger view.

My teenage daughter requested these cute little bows from me and I thought it would be fun to share how I make them here for you all to enjoy.  They are really simple to make and yes, they require zero stitching.  You could always opt to do a little hand sewing if you desired.  First let’s start with the materials:

• Cotton quilting fabric (this a great project for scrap fabric)
• Liquid Stitch Permanent Clear Drying Adhesive (you can get this at Wal-Mart in the fabric section or at any craft store). Or some kind of permanent fabric glue.
• Simple little hair clip.  The kind that you pinch one end to open and close.  See below for a picture.  
• Thin quilting batting (I’m using left-over scrap cotton batting)
• Water soluble pencil or invisible ink marker
• Scissors
• Templates (we will make these)
• Iron and ironing board

Fist thing is to make your templates.  I’m using some plain cardstock for mine.  You want something with a little bit of thickness to them for easier handling and you won’t have to worry about ripping quite as much. You could also use stencil sheets if you have them.  I prefer to keep mine for more complicated projects.  The sizes I’m using are 4” X 8.5” for the fabric template and 2” X 8.5” for the batting template.  You can adjust this however you see fit.  If you want a smaller or larger bow just keep in mind that the batting template needs to be half the size in height as the fabric template.  The width will always be the same.  The size I’m using makes a finished bow approx.  2” X 4”.  So if you wanted a finished bow that’s 3” X 6” for example, you would need template sizes 6” X 12” for the fabric and 3” X 12” for the batting.  Simple enough, huh?

Once you have your templates made, trace them onto the back side of your ironed fabric and batting with a water soluble pencil or marker or a marker with invisible ink works well too.  For the middle section of the bow, I use the batting template.  I simply turn it over on its side and trace around making the height the same as the fabric template.  You can refer to the pictures to see what I mean. 

Now take the big fabric piece, fold it in half, and do a quick finger press to mark the middle of the fabric.  Open it back up and fold the ends into the middle and press with an iron.  Do the same for the middle piece.  I tend to fold mine in more on the middle piece because I don’t like mine quite that wide.

Now lay the batting inside the fabric and dab a bit of fabric glue along the edge and press down. 

Fold both ends of the entire thing into the middle.  Dab more glue to hold it in place.

I’m using a simple little hair clip that I get at the beauty supply store so I’m going to go ahead and attach the middle fabric section first.

Pinch your bow together and simply wrap the fabric around the middle area and glue it together nice and snug.  Tuck in the end so it’s a nice clean edge.  

Slide your clip in once it's nice and dry. 

You could also use a bobby pin but I would suggest making your bow a bit smaller for a bobby-bow.  You can also use the barrette blanks but you need to glue it to the back of the bow prior to gluing the middle section.

I hope this makes since!!  If you have any questions, please post them in the comments section and I’ll answer them as soon as I can!!

Thanks so stopping by!!

Bren

 

 

 

 

What I've been up to

I love to knit.  What fuels my desire to knit is the yarn I choose.  I love to squish and rub it.  I love the colors and textures.  And the projects that can be made from them?  Limitless.  But I was also intrigued with the different qualities of the yarn I chose and more so how it was made.  

As I'm an etsier I was always drooling over handspun yarn.  Especially the colors and how they transition.  Plus there were so many different types of fibers being used.  In the commercial yarns I chose there were a select few I seemed to find: Lambs wool, Merino, Alpaca, Silk, and Cashmere if I felt like splurging a bit.  There's plant fibers like cotton, bamboo, or maybe linen.  Then there's your synthetic fibers like acrylic, nylon and such.  I'm not much of a fan of synthetic fibers.

I decided if I really wanted a working knowlege of handspun yarns and fibers, then I needed to learn how to spin myself.

I started off with a spindle.  My chose of spindles was an Ashford turkish drop spindle.  I chose this because you could wind the yarn in a center pull ball as you went along.  Then when you're ready to ply, you already have yarn that's ready to go.

I've since moved onto a Kromski Fantasia wheel and I love it.   I'm an avid spinner now and have several yarns to show for my work.  I'm now selling them in my shop on etsy.  Along with hand dyed wool rovings for other spinners to play with.  Though I keep thinking of exclusively selling my yarns and keeping the wool for myslef to spin with.  It was my original plan.  We'll see!!

