Knitting: Red Hearts BeretxBeanie

Remember I started knitting a beret sometime around the beginning of this year?



and then I frogged it and remade it...:3

Well, I still didn't follow any pattern the second time around. I just started knitting by instinct. the result was that the beret looked more like a beanie, the ribbing was too loose (next time I should knit 40-45 instead of 50-60.X_x

I was quite satisfied with how it came out though.



Wearing the beret-that-turned-into-a-beanie! :D



Next time I will make a thicken ribbing. Maybe 2" instead of 1".



I did a fair amount of fair-isle knitting (--simply means working multiple colours at the same time).



The colour contrast is not too strong, which is fine. It looks plain from afar but cute heart details upclose.



I couldn't decide between the coloured one and black and white, so here's how it looks in black and white:



And the rest of the photos of me wearing it.

DIY :: Sewing :: Dress cropped into a skirt.

So there's this dress I bought because I love the pleated skirt...



In sections..



However I do not quite like the cut of the top part. I got this at a bargain and the quality wasn't as nice.



Here is what I'd like to keep. (This is how it's supposed to look after the alteration)



I love the brihht orange colour and the pleats.



So to atart with, I laid it out on a flat surface and decided where I want to start cutting.



This is the part I want to keep..



So I left an allowance and pullad the garter from the seams.





I started placing pins to keep the fabric in place; and a few hours later,
I turned this dress...



...into a skirt!:p



--

I haven't had the chance to wear it yet but I will.. soon! :D

Sewing :: Soft Sock Plushie - Sushi Cat

Last weekend I decided to take on another weekend project.



Since these socks were so damn cheap I bought a bunch to experiment on. You can use old socks (it's really the whole point of sewing plushies with socks).



The book only teaches you to make some of the characters in the book, it teaches you the basics and gives you an idea of what more you can make out of those basic ideas.
[just follow what you see in the photo and cut according to it.:D]




Stuffing is needed to complete this project. Problem is, I am not sure where to buy, and I have no time to look for a place to buy from. The alternative -- take the stuffing from pillows/other plush. In my case, I have this one lying around from a friend's baby's birthday party giveaway. I had no use for it...until now.:D




Cut along the seams, enough to be able to take out some stuffing.




Neko with the book. [As you can see, there are so many other characters you can create.:D I followed the pattern for the cat's head and front legs. I improvised the rest. Soz, no patience for these things. I just don't follow patterns too well, eh?]




I have some extra fabric from whatnots lying around, so I cut out the eyes and nose for the cat.




I like the upturned eyes, it looks friendly, yeah?




This turned into a sushi cat when I put the strip of fabric around it (to cover up my ugly stitches! XP)




Enjoying a cup of warm cocoa while sewing. X3



Another photo with the neko.



It was so much fun to make! :3

DIY :: Upcycling old boots

Boots I got from a thrift shop in Hong Kong many years back.

I only wore it a few times! 1.) After buying it in Hong Kong. 2.) Another on my trip to Beijing, and 3.) Occasionally to my language classes here.

before


Not quite noticeable in the photo above, but the leather has started to come off in some parts. And since I had no plans of wearing it like that, I decided to peel the whole thing off and customize it!

looking...not quite to my liking


I took out some discarded stuff and tried it on the naked boot, I think I prefer it plain. I have not totally peeled the leather off in above photos.

current state
How the naked boot looks without all the brown leather. Looks better.


Will write how I will end up customizing it in another post.

Originally, I bought some glitzy dust for that MiuMiu look.

Any ideas? XD