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Blue Corduroy sun hat modeled by @ashley.neelands
Invest in a wide brim sun hat! A hat with good sun coverage is worth it's weight in gold. Not only does this wide brim work to shade your face, but your chest, shoulders and upper back will thank you too.
Read moreHow cute are these mommy and mini matching bucket hats! Ready to up your beach day hat game? Head on over to the shop to find your new favorite hat, and why not find a matching one for your little while you're at it!
Linen Bucket hats from newborn to adult sizes in a variety of colors just made summer that much better!
“Maxima”, worsted weight pure merino wool by Manos Del Uruguay in color Jelly Bean.
WIP (Work In Progress), the process of knitting: Pollen hat by Andrea Mowry in Mano’s Maxima yarn.
Pollen Hat by Andrea Mowry, stitch detail with Manos Maxima yarn.
Finished Object (FO), one of the many reasons to be a knitter.
The first element of knitting is the collecting of the materials. Yarn stashes and needle collections are no joke! Some people even stop at this first element of knitting and never seem to progress on to the actual act of knitting. They choose, however, to increase their collection of yarn as true connoisseurs of fiber.
The second element is the process of knitting. The sitting for hours, rhythmically clicking your needles together, fondling the yarn and solving the puzzle of the pattern. This is the part of knitting that can be so relaxing and calming. It’s where all your other cares fall away and it’s just you and your project. This is where I love to be. It’s not even as important to me what I’m making, as long as I’m making.
Not everyone knits for that relaxed state of mind though. The third element to knitting is the tangible finished product. Some people knit because they really need a sweater that fits just right, or a gift that needs to be given. They don’t necessarily love the process of knitting, but the finished product is worth the effort for them.
Pattern: Pollen Hat by Andrea Mowry
Yarn: Maxima in color Jelly Bean by Manos Del Uruguay.
Happy Knitting!
xo Emily
I’m not one for writing up a list of New Year’s resolutions, and I’ve never picked a “word of the year” before. Don’t get me wrong…I LOVE the beginning of a new year, fresh starts, and getting back on track with good habits.
But this year a word just came to me. And it feels so right.
This word comes from my struggles in getting my rhythm back in my small hand made business and life habits in general after our move this last summer. My habits at the old house weren’t falling back into place at our new house.
I have been wanting to take my creative business down a different road for many years now and was feeling stuck on how to get out of the comfort zone I had been in making and selling baby hats. I love making hats, which is why it has been hard to head down a different path.
I think of the roots as being the life force of a plant. Without healthy, solid roots, the plant is not going to thrive. But you can’t see the roots, they are underground, behind the scenes.
I’ll still be sharing, I’ll still be creating, I’ll still be showing up. Things may not even look different from the outside. Just know, that a lot of growth is happening in the roots.
This simple Heirloom Bonnet Crochet Pattern I made years ago is the best quick bonnet pattern for beginners or advanced crocheters. Quick litlle projects are easy to carry along in your beach bag and don’t require too much focused attention, so you can let your mind daydream while watching the waves roll in.
Cotton yarn is my go to for sunny beach day projects because it doesn’t over heat you while your working in the sun like wool tends to do. No one wants a big wool afghan blanket draped over them when it’s 80 degrees out!
I decided this hand painted cotton yarn from Wool and the Gang in color Aperol Orange would be a fun yarn to work up while sitting on the beach. Those colors are fabulous!
The more I crochet and knit, the more I understand how important test swatching for gauge really is. Without making a test swatch before you begin your project, your really just gambling that the project will be the size you hope it to be. One persons stitches are never exactly the same as another’s.
Gauge defined: “Stitches per inch times the desired number of inches will determine the size”
make it on the needles and yarn you will be using for the project
use the same pattern stitch specified
make sure you’re relaxed
must be at least 4” wide
don’t try to count the stitches within the swatch, instead, divide the total number of stitches in the swatch by the width of the piece.
Once you’ve got your pattern, your yarn, the right needles to get the right gauge, you’re ready to hit the beach and start your relaxing weekend baby hat crochet project!
I love this pattern for many reasons, one of them being the simple stitches used to make a functional and cute product. It starts with a magic circle, continues in the round with single crochet, and then the main body of the hat is worked up quickly with a double crochet stitch. The ribbed edging is made by working a version of the double crochet stitch called a “front” or “back post stitch”, which is where you work the double crochet around the post of the double crochet stitch from the previous row, either from the front or from the rear.