Here are a few examples of my work:

Billed Beanie pattern...

  It's time to start thinking about your holiday gifts if you haven't started already.  I'm doing pretty good getting my gifts done in a timely manner.  I wanted to do knitted gifts for some of my family members.  My mother, grandmother, husband, son, and daughter are the recipients of knit wear this christmas season.  I have my mother and grandmother done and am working on the others as we speak. 

I wanted to share one of the projects here on the blog.  I loved the idea of making a cute little billed beanie for my grandma.  It's done in a k1, p1 rib so it's super streatchy and keeps its shape beautifully.  This is a GREAT gift item.  This is super easy and knits up so fast as it uses super bulky yarn.  It literally only took me 2 hours to make this, no lie.

You don't have to make all your gifts these super complicated and intricate designs that take months and months to make.  I just can't do that.  My hands would be tired all the time.  Sometimes simple and sweet is the way to go. And this beanie is my interpretation of that:

 

BILLED BEANIE:

Yarn: Any super bulky weight yarn.  I used Lion Brand- Wool Ease- Thick and Quick

Needles:  size 15, 16 or 20 inch circs, size 15 dpns

Guage:  10 sts= 4 inches in 1x1 rib

HAT:

CO 44 sts, pm and join work being careful not to twist sts. 

Work 1x1 rib for 4 1/2 inches.

Decreases:

* work 9 sts, k2tog, work 9 sts, ssk; repeat from  * to end.

* work 8 sts, k2tog, work 8 sts, ssk; repeat from * to end.

Continue decrease working one less stitch each time till 8 sts rem. Go to dpns when needed.

Cut yarn, thread tapestry needle through remaining 8 sts and pull tight.  Weave in ends.

BILL:

With ws facing pick up 23 sts.

ssk, work rib to last 2 sts, k2tog

repeat twice more then bind off in rib pattern

Thanks for visiting and happing knitting!!

Ms. Minty

 

 

 

While They Play Knit eBook - Knitting Patterns from KnitPicks.com

Here is an e-book I'll be picking up this weekend.  You can grab "While They Play" at KnitPicks.  This is a rare find for me.  I hardly ever come across a knitting pattern book where I love each and every project in it.  But every project in this book is wonderful!  Here are a few of their eye catching projects that I will most surely be making.  It's even got me wanting to make that laced cowl!!  I avoid everything lacy.  It takes too long.  But that laced cowl is so gorgeous.  And I will probaby use the same yarns they use it the book so it gives me an excuse to try out some yarns I may not have used before!!  YAY!!  Excited!

 

via www.knitpicks.com

On the needles...

Well I have always wanted to design a bucket shaped hat inspired by my favorite shoes...Mary Janes.  I have a pair that I love so very much and would wear them everyday if my husband didn't give me sideways glances.  I came across some really pretty gingery colored yarn by Berroco.  Their worsted "Comfort" line.  I thought this would be a perfect hat for the fall.  I thought the linen stitch would be perfect for this project.  It makes a thick, sturdy, dense fabric without too much give.  I'm also going to do a strap going across the front of the hat with some beautiful ceramic buttons. 

I have a horrible button fetish and I love ceramic.  You can make them look like whatever your mind can conceive.  I make them and plan to start selling a line of them on etsy (if I ever find the time).  I made two different colored buttons and I swear I can't decide which ones to pick.  Should I go safe and do the neutral colored buttons or should I go bold and do the turquoise??  I'm leaning towards the latter.  I think it will really make a statement.  I will update with a new pic once I get the hat done!!  I'm really excited about this one.

I'm writing the pattern as I go along.  I don't know if this is the way that you're supposed to do it but it makes since to me.  To make it a bit more visually appealing I'm also doing a little purl ridge in the pattern evey inch or so on the brim.  This also helps with the decreases and keeps the texture pattern look nice and tidy. 

Ok.  I'll stop rambling on and get back to work.  I'd love to have this done before the weekend is over!!

I've developed a crush!!

With these cute little bowls by Brett Bara!  She has a wonderful new book out called "Sewing In A Straight Line".  I absolutely love the book!  So so many pretty and EASY projects in it!  And ALL of them are sewn in a straight line!  How much easier can you get? 

