Knitted Revamped Earrings with Crystals!

With just a few knit stitches and some added sparkle, an otherwise undesirable pair of earrings are easily made Mod. Dig into that jewelry box for a tired, ol' pair of tarnished hoops and some scrap yarn, and turn them into revamped ear baubles. No waste + New Wearables= Good Stuff. Here's how!

Materials

Old Pair of Hoop Earrings

Scraps of Sock Yarn or Sport-Weight

Two, Size US 2(2.75mm) or 3(3.25mm) Double-Pointed Knitting Needles

Tapestry Needle

Fabric Fusion (optional)

Tulip Cordless Heat Setting Tool

Iron-on Glass Crystals

Knitting Directions (Make 2)

Cast-on 3 stitches onto left-hand needle. Lay needle with stitches on top of earring, at one end of hoop.

Take the working yarn (the one connected to the ball) and bring it UNDER the hoop; knit stitches. The yarn will now be connected to the earring and the stitches will be on the right-hand needle.

Slide stitches to opposite end of needle and switch hands so the needle with the stitches and earring are in your left hand again. Bring working yarn back around behind the stitches and under the earring and knit the stitches again (this technique is known as knitting i-cord). Continue in this manner until earring is covered.

Bind off. Weave in ends. If necessary, add a dab of Liquid Fusion to the back, to keep woven-in ends in place.

Bejeweling How-to

Place a glass crystal onto desired place on the earring. Place pressure on crystal with the hot, heat setting tool for 15-20 seconds (or until secure). Repeat around; evenly spacing crystals.

Craft.Rock.Love,

Vickie

Vickie Howell is a mother, designer, author and crafty spokesperson.  Her latest book, AwareKnits: Knit & Crochet Projects for the Eco-Conscious Stitcher, hits stores in October. For more info go to:www.vickiehowell.com

Winner of Custom Dye Color Kit Announced!

Congratulations are in order to blogger Arlene of Altered By Me. She won the Custom Dye Color Kit contest here on our blog!

Here's what Arlene had to say about what she loved to create:

"I love to create mixed media + altered art using paper and fabrics. The ILoveToCreate product I love the most is the tie dye kits. My daughter got one for Christmas and we had a blast with it."

Thanks Arlene for participating and thanks to all who left us a comment and shared in the iLoveToCreate love! If you are dyeing (yes, we meant the pun) to get your hands on one of these kits, you can purchase one straight through our web site. Click here for more info!

We are always having fun contests in the works! So check back shortly and we'll be offering up some more fun stuff to win!

Pretty in Pink Altered T-Shirt by Margot Potter for I Love to Create

Pretty in Pink Altered T-Shirt
Click on image to view close up!

This swanky top began life as a Fruit of the Loom boy’s value pack t-shirt. My daughter was mortified when I stood in the middle of the boy’s aisle at the store store and suggested OUT LOUD that we buy them and decorate them for her to wear. Can you imagine?

What is the fun of being a parent if you can’t humiliate your kid in public?

All joking aside...I wanted something with a more generous cut so I had more fabric with which to work. I always have a plan, even if it appears evil to my tortured teen.

Mwahahahahaha...

That was my evil parent laugh.

Okay then...here’s the project!

Pretty in Pink Altered T-shirt
Teen Craft Project
Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter for I Love to Create

Materials
Fruit of the Loom bulk pack white boy’s t-shirt
Black grosgrain ribbon ½” thick
3 safety pins
Tulip Fabric Spray Paint Hot Pink, Soft Pink, Violet Pink
Tulip Metallics Dimensional Fabric Paint Black
Crafty Chica Glitter Be Bop Black
Aleene’s Stop Fraying
Complements Border Stencil Graceful

Tools
Stencil brush
Bubble wrap
Fabric scissors
T-shirt form or cardboard insert to slide between tshirt layers while decorating
Heat tool

1. Pre-wash t-shirt. Slide your t over an insert or a form. This prevents the paints from seeping on to the back of your shirt.

2. Use your fingers to scrinkle the shirt on the left side. Spray a thin wash of each color, don’t overspray! Work paint from left to right, making coverage less dense on the right side.



3. Rescrinkle (it’s suggested that you wear gloves for this step.) Paint another thin wash of your colors. Allow to dry.

4. Pour black fabric paint on bubble wrap...spread with brush.
5. Dab on t, filling in the center of the spray painted areas. Allow to dry.

6. Place stencil on an angle across painted part of t.

7. Use stencil brush to apply black paint through stencil, dabbing the brush as you work to prevent paint from slipping under stencil.

8. While paint is still wet and stencil is still on your shirt. Pinch glitter on wet paint and gently rub in with your finger. Use a heat tool to adhere glitter, don't overheat or you'll melt your stencil! Remove stencil after paint has dried.

9. Cut neckline from shirt, leaving a 1” border on each shoulder. Cut along the top seam on the right border.

10. Use safety pins to secure this closed.

11. Cut along the top of each sleeve working up to the seam.

12. Cut a small slit on each side of the opening on the bottom of each sleeve.

13. Thread with a ribbon, tie ribbon and cut ends on the diagonal.

14. Cut a small slit on each side of the seam at the shoulder on the left side. Thread and tie another ribbon..

15. Use Aleene’s Stop Fraying on ribbon ends and allow to dry. Remove ribbons and safety pins when washing shirt.