Crocheted Edge Denim Cut Off Lace Shorts

Does that title make sense to you? I am trying to improve my search ranking, lol!

Okay, let's see a virtual show of hands. Who knows how to crochet a lace edge? Aaaand who knows how to do basic embroidery? Aaaand, who likes these cut off shorts?

Crocheted edge denim cut off lace shorts

I gained inspiration for these from a few places. First, I love all of the lacy dolphin tail cut offs that have been floating out there in Pinterest-land since last year. Second, I love the vintage style crocheted edge on pillowcases, also seen out there in Pinterest-land lately. Why not combine the two? 

Crocheted edge denim cut off lace shorts

Cute, right? I included a bit of a dolphin tail in the cut of the leg.

Crocheted edge denim cut off lace shorts

Since I rarely photograph myself making stuff I will just tell you how to do this.

1. Cut the legs from your shorts. Save the legs 'cuz there are oodles of things you can do with denim. Or just send them to me. I can't get enough of them!
2. Head to your sewing machine. Do not fold a hem if you like the tattered look. Use a fairly small zig zag stitch above the cut, maybe 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. Not too far. Sew all the way around each leg. 
3. Thread an embroidery needle with size 10 cotton crochet thread, in the color of your choice (haha, obviously!). Here is where embroidery skills come in. Do a back stitch all around each leg, immediately above your zig zag stitches, about 1/4 inch or a little shorter per stitch.You want to be able to crochet into these stitches using a size E or F crochet hook. (If you turned your hem, use a blanket stitch here instead)
4. Using a size E or F crochet hook, single stitch into your back stitches, inside of the leg, all the way around. Remember to start from the inside so that your frayed edge still shows. 
5. Crochet the edge pattern of your choice. Here is what I did: in first sc, HDC, DC, HDC, sl into next two sc, repeat all the way around. Fasten off, cut a long-ish tail and use your embroidery needle to weave end in.
6. Wash your shorts. This will tatter the edge of the denim and it will relax the crocheted edge, softening it. 

Crocheted edge denim cut off lace shorts

So what do you think?

Crochet Over Silver Stacking Bangle Bracelets

Remember Madonna, back in the 80s, when she wore the armful of bracelets? Even if you're not old enough, you know what I'm talking about.

Madonna

All of us tweens / teens wore big bows in our hair and arm loads of bracelets, lol! So I was tickled to find a big stack of silver bangles at the thrift store recently. Ummm, 39 of them! They look similar to these:

Sterling stacking bangles by Scape on Etsy

These are gorgeous. Mine are tarnished and dull. So I crocheted over mine with cotton thread.

Crocheted stacking bangles

Crocheted stacking bangles

Crocheted stacking bangles

Crocheted stacking bangles

Crocheted stacking bangles

Some of them had cute sparklies on them. I just added hooks to them, I think they make adorable over sized earrings.

Over sized hoop earrings

Over sized hoop earrings

Over sized hoop earrings

So that makes 10 bracelet upcycles. 29 more to go! Yay!!

Vintage Bohemie Fashions!

Wow, is it windy here! California is taking some pounding winds today. It sounds like thunder claps when it gusts. You know this Gemini is happy, hehe.

I've been perusing current fashions on Wanelo and Pinterest today (when I should be working or cleaning house or something...) and I am so tickled that styles I grew up with are appearing on the younger set today!
For example, I graduated high school in 1987. Okay, I know I just dated myself. I wore a prairie style soft denim button up dress with a lace hem. Haha, no one was wearing these! Until the next year. Then EVERYONE was. I am so excited that the prairie style is back!! I pinned some of my favorites on my Pinterest. All photo captions link back to seller.

Prairie style dress

Lacy prairie style top 

Now, let me take you a bit further back. All of my older cousins were wearing these back in the 1970s.

Crocheted halter top

I'm diggin' those cut offs too.

Crocheted fringed tank

Crocheted top

This one just makes me think of Woodstock. Of course, even I was too young for this. Love this photo too!!!!!

Crocheted fringed bikini top

Oh, and this one is completely current. But so cute! I love skull fashions right now. 

Skull cut out top

Aren't these fun?

New Boot Toppers!

How is it that I get so darned busy that I "forget" to post for 6 days?? I actually didn't forget, the days just snuck away from me. I've been so busy with product development, marketing, tracking inventory and photo marathon (do you love the fancy descriptions??) that this blog just kind of fell to the bottom :(
Anyway, here is a little something that I made a couple of days ago.

I love the ribbed cuffs. I will have to try these in cotton and in thinner yarn too, for spring.

Crocheted boot cuffs

I am so into scalloped edges lately.