Looking for some help with your crochet skills? Check out my Crochet Lessons series!
You may want to try these fun FREE patterns for crochet and knitting!
Have fun crocheting at the beach!
xo Emily
“He rocked his hat camping too! I was really thankful to have something he could get wet and still keep wearing because we hung out in these hot springs all day. Thanks!” ~another happy customer
It would be a shame to feel like you couldn’t let your little ones play all day without sacrificing their delicate skin to the sun. With the proper gear, your adventurous babes can play until they’ve had their fill!
Camping with kids is so much fun! Especially when you remember the essentials, like plenty of water and snacks, comfy sleeping pads, and your sun hats!
Find your perfect hand made wide brim sun hat in an assortment of colors in my shop!
Also, check out my Pinterest Board Outdoor Nature Baby for some great hacks tips and tricks for camping with baby.
photos by Natalie from Happy Anything
Welcome to my upstairs living room sewing studio! I’m so thankful for this room and I’ll tell you why. I love being able to sew and not be secluded from what the rest of the family is doing. With my studio space right in the middle of our upstairs living space, I don’t have to feel shut away or disconnected from my people.
My husband built me this huge and beautiful sewing desk that fits perfectly into the corner of our a-frame room and has been such a great space for all my fabric and supply storage, cutting and ironing, and of course room for lots of sewing!
Our house is an a-frame, which means this upper room has that awkward triangle ceiling that can be challenging for certain furniture arrangements, and impossible for wall art. But this wall of windows with an ocean view makes up for it all! The natural light up here is amazing. It can heat up, but the curtains I made out of white sheets helps so much when the sun gets too intense in the later afternoon.
My work space is constantly evolving as my projects do. One of my latest improvements to this space is adding all the storage baskets to my sewing desk. It makes this space look much less cluttered, and more cohesive. I found all these at the thrift shop and spent less than $5 each!
I love having all my yarn on an open shelf. For years I kept it in plastic bins, and it was so hard to feel creative when all those colors and textures were hiding behind each other and smushed. This shelf keeps me inspired. I may not keep it super tidy, but even messy ends have a certain charm of their own, don’t you think?
I actually do still keep a plastic bin of yarn under my sewing desk. It’s all the yarn that I no longer am inspired by, or pieces that are too small for a size run of bonnets. I keep this older yarn around for our little friends who come visit. Most of the kids who come to my house know that there is yarn upstairs and a friendly lady (that’s me!) ready to teach the next stitch whenever they ask!
You can see how this space has evolved in these older blog posts…from when we first moved in and I was still sewing on an old fold out table to when my custom sewing desk was brand new.
Thanks for stopping by!
xo Emily
Every year I feel like I get better and better at saying no to the busy-ness, and yes to enjoying every bit of this season. At first, you may feel like you're missing out on whatever it is you said "no" to.
But soon you'll realize that saying "no" to something, means saying "yes" to something else...like a walk in the forest with your kids, time to sit in your favorite chair knitting, or making a long list of the blessings in your life!
xo Emily
p.s. Looking for some more winter outfit inspiration for your baby? I’ve got a bunch of ideas saved on my Winter Baby Style Pinterest Board, click on over and give it a follow!
Take a trip to one of our favorite beaches with us! Ruby takes the camera and catches a few glimpses of our trek to the beach and behind the scenes of our scarf photo shoot on location.
I love this video for so many reason! First of all, this memory of laughing with my daughter. Teens really are special people and I love getting to be a part of the awesome woman she is becoming. Of course, the fact that we love where we live and we can share this special place with you via video is another reason I love this. And getting to combine my two passions, nature and creating, into one visual explosion is beyond thrilling!
You already saw the outtakes to this video, and if you haven’t, it’s worth a good laugh. We really do have a lot of fun together! You can watch it here.
And to get your hands on one of these scarves, you’ll find them in my shop.
Or if you’d rather make your own, I’ve got a free pattern for you here!
xo Emily
Check out the new scarves in the shop here and as always, become a new subscriber to my newsletter and get 15% off your first purchase, and once you're on the list, you’ll be the first to know when new products are added to the shop.
