Making a Mandarin Collar Several Ways

Wanting to create a mandarin collar from a large and outdated standard collar, I folded the corners of the regular collar downwards, then folded the collar in half, stitching down all sides. Voila! A mandarin collar was created in about ten minutes; you don't even need a sewing machine if you can thread a needle and make a running stitch.

Here is a picture of a mandarin modified collar that I made on a linen blouse with a standard, large collar. It was further embellished with sewn on Cat Buttons:

Other ways to make mandarin collars is to use scarves, tying it in manners depicted in Scarves:

1: Try a GQ oblong style! Fold a textured oblong scarf in half and place it around your neck. Feed one panel behind and then through the loop. Feed the other panel through the loop from the top. Finish the design by adjusting the panels. (Looks great over a jacket!);

2: Start by folding a large square scarf into a triangle. Place the folded edge next to your neck and tie a single knot. Twist the panels together. Wrap the twisted panels around itself and tuck the ends into the center, creating a rosette. Wear it off to the side or at the center of a collar.

Mandarin collars cover a multitude of "aging skin" flaws. Crepey skin can be concealed, as well as double necks.

In her later years, Kathryn Hepburn sure knew how to wear those turtlenecks well!

Diary Project 2009

Fantazya Fantazies (Lucy B) is the initiator, creator and driving force behind the 2009 Diary Project. Lucy lives in Quebec, Canada.

She published the 2008 Diary with the help of close to 400 artists who submitted their work free of charge. In her words:

The Diary 2008 was designed by at least 365 artists and crafters around the world. All of them are web sellers and you can reach them by their webpage address on the bottom of their page. Each page correspond to a date. There is 7 address pages, 3 notes pages, 12 months page, 2 introduction pages, and 2 year pages. Total: 392 pages with different designs. It is BEAUTIFUL !

The cover is plain, so you can decorate it as you like.The CD contains the complete pdf file, ready to print, with instructions. On the CD you have both sizes, small diary: 4¼" x 7" and medium diary: 5½" x 8½".With the CD, you go to a photocopy center and you ask for the quantity of book you want, with the paper of your choice, the cover color of your choice, the color spiral of your choice, and the size you prefer between 5½" x 8½" and 4¼" x 7". It is free participation and a free publicity for you. You don't need to buy a book, but if you want one or more, all the participants will have a special price.

The picture to the right is a submission from Lalootka. She also participated in the 2008 Diary Project.

My submission for the 27th day of February in 2009 is shown below to the left.

It should be a fun project to have and to hold once it is published.

Deadline for submissions for the 2009 Calendar is July 1, 2008, so contact TheProject now if you are interested in contributing to this intriquing world-wide artist submission campaign.

Beading on Socks

Beads knitted into the cuff or body of a sock give a different look to women's foot apparel. Beading makes a pair of socks unique, and it really is fun to put them into knitting. Random Knits gives a step-by-step tutorial. She knitted up pink socks with girly beading, and her efforts look great! Take a look at her Beading on Socks tutorial; it is complete and well done, but seems a bit time consuming.

Her YouTube presentation gives this visual and verbal explanation:


I searched out more information on the topic of "beading in knitting" and found a quick way to accomplish the same beading task. Knitty's website said:

Hooking beads onto individual stitches "as you go" is an outstanding method for those who hate to take the time and trouble to string loads of beads onto yarn it.

It is also great for spontaneous or accent beading, and also for yarns that are too delicate for the punishing strain that results from carrying a heavy length of pre-strung beads on the yarn. Beads are hooked on with a crochet hook small enough to fit through the hole of your beads.

Hooking beads onto stitches with a small crochet hook does not require juggling skills, although it may seem that way the first few times you try it. Since this method is so easy to learn from watching a demonstration, and so difficult to learn from words, here is a blow-by-blow description of my hooking method as it has evolved through hooking thousands of beads:
1) Impale the bead onto a crochet hook small enough to fit through the hole of your bead.

2) Insert the hook into the stitch loop where the bead will sit, making sure that the hook is facing you.

3) Pull the loop through the bead.

4) Replace the stitch loop onto the left needle if necessary.

People are usually a bit afraid that they will drop the stitch when they try this technique. Be aware that the stitch loop does not need to come off the needle at all for the bead to go on. Even if it does come off the needle, as long as the loop has the crochet hook in proximity, you should be safe from it slipping into oblivion. And once the bead is seated securely on the loop, it isn't going anywhere. Once you feel secure about the process, you will no doubt be taking all sorts of liberties.

Here is a picture of my first sock where I used the above technique for impaling the bead onto the hook. Just the toe needs completion, and I'll have half a pair of beaded socks completed.

But on the next sock, I will bead ONLY on the knit stitches since the bead will be more prominent. (Beads seem to recede into the purl stitch.) Oh well, live and learn.