Crocheted boot cuffs

Crocheted boot cuffs

Do ya love the boots? My dad gave them to me for my 12th birthday. April 3 will be the 10th anniversary of his passing.
They are officially VINTAGE, lol! I will never sell these. My kids might, after I am dead. I hope not, though.

Crocheted boot cuffs

Crocheted boot cuffs

Personally, I prefer these folded over the top of the boot. That's why I make them so long.

Crocheted boot cuffs 

I found this little beauty at a garage sale last weekend. Lemons are compliments of my kids. The neighbor of a family member has a Meyer lemon tree in their front yard and the kids swiped these for me. I do hate when food falls to the ground from trees and goes wasted :(

Meyer lemons in a vintage amber bowl

Ever since my mom passed her Indiana amber thumbprint serving plates to me, I have been super into amber depression glass. I usually only buy the thumbprint by Indiana but this cutie was calling to me. And she was only $1! Can't beat that.......

Meyer lemons in a vintage amber bowl

I love (love, love, love) adding the juice of a meyer to my water. These lemons really are sweeter. I have a Eureka lemon tree in my backyard, those lemons are pucker-ific in water. I've been saving the seeds from these meyers, we'll see if I can make an actual tree from them. Wish me luck! 

Crocheted Sea Pennies

     I got the idea from Grow Creative to make a sea penny bracelet. Sea pennies are the easiest if you know how to crochet a circle. It's basically the first ring of a crocheted hat, lol! She hot glued her pennies to felt. Totally cute. But I always find a way to burn myself with hot glue. So I sewed the pennies together with the same yarn. They're pretty solid. I then crocheted some ties. Totally cute if I may say so myself. Since it's my blog, I may.

Crocheted sea penny bracelet 

Crocheted sea penny bracelet 

I got really into it and added beads! The beads were crocheted in on the first stitch of the first DC in the circle. I then threaded the tails on to a needle and secured the button better.

Crocheted sea penny bracelet 

I didn't mean to make the ties contrast but I ran out of the orange cotton. I rather like it this way.

Crocheted sea penny bracelet 

This is probably my last foray into the beaded version, it does take longer. And I'm a tad on the lazy side.

Crocheted sea penny bracelet 

What do you think? Would you wear these?

Linking up with Savvy Southern Style and others listed on my right sidebar ----->>>

Amazing Amigurumi Dogs

If you have ever spent any time on this blog at all, you will know that I love (LOVE) animals. I have *ahem*

• three dogs - Murphy, Rusty and Sandy
• five cats - Autumn, Fromage, Bandit, Beethoven and Honey
• four red eared slider turtles - Tina, Charlie, Keke and Pepe
• one amazon parrot - Geordilynn

Everyone will make an appearance on my Instagram here and there....Rusty, Murphy, Beethoven, Bandit and Honey are already there.

So you can imagine my surprise when I was perusing Etsy and Wanelo and found these adorable crocheted dogs. I fancy myself a somewhat decent hooker but to make these dogs, that is an impressive skill level, one that I aspire to.

Um, hello??? This looks just like my late Mary dog, a beautiful little pit bull.

Crocheted American Staffordshire Terrier

This looks like my childhood cocker spaniel, Mindee. We had Mindee all through my teen years and she died at the age of 16.

Crocheted Cocker Spaniel

This could almost be our Sandy. I believe Sandy to be a pharoah hound mix, closely related to the italian greyhound. She even has the white tipped tail!

Crocheted Italian Greyhound

This looks just like my Rusty!!! He isn't a labradoodle although he might be a terri-poo. Who knows?

Crocheted Labradoodle

She can even do merle colors? Now that is impressive. 

Crocheted Australian Shepherd

You have to check out this store.

Downton Abbey Inspired Ruffle Brim Cloche

Have you ever tried to unravel a sweater? There are some great tutorials out there on how to do this. I just wish I could hand my sweaters over and have the darned tutorial just do this for me, lol! It's just not easy. I did get some fantastic yarn from a sweater I took apart, not sure if it was worth the trouble. You tell me, k? I made a beanie, a baby cocoon and this ruffle brim cloche and I still have some yarn left!

Edwardian style cloche

It's a pattern I made up, I will have to write this down sometime.

Edwardian style cloche

After I make another cloche, of course, so I can remember how I did this!

Edwardian style cloche

Do you see the detail on the brim? This was fun to do.

Edwardian style cloche

I love the ombre-ish pattern of the yarn.

Edwardian style cloche

This is a very warm hat. This would be fantastic for those in the midwest right now, not so much for here in California.

Edwardian style cloche

I will show the other stuff soon. I just need to find a baby to model the cocoon!