japanese fashion – McLaughlin Designs

Knit Bow Tie

elisa — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 06:24:00 +0000

I have had the idea for a while to make a pattern for knit bow ties. All three of my children were asked to be in a friend’s wedding. She had found the most amazing newsie hats at the Gap. I asked how she felt about the boys wearing knit bow ties and she loved the idea. Here are some photos of the bow ties. I will post more of the wedding photos when the photographer posts them.

BOW TIES ARE COOL! Need I say more?

He is obviously thrilled to be dressed up.

I matched the color-way (MadelineTosh DK Robin’s Egg) to the invites and the bridesmaid dresses. The smaller bow tie was for my 2 year old son, and the larger was for three and a half year old son.

If you don’t know how to knit I am happy to knit custom bow ties for weddings. Just email me for pricing [email protected]

Holding daddy’s hand.

I also crocheted matching headbands for the two girls to go with the bow ties. I am anxiously awaiting photos from the wedding because all the kids were adorable. After the wedding, since I don’t think my boys will be wearing their bow ties very often, I switched things up and made them into bow clips for Fiona.

I am also writing the pattern to include sock weight yarn with several different styles of bow tie. For adults as well as children. Here is an earlier style I knit up for my sister.

Stay tuned for more…

Fall Color Palette

elisa — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:39:00 +0000

Here are some colors I am loving for fall. I picked up these yarns at Twisted PDX. I visit Twisted any time I am in Portland OR. I love everyone who works there and their selection is wonderful. This yarn store is where I received the encouragement to start designing.

MadelineTosh DK color-ways Burnished, Fjord, Plucky Knitter’s MCN Primo Color-way Indy’s Silhouette, and MadelineTosh DK Winter Wheat

Animal sweaters…dark colors…navy is back!

I cannot wait to knit a cowl in this…MadelineTosh Marino DK…I love this yarn.

More fall colors…

The lace peeking out under Lauren’s skirt is a slip I made myself that I will do a tutorial on in the future. It was so simple to make and adds a fun feel to so many different outfits.

The Bohemian Cinch Headwrap is in one of my favorite Skein Yarns color-ways Tribal. I am in love with the colors of fall!

DIY: Braided Bohemian Headband

elisa — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:14:08 +0000

Another headband tutorial! Be sure to check out the Single Strand Lace Headband and Double Strand Lace Headband. For this tutorial this is what you will need.

Materials:

20 inches of three types of lace or ribbon. You may want to double up if one of your strands of lace or ribbon is significantly narrower than the others. As you can see in the picture I used two strands of the narrowest type of ribbon to even out everything.

Scissors

2.5 inches of elastic

Sewing Machine (glue will work also)

EXTRAS:

If you want to make the flower extras you will need. A silk flower, a button, some extra ribbon, a couple of wooden beads, and a crocheted doily. I purchased all my items from JoAnn’s Fabrics.

Ok, Lets get started! Tape your three equal lengths of ribbon and lace to a flat surface.

Braid the lengths and tape them together at the other end. The length of the braid should now be around 18 inches. Pull the taped ends off the table and fold it around the end of the braid so both sides are now taped.

Sew the ends of the braid to either end of the elastic. If you have a sewing machine make sure you do two rows of stitching on each side for the extra reinforcement.

Once you have done this you can add some ribbon around the outside of the place where the braid and the elastic intersect. As shown in this picture.

Now you have a beautiful braided headband. If you want to add the flower so it looks just like the picture here are the instructions for the extras.

Take your silk flower apart. Pull the center from the petals and carefully separate the petals.

Fold up the doily and as you sew the button through the hole in the center of the flower also sew the doily to the back.

Also sew your extra pieces of ribbon to the back. I threaded a few wooden beads onto the ribbon and tied the ends before I attached the ribbon.

Once you have attached the doily and the ribbon to the back of the flower tie all of your extra frill to the braided headband.

Wear and enjoy!

Dandelion Photo Shoot

elisa — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:59:59 +0000

My sister, the world traveler, is in the states for a month or two and has been visiting me. We are like minded in our love of photography. My sister Natalie is a, singer, dancer, writer, actress, and photographer. We both love fashion and creative photo shoots. It is so refreshing to have my sister with me because I can envision a photograph and create it WITHOUT being my own model. We found a beautifully huge dandelion while out on a walk. It inspired this photo shoot. I used it as a bit of a product shoot also the fingerless gloves pictured are a new pattern I have been working on and will shortly send to be tested. I am continually inspired by my surroundings and I hope these photos inspire you to create.

And a few more…

Cheers! More photos to come…

PALM

elisa — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:00:42 +0000

I have many sources for inspiration. As many of you have noticed Japanese Fashion is one of the main sources. When my sister recently returned from a year of leaving in Japan she brought back with her a Japanese Fashion magazine/book. It was titled PALM and I was instantly in love. You may remember “the girl in the terrarium” photo, that was the cover of the latest PALM issue. I have been trying to get my hands on the latest issue but the website is in Japanese so I couldn’t figure out how to purchase it. I went out on a limb and contacted the magazine directly and they are sending me the last two issues! I am so excited and I will definitely post pics when they get here. PALM produces breathtaking videos as well as web issues that are brilliant! Here are pictures from a few issues that I absolutely love the look of. I have included links in case you want to see more of each issue.

Love So Sweet

See more of this web issue…

Place of Repose

See more of this web issue…

[123456]

To see more of this web issue…

There are also some amazing videos on the PALM website.

The Endless Braid is Here

elisa — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 06:57:35 +0000

After testing, formatting, photographing, and LOTS of knitting the Endless Braid pattern is here! This two-in-one pattern includes both the “Winter Ear Warmer” and the “Summer Headband.” Now for sale on Ravelry and in my Etsy Store

Endless Braid

This pattern includes many extra variations…

Here are some more photos ENJOY!

I have had so much fun re-connecting with my best friend and younger sister Natalie Emmons. She has been in Osaka, Japan for the last year performing at Universal Studios Japan, also she has been pursuing a music career. I am so thankful she was willing to model for some photos of this pattern. More pictures to come!

WINTER!

elisa — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:58:30 +0000

So winter is definitely here. There is supposed to be a huge snow storm here in the mountains this weekend YIKES! I guess I best get to knitting up some more warm delights! I have been making up my list of gifts for people and trying to decide what to make and what to buy. I don’t have as much time as I used to so probably a little of both. For those of you in the same fix I have a little Holiday fun. In my Etsy store for a LIMITED TIME you can purchase three of my patterns for $11.00 This will allow you to get a few more patterns for your money. Most of my designs are quick knits and great for gifts. Also I found a few fun photos of winter fashion I really want this scarf but since I usually shrink away from the price of shipping from other countries I will probably just try to make it.

I really want this winter look…

More Inspiration!

elisa — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:37:56 +0000

Just thought I would share these two photos. I LOVE Japanese fasion. Also, thank you to those who comment…it is fun to hear your thoughts!

Inspiration

elisa — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:21:57 +0000

I have been working my poor little wrists to death with custom orders. Here are a few pictures. The first one is in Naural and the second in Chapel Stone colorway.

And just for fun here are a few pictures of some outfits I have been checking out on a Japanese site. I get a lot of my inspiration from Japanese fashion. My goal is to be able to buy direct from Japan at this point I am to afraid of the shipping costs!

Let me know what you think!