You can view a free video tutorial for this project at her blog right here!!

I hope to be able to make these soon but I don't have any more fusible interfacing (I ran out!).  So I have to make a Hobby Lobby run hopefully today or maybe Monday before I have class.  But I had to show you all my new crush!!   I'll post pictures of mine soon!!

Wish me luck!...

Well today I finished enrolling in college.  I'm officially a college student and officially freaking out.  I'm a 30 something stay at home mom going to college.  I felt so old walking around campus today.  So many young people.  I'm so scared and so excited.

I've decided to go back to school for radiology.  I know medical is the way to go as far as a carreer choice but I am not the nurse type.  Can't do it.  But radiology is something that I'm actually really really interested in. 

There's so much to remember.  I'm worried I won't have proper study habits so I'm takig a class to help me with that.  I also have to take a few 0 level classes just to be able to take the regular classes.  I only have 2 of those to take (I think) so I'm going to get those done asap.

I know I have a long road ahead of me and I know it's going to be a whole lotta work and studying.  But I'm sure looking forward to the journey.  So keep me in your prayers!!  I need ALL of them!!

 

Terra Cotta Slouch

I fell in love with this yarn (Naturally Caron- Spa) and thought it would knit up beautifully.  It's DK/light worsted weight.  It's an acrylic/ bamboo blend and it has a lovely sheen and drape.  I bought a few different colors and here's the first project I made with it.  I thought I'd share the pattern here for all you nifty knitters!!  It's a really really easy pattern and it knits up pretty quickly.  I added a pom pom on the end of mine using a medium sized pom pom maker.

It's knitted in the round on us size 3 and 6 circular needles.  You may need to go down to dpns (double pointed needles) once you get to the end.

The only problem I ran into is that the yarn is a bit on the splitty side.  So you may not be able to look away and do "tv knitting" (watching tv while you knit) without running into a few problems.  But in my opinion it's worth it!  As you can see it drapes beautifully
and it's so warm and soft. I really like this yarn a lot.  I will be making many more projects with it.  You can get this yarn at Hobby Lobby.  If you don't have a Hobby Lobby near where you live, you can find this at NaturallyCaron.com. 

It's not overly slouchy but if you wanted it slouchyer, all you would have to do is add an inch or two of the pattern.

TERRA COTTA SLOUCH:

Yarn: 1 ball Naturally Caron Spa or any dk weight yarn

Materials:  US size 3 and 6 circular needles and us size 6 dpns (double pointed needles).

Guage:  8 sts per inch on smaller needes in rib pattern.

Brim: With smaller needles, cast on 120 stitches. PM for beginning of round and join being careful not to twist stitches. Work in k1, p1 rib until piece measures 2 inches.

Hat Body:  Change to larger needles.

Round 1:  p1, k1: repeat to end

Round 2:  purl the entire the round

These two rounds form the texture pattern.  Work the texture pattern until piece measures 8 inches from the beginning of the work.  If you want it more slouchier, work till the piece measures 9 or 10 inches.

Shape Top:  (Note: change to dpns when stitches no longer fit comfortably on circular needles).

Round 1:  k2tog all the way around (60 sts)

Round 2:  purl all the way around

Round 3:  Same as round 1 (30 sts)

Round 4:  Same as round 2

Round 5:  Same as round 1 (15 sts)

Round 6:  Same as round 2

Finishing:  Cut yarn and thread tail though rem sts and pull to close.  Weave in ends.

I made a pom pom for the top of my hat but it looks great without it.  Another suggestion would be a beautiful handmade ceramic button!!

Thanks so much and happy knitting!!

Ms. Minty

 

 

 

Hi all...

I love the creative process so much.  This blog is dedicated to my love of all things crafty, artsy fartsy, colorful and creative.  I dabble in just about everything.  Knitting and crocheting, jewelry making, working with polymer clay and ceramics, making organic soap and other various bath and body products, painting, graphic design and photography, cooking, baking and whatever else may come to mind.  I just love it so much. 

I hope you find this blog an everyday read.  It will chaulk full of tutorials, recipies, fun web finds and colorful inspritation of all kinds.  I'm so excited to share my thoughts and creativity with you!!  Thanks so much for stopping by.