STYLO Restyled : Quilted Vest for Christmas

 So this is it. The details on the Very. Last. Piece. from Stylo 3. Nothing like dragging that out for a few months! After taking the time to figure out this quilted vest for J, we're looking for any excuse to show it off. Why not Christmas? After the smoke had cleared from our Stylo photo shoot I hung the vest in J's closet beside this button-down shirt he had from last winter. Oh hey, red and green, if only I could come up with a tie, we would have ourselves a Christmas outfit. This is actually his school uniform tie. He normally wears a turtleneck to school to avoid the tie, so it doesn't get much wear. Not sure if all this print is on trend or a hot mess. Either way, this is what we'll be wearing at candle-light service this year.

PATTERN: Self-drafted, fully lined, basic size 7 vest, quilted with a few layers for warmth and substance. This pattern was inspired by the classic outdoor styling of Filson hunting gear with the drab green color, the diamond quilting, contrasting yoke at front and back, and the multiple pockets. One pocket is under the snap flap, the other is accessible from the side. The inside of the vest and the inside of the pockets are lined with flannel.

FABRIC: The exterior of the vest is made with dark green moleskin. The lining is plaid flannel. The accent at the pocket flaps and the yoke is dark green corduroy. The snaps are Heavy Duty Dritz.

I'm putting the finishing touches on a DIY quilted vest tutorial. A simplified version of this design will be available for free in size 7 after the holidays! Until then, I wish you all presents filled with high-end notions, knife sharp scissors that no one will ever use to cut paper, and all the new fabrics you can stand to prewash!

Merry Christmas!




***

Last Minute Gifts : Lola the Owl Gift Card Holders

Once I got started with my Lola the Owl pattern, oh Gussie, the ideas started flowing, and a purse just didn't seem like enough. How about Christmas tree ornaments? I hate to call this a last minute gift, because let's face it, I've only just started to think about Christmas gift giving. I still have unrealistic plans to make one (for now top secret) homemade toy per child, and a perfectly vintage inspired holiday dress for L, not to mention knit Etsy orders into the wee hours of the morning. All the more reason to whip up a few Lola ornaments now with the tiny bits of fabric I already had on hand.

We give an embarrassing amount of gift cards over the Holidays. Can a homemade gift card holder make a gift card less of a cop out? Let's hope so, because I shrunk down the back pocket to be just the right size for one. 

I'm also pairing the Lola ornaments with stuffed hearts in a bright red cookie tin as a Christmas themed gift for a December bridal shower. The possibilities are ENDLESS!

Details:

Print out Lola the Owl Pattern at 40% and construct as directed.

Add 1/4" to the length and width of the back pocket.

Use 3/8" Buttons for the center of the eyes.

Add a little loop of ric-rac so you can attached it to a Christmas tree or gift.

The perfect little addition to a perfectly wrapped gift, or a present on its own.

Bright Red Bonnet

Meet my new favorite big kid pixie bonnet: Bright Red. I admit I had the holidays in mind then I made this, and it will be just perfect for Christmas, but we will be wearing ours all winter long. After all February in Philadelphia could use a pop of color just as much as December.

To further extoll the virtues of this pixie bonnet style:
     1. Two layers of worsted weight knit around the ears. Super Warm!
     2. Ties at the chin for a snug fit. Stays put!
     3. Comes in sizes up to children's size 10. Bring on the big kids!

The Bright Red Bonnet is now available, along with our full line of big kid color choices.

Last Minute Gift : Craft Bags

There is just nothing like making a project out of a project. Like most moms, I make everything during a fleeting window when Kid 1 is at school and Kid 2 is napping. How hard can a drawstring bag be? Easy as pie, right? No reason to plan ahead or even think anything through.

You'll notice the slight variation in detailing between the two. One was made during nap. No time to reference the vast body of interweb wisdom. MUST GET IT DONE! Just reinvent the wheel. The second was done after my walk to pick Kid 1 up at school. The stupidly simple solution washed over me, as soon as the stroller hit the pavement.

I hate to call these craft kits. Kit implies a prescribed end result. While I can wonder down the path of possibility, who am I to tell this kid what to do with her art supplies?

Loose Ends

Finally, tying up all the loose ends for Christmas giving. I forget how much I hate color work knitting, until I enthusiastically embark on yet another Christmas stocking. These are very close copies of the stockings someone made for my siblings when we were little, 30 years ago. I think the original design must be from the fifties; my pattern is from a long forgotten internet source (but I will look again when I have more time). After an exhaustive search for pure wool yarn in the colors of the original, I ended up using some nasty polyester yarn, that is sticky to work with, but matches perfectly. I've made 8, and have two more I should make before the family grows any further. The original knitter made many more, for my extended family, all perfectly executed, inside and out.

Mine are not nearly as technically correct, but when I look at the inside of my first attempt, where I was so focused  on following the pattern that I forgot to twist in the carry over colors, I do feel a sense of accomplishment. Granted, when I'm knitting the Santa row, making a tangled web of yarn that pins me to the couch, I'm thinking more about giving old Santa a knuckle sandwich, than Christmas cheer. Still, well worth the effort.

Looking forward to some cozy knitting in the new year. 

Merry Christmas!