introducing: elisemade knit wool hats for everyone in basic, two-tone colors

my new winter hat line is now available in the shop! 

i wanted to design a great basic hat for any person needing a hardworking winter wardrobe staple. the double-knit 100% wool makes these hats super warm and snuggly, and they can be worn a little slouchy or with the ribbed brim folded up for a tighter fit. the two-tone colors are unique and interesting but still neutral to match all your winter gear.  

charcoal/gray in adult size

sizes for the whole family

navy/denim in baby size

brown/tan in kids size

available in three sizes: unisex adult, kids (fits approx. ages 3-10), and baby (newborns to age 3). 

check them out in the shop here.

black/white 

charcoal/gray

brown/tan

navy/denim

wear the brim folded or straight

if you like your winter hats with pompoms (i sure do!) you can add one on in a matching color for only $5 more.

you can also request a basic hat in any two color combinations of your choice. contact me at elisemade@gmail.com to discuss color options!  

here are some custom colorways:

to make your hat more personal and unique, i am also offering custom embroidery in a variety of designs. choose a letter or monogram in a variety of font styles, a team logo, or another design. embroidery pricing starts at $1/square inch. contact me at elisemade@gmail.com to discuss your design ideas!

baby hat in custom two-tone teal colorway with embroidered 'm' monogram

baby size in black/white with custom pink bow

whether you choose a basic neutral color or want to customize every element, this will surely be the cozy hat you reach for all winter long!

which color hat is your favorite? 

#WIDN: patching jeans with crocheted lace

i follow and admire so many amazing artists on instagram, so my feed is a constant source of inspiration for knitting, crochet, weaving, embroidery, hand-lettering, illustration, and more. the visual candy is so good and there is so much that sometimes (okay maybe a lot) it takes me down crazy art-overload time warps that i emerge from, wide-eyed and blinking, wondering where the hour went and why i haven't made anything yet.

but every once in a while, i come across a really cool idea that makes me put down my phone and run to my stash. this time, it was a post from lion brand yarn linking to a great blog tutorial showing how to use a bit of crocheted lace to patch holey jeans.

i gasped! it was exciting for two reasons: first, anyone that knows me knows that i'm desperately searching for any excuse to embellish things with yarn (#PutASweaterOnIt), and secondly, i recently taught myself to crochet so i loved the idea of playing around with some lace! having just patched a hole in the crotch my vintage 501s with some shibori embroidery, i knew a knee hole patch was the next step in their fibery customization.

the blog tutorial references and links to the original blog post that inspired her, and wow...talk about inspo!

but, being stubborn and wanting to try my luck at a freehand pattern (and also admittedly not knowing how to read crochet patterns very well), i grabbed a 3.75mm hook and some variegated fingering-weight silk wool and just started going for it. 

now bear with me, i don't really understand crochet patterns and have never written one, and there are certainly a million better doily patterns around (like here's one from the aforementioned blog post that's great) but i will try to explain my process as best i can. i started with a beginning chain of 4 stitches, joined in the round, and single-crocheted 6 stitches around the circle. marking my starting point with a bulb safety pin, i made a chain of 6 stitches and anchored it two circle stitches away, and repeated it twice more so there were 3 anchored chains around the inner circle. to start the next round, i anchored my yarn to the middle arch of the first loop with a single crochet stitch, and then increased the amount of chain stitches to 8, anchoring each in the middle of each prior 6-chain loop. as i went around the circle, i kept increasing the chain stitches by 2 and anchored them to the middle of the previous row. i just kind of kept going until the size of my lace stretched over the knee hole in my jeans.

it's important to note that you'll need to be wearing the jeans as you patch them, to ensure the patch and your stitches are properly placed and attached to withstand bending and stretching. i sat on the edge of my couch with my knee comfortably bent and attached the lace with some embroidery floss and a simple running stitch. 

i love the way it turned out! the pretty, neutral colors of the variegated silk wool i chose blend in nicely with the faded jeans, but i love the unexpected lacy, fishnet-like look. 

will you try patching your jeans with some crocheted lace?