crocheted hooded scarf

the hooded scarf. there's something strangely satisfying about putting a hood on different pieces of clothing, even though you could easily just drape and wrap a regular scarf around your head to make a hood.
i wanted one that was a bit chunkier, and wool, perfect as a huge bundle to hide your head and neck in. here's a semi-tutorial on how to make one --although the photos really aren't that great/non-existent since most of the time i crocheted while watching movies in the dark.
i'm sure you could totally knit this too. i just forgot how to =(

what you'll need: hook and yarn
obviously the size hook depends on what yarn you end up choosing. and how much yarn depends on how long/wide you want your scarf (and how big your head is too i suppose). mine ended up being a mix of 3 different yarns (random ones i had lying around). i'd say starting off w/ two skeins would be a safe bet.

1. crochet a single chain stitch as long (high) as your want your hood to be
2. go back around and double stitch the length on both sides, doubling up (per stitch) at the end in order to round out the top.

3. continue crocheting - keep doubling up at the ends in order to get hood effect. keep doing this until you're satisfied w/ the width of the hood.
(i sort of just winged this part... trying it on as i went)

4. after you've finished crocheting the hood cut the yarn. determine how wide you want the scarf portion to be and then start on the two ends of the hood...

one side done.

(i was originally going to just make an attachable hood and crochet the scarf separately, with the option of buttoning the two together if desired. but my hood accidentally turned out to be too long so i just included it as part of the scarf. in hindsight, i also think it probably would have been too bulky had i done as an attachable... but it's an idea worth playing around with)




(tell me if this makes no sense at all... i suck at explaining these things)

DIY zipper belt

i don't think i was alone when miss stylish wanderer posted this outfit a couple weeks ago and i gasped at how chic and clever her homemade belt was! a simple idea well-executed.
and that is how this DIY was inspired. here is my little tutorial if anyone is interested. excuse the sickly yellow lighting of my bedroom.

what you'll need:

• several zippers, depending on how much hardware you want (i used 3 double ended 26" black zippers)
• a band of 2-3" wide elastic measured around your waist
• wide hook&eye closures or some other way of fastening the belt... snap buttons would probably work well too

arrange the zippers along the elastic band and pin to hold


sew 'em down. as you can see the foot on my sewing machine fixs EXACTLY between the space between two zippers... but sometimes (when you hit the ends of the zippers, where the metal pieces are a bit wider) it helps to keep the foot up as you sew through.


hand sew on your fasteners


DONE!
oh, i also used a few pieces of scrap fabric to line the edge of the elastic to keep it from looking too sloppy.

cutoffs: Old Navy, random flowy top, sandals Urban Outfitters, handmade belt