Monday Morning Inspiration/The Beret

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine and I were shopping, not for anything in particular, just going in and out of some fun shops. We popped into a store that sold shoes (I can't walk past a shoe store without going in!!!), tights and hats. We both spotted the cutest little hat, more of a cloche style. She pulled it on, and it looked so cute. About that time, her husband walked in and said, "you aren't going to wear that hat." I felt like telling him to walk right back to where he came from. Rather than reply to him, she handed the hat to me and told me to try it on. Now, I love hats, and maybe it's because I love hats that they always seem to look as though they were made for me. As she looked at me in the hat, she said, "Oh, I love that hat, but I guess I don't need it." Since I too loved the hat, I decided to take a gamble and purchase the hat as I thought she would change her mind, and if she didn't, I had a super cute new hat. When we got back to my house, she walked into the bedroom and then came back out with the money for the hat. My gamble paid off :) And...she wore the hat a number of times before while they were with us. 

What is it about hats that draws us in, but then makes us hesitate? There was a time that we wouldn't leave the house without a hat on our head. 

A few weeks ago, I saw a delightful piece on a Sunday morning program that I enjoy. It was all about the French beret, and not just any, the Laulhere Beret. I've attached the video below. Take note of how the employees banded together to save the company. Just such an incredible story.



For most Americans, when we think of a beret, we visualize something like the picture below, a svelte Parisian woman in a striped top with a red beret.

Another lovely look, a sweet blouse, tweed trousers, and a plaid wool beret. The hat just seems to pull it all together.

Another lovely, polished look. This beret, if not from Laulhere, it's the type that they make. If you think you might like to have one for yourself, I found THIS SITE that carries the Laulhere label.  

Berets can be made in any type of fabric, even hand knitted.

They can be customized with a wide trim. You can find this hat HERE on Etsy.

If you enjoy needle felting, a beret will lend itself to anything the mind can imagine! 

The above hats came from a cute shop called Elves In Glass. Click on the link to see other delight concoctions.

And how cute is this?!! Is she a fox or not?!!! :) I found this hat HERE. Just so whimsical!

After watching the video, I too want a Laulhere beret. A hat company with that type of history is well worth owning at least one for myself. But...if you would like something a little more customized, you can find my free beret pattern HERE.  

I think berets are the perfect hat. They help keep your head warm when it's cold or chilly out. They look great with everything. And they can easily be popped off and thrown in your bag if you would rather not wear them all day. 

Oh, and one last thing...whenever I wear my berets, I get so many compliments. Nothing can turn a day around like a lovely compliment :)

The Beret/A Video

Last November, I made this beret pattern available and so many of you have asked for the pattern. Berets are easy to make and fun to wear.

I found this picture and thought I would include it to give you an idea of the comparison of how I wear my beret and how this model is wearing her hat. Her's has not been pulled down quite as far as I have mine. In the video, you'll see why I pull mine down a little more. Both look to be the same size.  

In the video, I also show you a beret that I made out of fur, the real thing. It was left over from a coat that I repurposed. 

Like I said in the video, if you have any other questions, be sure to ask. I'll do my best to answer. 
If you would like the pattern, just email me at sewbussted@yahoo.com and I'll send it your way.
You can find the post I did on fur HERE. There will be more :)

Monday Morning Inspiration/Gift Giving Made Easy

It's been a rather tense morning as my dog Little Bit is not feeling well. As I drove her to the vet's office this morning, I couldn't help but shed a few tears. She's 15 years old, so our time together is drawing to a close, faster of course than I would like. The good news is that the vet feels that she will pop back. So today, I am making some special food for her and just staying close in case she needs me. 
Since I am in the kitchen today, I decided to make up a few jars of Fire and Ice pickles for friends and relatives who have been asking for a new jar. If you like pickles, and you like a bit of heat, these pickles are just the best. I originally posted the recipe HERE. They do have a little kick, but only a little.

The pickles are so easy to make up and make a wonderful "homemade from your kitchen" gift. And, they cost next to nothing to make! The only problem is that once you give someone a jar, they will want more. So print out the recipe
on a cute card and attach it to the jar. Maybe they'll get the message that they can make their own jar next time...maybe :)
I have 4 batches going at the moment and I'm thinking that I may need another 4. At least they are easy to make!

Remember too that I have a few free patterns available that make up quickly, and make a wonderful gift. The poinsettia napkin ring can now be downloaded by just clicking HERE. They really do give a holiday table a special touch.

I also have the Beret and the slipper pattern available. Sadly, I have not figured out how to get the patterns onto a downloadable file, at least not yet. But if you would like the pattern, just send me a note and I will get it out to you as quickly as I can, sewbussted@yahoo.com. If by chance you don't hear from me, please try again as sometimes the messages go to my spam folder and I may miss it.

Hope you are having a lovely day. 
Just remember to enjoy the simple moments, as in time, they become our most precious memories.
Rhonda

Fabulous Free Pattern Friday/The Beret

Yep!, the title is right, it's actually a Free Pattern Friday post, and what's even better, I'm not going to make you do the drafting on this one.

I do love hats. They finish off a garment so beautifully and they keep my head warm. I especially like berets. They're small, look great, easy to fold up and put in your purse if you decide to take it off. Just an all around great hat. Not so great on keeping your ears warm, but you can't always have everything!

I've looked for a free beret pattern, thought it might make a nice Thrifty Thursday post, but I couldn't find one that was what I wanted or that printed out correctly. I know what will happen now that I drafted out my own pattern, someone will email me with a link to the perfect pattern, and that will be great. But in the meantime, if you would like my beret pattern, just click HERE.

My head size is a medium head size and this pattern fits my head.
What I will send to you is 1/4 of the pattern. It's a little too large to get 1/2 of the pattern on an 81/2" x 11" piece of paper. So once you download the pattern, you will then need to either use a larger piece of paper, or tape 2 pieces together. Fold the paper in half and then cut the pattern out. You will then have 1/2 of the pattern which can be cut on the fold of your fabric. 

Once you have cut out your pattern, cut out the fabric, lay the 2 pieces one on top of the other. Sew along the outer edge with a 1/4" seam allowance.  

Cut the pattern out of lining fabric and lay the 2 pieces together just as you did with the fashion fabric. 

Once the hat has been sewn together, stay stitch along the edge of the opening.

To help keep the seam smooth, I like to edge stitch on either side of the seam. I do not edge stitch the lining.

Slide the lining into the hat and then sew around the opening 1/4" away from the edge. 

To finish the inside edge of the hat, you will need 23" of petersham ribbon. Look closely at the picture below, petersham is quite different from grosgrain ribbon. Rather than a straight finished edge, petersham has the small ridges along the top and bottom. This allows the ribbon to move around a curved edge. 

Prior to sewing the petersham into my hats, I actually use an iron and give the ribbon a curve.

It will end up looking like a very happy smile.

Clip around the opening of the hat. Clip only to the 1/4" stitching line and not through it. It's very important to not clip through the stitching line. 

Divide the opening into 4 equal parts.

 Sew the petersham together with a 1/4" seam and then divide it into 4 equal sections.

Match the outside curved edge of the ribbon to the 1/4" stitching line. The ribbon will need to be eased into the circle. If you find that the ribbon is just too much to ease in, you can take it up another 1/2", so 1/4" on either side of the center back. 

Edge stitch the ribbon to the opening of the hat.

 The hat is finished and ready to wear.

Once I get my coat finished, I'll post pictures of me wearing the beret. I think the 2 will look quite nice together.