Big Batch of Neckwarmers

Here's another batch of cozy neckwarmers (since it's moving toward getting a little cooler again).

Oh, this purple is gorgeous. It's Yarn Bee Princess in Tapestry. The photo doesn't do justice to the beautiful crystal-cut purple buttons. I really loved this one.

This copper color is a discontinued Lion Brand Lion Suede in Canyon with gold buttons.

This is Red Heart Shimmer. I like the subtle sparkle to it. 

This is also Red Heart Shimmer, but it is crocheted with two strands and held closed with the gorgeous pin.

Yarn Bee Infatuation. Seriously fuzzy and soft yarn.

The buttons are sort of pearl-like with a silver/pewter edging.

This is also Lion Brand Lion Suede. Very beautiful color, and so so so soft. Since I didn't have much left, I opted for a decorative edge that could be flipped around to be on the top (shown) or along the bottom edge.

Here's a slightly larger view of the decorative edge.

And finally, Yarn Bee Boucle Traditions. Simple and cozy.

Packers Football Orders

These Headbands and Neckwarmers were ordered quite a while ago. I'm finally posting them because I'm a slacker.

I started with this one in a Shadowbox Pattern I created:

Hubby pointed out (in all his Packer wisdom) that adding a little white would keep it from looking too Retro-Packer. He's so brilliant!

It definitely brightened it up.

So I kept that up for the Headband/Earwarmers, too.

I wasn't really sure about that football. I probably wouldn't do it again, but she seemed to like it.

It definitely appears that spring is coming, so maybe the Headband and Neckwarmer making will slow down a bit so I can post all I've been making. ;-)

More Neckwarmers

You still have some time to enter my current giveaway.

Here's a quick glimpse of what I've been working on these last few weeks.

One very fuzzy neckwarmer (crocheted with Patons Bohemian in Hypnotic Haze). I finished the matching headband last night. Picture coming soon...

Matching Headband and Neckwarmer (Crocheted with Yarn Bee Boucle Traditions in color: 60s Vintage). I really love the way this yarn works up.

Neckwarmers

N is for Neckwarmer because I hope to not need one for a few months! We'll see...

Here are some of the neckwarmers that I made this winter.

I still haven't decided what to do with this guy yet... =)

These have been fun little projects! It's a great winter accessory with all the various buttons available.

Remember, the G is for Giveaway ends tomorrow!

Neckwarmer Fail

A while ago, Beth at Visions of Sugar Plums had mentioned that she wanted to see a small neckwarmer/scarf with a slit instead of buttons. I figured that wouldn't be too difficult, so I gave it a try.

I'm not a fan.

I like that the slit is big enough that the other side fits through but not too tightly, and I like that it's small enough that you don't lose warmth.

But I'm just not pleased with the overall outcome. Perhaps it would work better for a knitter? Or a more skilled crocheter? Maybe it just needs some embellishment...

Well, we take the good with the bad, so now you've seen a "bad."

White Neckwarmer

Remember to enter my giveaway this week!

A while ago, I was in need of some buttons. I mentioned it to my mom, and she promptly gave me an assortment of buttons that had been my grandma's or hers for years (only part of the collection, I'm sure).

Since I've been on this kick with headbands and neckwarmers, buttons have given me a lot of fun inspiration. The first project I worked on, I decided to look through one of the jars my mom gave me. This is what the dining room looked like after that:

If you notice the top of the picture, she gave me two tins (in the peach bag) and two jars. This variety is from one of the jars after I'd already put back the ones that were the wrong sizes or style.

Here is one project they inspired:

I decided to create my own neckwarmer pattern. I was looking for something with the fpdc or bpdc to give it texture, but a larger square and a plain back.

This one is done with a "curly" yarn with a silvery strand through it. The buttons are slightly purple and SO much prettier in person! You can see a more accurate color representation in the above picture just a little left of the maroon buttons in the middle.

I have ideas for more neckwarmer patterns--stay tuned! With so many buttons and stitch pattern ideas, I really need to get moving!

Red Neckwarmer

I really loved having my neckwarmer to wear for extra warmth during our cold weekend, but after the second day, I was ready for a new color. Good thing I had all of my supplies and a print-off of Marie Anne's pattern with me!

So I made this red neckwarmer on Saturday morning. I really liked the shiny, shimmery white buttons on this one.

I used a worsted weight cotton this time. I liked the extra sturdiness of it. The slightly stiffer yarn kept its shape around my neck better than the I Love This Cotton, but it wasn't at all itchy.

Neckwarmer

We're getting ready for a winter retreat with a large group of students in a very cold area of Wisconsin. Dressing in warm layers is always a priority.

As I was thinking through my warm clothing that was available, I started thinking about all that warm clothing in the dining hall. That sounds really weird, I know, but there is good reason.

The dining hall is notoriously overpacked with people. The tables and chairs are very close together. Add to that all the snowy boots clomping around, and you really want to make sure that your coats, hats, mittens, and scarves stay on the back of your chair very well rather than falling to the floor to get kicked around, soaked, or lost.

I've come to love the inside pockets of my coat for this very reason.

My absolute favorite scarf to take on this trip (made for me by a guy that helped us out in youth group when I was a student) is very bulky and not conducive to staying in a small space.

Enter Marie Anne with my solution! I can just wear this all weekend without having to take it off and put it on all the time! (oh...insight: I guess I can't spill any food on it...) This will leave my coat pockets or sleeves free for my hat and mittens.

(Wow, I'm not very experienced at taking pictures of myself. 10 shots later, I have to crop it and settle for this. Note to self: Raise your chin in self-portraits. *shudder* Note to self #2: Next time, just wait a couple hours until the photographer of the family is home from work to take it himself.)

Now I just have to decide how horrendous it will be to bypass tradition and leave my amazing fleece scarf at home... =(