i've long been a collector of vintage pins. maybe because my mom had such a great assortment in her jewelry box as i was growing up and, as a result, they felt like the item to complete any smart outfit. or it could be because they're a bit of a neglected bit of jewelry, unless they are to indicate the support of a cause or involvement in an organization. whatever the reason, i've always been a fan and they're one of my favorite things to find at rummage sales and second hand stores. for a while i was fascinated with circle pins, which were worn to indicate the purity of the wearer. i also love enameled flowers, chunky and cheerful. i generally wear them on sweaters, or to help keep wrap dresses modestly closed. i also have them as decoration, pinned to a piece of calico fabric on a dowel that hangs in my bathroom. they've even been known to find their way onto my cocktail hats.
this weekend, i was trying to think of other ways they could be worn and thought, 'what about on a crocheted collar?' i've seen collars being worn as necklaces, so i took up my hook and some crochet cotton and started perusing one of my edging books. as i worked, i found that by hooking my foundation row through the back chain loops, a natural curve formed, perfect to go around the neck. and, of course, once i started, i couldn't stop. it's a perfect instant gratification project: each collar took me about 30 minutes and allowed my to really practice my chart reading (i'm less advanced in reading crochet charts than knitting).
the next part was even more fun: pairing the perfect pin with each collar. aside from the joy of looking through a beloved collection, seeing how well suited the pins were for the collars was a lovely discovery.
at some point, i need to write the patterns out and add them to my Ravelry shop, i just need to find a way to create the charts. this has quickly become my new favorite project, and i'm kind of excited to debut them in the world. there's something so charming about these necklaces, and i feel very inspired to play around with other closure and lace options. maybe a drop charm in the center front, with a jeweler's closure in the back? i think there's some experimenting to do!
i don't really have anything philosophical to say in this entry. really, it's just a bit of a show and tell. and i do plan on posting the patterns soon. who knows, maybe i'll start a new trend! or maybe it will just serve as another quirky clothing choice of my own. in any case, it's a super fun project. and now, i'm on the hunt for more pins. hey, at least they don't take up as much space as yarn!
These are awesome! You must market these strongly. I haven't seen anyone making these.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea.