King Soleil

How to Upcycle a Mirror with Crochet

You will need: Mirrors (or frames), Yarn, Hook, Glue Gun, Tacks or Pins

For Backing (optional): Fabric, Ribbon, Pins, Sewing Machine or Glue Gun 

These wide wooden framed aqua mirrors recently came into my possession, similar to many, many, many mirrors and frames I find in my thrift store hunts.  I decided to try my hand at modernizing them in a new way.  Paint?  Been there.  Collage?  Done that.  Applique?  Ugggghhh.  Crochet? Hmmm…YES!

I have this gorgeous ivory Peruvian wool yarn (Stitch Nation) with amazing texture that I thought would be perfect.  I chose a larger K hook to make bigger stitches and let the aqua frame peek through a bit.  Start with a simple chain, pinning around the inside of the frame as you go for measure.  

Count the number of stitches between each pin or tack.  Join your row (make sure it is not twisted) and remove from the frame.  I crocheted this piece non-stop, without slip stitching/joining each round, but you could do that if you prefer.

Remember how many stitches were in between each pin/tack?  Ok, you need this number (estimate an equal number for all four sides if they are uneven) to make your corners.  Start single crocheting (sc). Once you reach where the tack once was, (sc, ch1, sc) to make a corner.  Do this on all four sides so you have 4 corners.  Sc as many round as your frame is wide, or as wide as you would like to go before switching to a new stitch, making sure to (sc, ch1, sc) in each corner.

I decided to switch to a double crochet (dc) after several rounds.  Don’t forget to (dc, ch1, dc) in the corners!  Once I reached the edge of the frame I completed another two rounds to wrap around the frame edge.  

 

Voila!  Super modern, textural and pretty enough to go from a minimalist decor  right to a shabby chic cottage.  If you are like me and like unexpected details (one of my favorite things ever is Dolce and Gabbana crazy prints inside their solid  colored coats, LOVE!) then you can add some of that jazz by finishing the back.

I measured a piece of toile cotton fabric, folded over the edges, and pinned to make clean edges.  You can either sew the edges or bust out the glue gun and glue away.  Once the edges are in place, glue to the back of the frame.  If you are scared of a glue gun, like I am, it is worth the occasional burns for this project.  Heat it up!  You’re gonna need it.  Once the fabric is in place, poke a hole for  the hanger.  I took mustard colored ribbon, made a little bow and glued it around the hole.  Pretty!  

Ok so now you have your backing done, pin your crochet piece to the front of the mirror, tucking the first round into the inner part of the frame right up to the mirror.        Get out the glue gun and slowly start gluing the yarn to the frame.  Move SUPER slow, making sure not to do the 1st grader thing and spill glue over everywhere.  Press down each inch at a time until cool (yeah…ow).              

 Once the center is secure, glue a strip from each corner to the outside and press.  Stretch the crochet piece a bit to fit around the sides and began glueing around the outside of the frame.

 

Outdated, unfinished, thrift store mirrors, here I come!!!

You can purchase this mirror and lots of other upcycled and crochet treasures in  my Etsy shop!  www.etsy.com/shop/kingsoleil

For more How-To’s check out: www.kingsoleil.com

(Source: etsy.com)

Sometimes I Wish I Married a Woman

Me: OMFG TJ (the husband)!! Look what I just found at the thrift shop!! It’s the Giant City Balenciaga Handbag!! In like perfect condition!!!!! Look at this and that and this! alkdlakdjslakasdaosdhsodh!!!!!!!

Tj: umm ok?

Me: I paid 8 dollars for it. Retail it’s like $2,000. Like 2K. EIGHT DOLLARS!!!!!     ::::::huge smile::::::

Tj: Oh. So you are gonna sell it, right?

Me: ——————————- :::smile gone::: ————-WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU??!!!???!!??!!

Tj: ok, i’m going for a jog.

Sometimes I wish I married a woman.

Upcycled Cashmere Dress. Just for Soleil

When I came across this pale pink cashmere women’s sleeveless sweater, I knew I had to have it for my upcycled children’s line.  Its exorbitantly soft luxuriousness called to me and I glided across the room, staring down anyone in my path.  The second I touched its knit, it had me.  Shut up, just shut up sweater.  You had me at hello.

Very rarely do I come across a cashmere that has been laundered properly to use for my upcycled line, and when I do, it is like striking gold.  Mama loved you, sweater.  I fought between making it into a baby blanket, or a baby dress and children’s shirt.  In the end, I just couldn’t break up its pieces, like a litter of puppies, it wanted to stay together, so I let it be.  

After resizing the top, I sewed on this super cool, super mod button I have been dying to use to the neck, in order to keep it away from the little face that would be now be wearing the dress.  Keeping the other side free to stand up, like the original turtleneck modernizes the style a bit.  

I tried something new and gathered the skirt on one side, leaving the other side straight.  I would have loved to have more of this fabric to make the skirt super full, but alas, you learn to live with this pitfall of upcycling; falling in love with a material you cannot get more of.  C’est la vie.  

I sewed the gathered skirt to the resized top and  felt it needed something.  Rummaging through my yarns, I spotted an organic cotton pink skein of loveliness that matched perfectly.  ”You complete me”, sweater cooed to said yarn.  

I crocheted a waist band and a super big bow and hand sewed them to the dress. Voila.  And then Soleil saw the dress.  ”Oh, mama, I love it!  It is like a sleeping beauty dress!”  Her little face lit up while simutaneously stripping out of her clothes…”Can I try it on?  Is it for babies or big girls?”  (Soleil always gets disappointed when she sees a dress I am making for the shop that isn’t her size).  

She slipped into the 100% cashmere dress, which happened to fit her perfectly, and started skipping to and fro, rubbing her belly and wriggling around like a little princess Mexican jumping bean.  ”Oh mama, it is so soft mama, soooo soft” and I thought, “Ok, how terrible of a mother would I be to take this dress off of her and sell it in the shop? Maybe this one was just meant to stay in our home forever.”

And so, the pink cashmere upcycled dress, became Soleil’s dress.  

To see more of my upcycled children’s line that wasn’t claimed by Soleil, visit www.etsy.com/shop/kingsoleil  

(Source: kingsoleil.com)