This last spring, I decided it was time to work outside the home. I thought my girls were at an age (teenagers) where they would be better off with me gone more often. I thought I could go to work, still be a present wife and mother, still homeschool, and still enjoy my hobbies. But guess what? I was totally wrong. Personally, I can't do it all. Well, no, I take that back. I can do it all, but I decided I didn't want to.
And it wasn't just me, but it was my family too! They missed having me around. They missed the spur of the moment conversations that we used to have, dinners prepared where we all sat down together as a family to eat, just my presence in the house was missing even when everybody was independently doing their own thing. Every time I left for work, my heart would break, and I was reminded how these last few years of having my girls living at home were too priceless to not soak up every last bit.
It was a hard decision to make, believe me, because once I got to work, I had a whole new wonderful crew of friends who quickly became my second family. It was fun to be challenged to learn a new skill and to feel like I was part of a team. But my priorities were clear, family first.
As of this week, I am now officially working from home again, happily sewing hats and knitting bonnets. So thankful that I have this option. So thankful for the time I get to spend with my girls. So thankful that creating is in my soul!
Hand knit acrylic/wool blend yarn that's super soft, and the color of the sun-bleached seaside. Wears well in a garden, at the beach, climbing a mountain, or shopping downtown. Especially with a Thicket Clothing sweater on.
Find this pretty hat in the Blue Corduroy shop along with other hand knit beanies for all ages.
xo Emily
Be the first to know when new handmade products are added to the shop! Sign up for the Blue Corduroy Newsletter and get 15% off your next purchase!
Fall outfits can be so complicated! You want to be all cozy in a sweater and boots, but the sun is shinning too bright, so you wear that t-shirt, but then later in the afternoon you wonder why you're so chilly! Where's that sweater? Where's that bonnet? Little Addie here has is all figured out, onesie and bloomers on the bottom, cozy knit bonnet on the top, the perfect compromise!
Outfit details: Bonnet from Blue Corduroy // Bloomers from Rhinestones and Tutus // Onesie from Mini and Meep // Rattle from Banner Toys // Lovey from Moon Child Co.
Photos by the talented Sarah Reed of Two Three or Not Two Three
Be the first to know when new products are released! Sign up for the Blue Corduroy Newsletter and get 15% off your next purchase!
xo Emily
Motherly Wisdom: Never pass up a trip to visit a field full of sunflowers. And for a bonus, plant your own sunflower seeds next summer, you won't regret it! Here's some outfit inspiration to help get your babe in the mood.
Outfit details: Mustard Corduroy, Sherpa lined Bonnet by Blue Corduroy // Flower Frock by Sister Moth Shop // Leather Baby Shoes by Starry Knight Designs // Cable Knit Hand-dyed tights by Sawyer and Halle
For more fall baby style inspiration check out my Pinterest Board "Fall Baby Style".
Bonnets for little adventurers, nature lovers, and flower pickers. Handmade from quality materials, I hope that these bonnets will be passed down to siblings and cousins and grandkids, gathering memories and experiences with each sweet baby who wears it.
Outfit details: Sunbonnet by Blue Corduroy// Onesie and Bloomers by Sawyer and Halle// Blanket by Lou Lou and Company// Paci-clip by Templeton Silver
Photos by the lovely Sarah Reed of Two Three or Not Two Three
{lovely images by Joyeful Journey}
I told the Sun that I was glad
I'm sure I don't know why;
Somehow the pleasant way he had
Of shining in the sky,
Just put a notion in my head
That wouldn't it be fun
If, walking on the hill, I said
"I'm happy" to the Sun
by John Drinkwater from Favorite Poems Old and New
My favorite way to repurpose my girls' jeans is to make a cute new pair of boho style jean cutoff shorts. When their jeans get too short and too tight I've found a way to get one more season out of them by making jean cutoffs with an extra strip of fabric down the side!
1) Cut off your jeans (you can always cut these again a little shorter later, so I usually keep them a bit longer to start with)
2) Seam rip your sides. Up by the hips you'll probably find a lot of extra bar tacks and zig zags, just keep seam ripping. Have patience. When you get to the waist band, you'll need to cut through. (If these jeans still fit great in the waist and hips, but are too tight in the legs, check out this blog post for adding more room in the legs only "How to Make Your Skinny Jeans into Boot Cut Jeans")
3) Pick your favorite fabric and cut strips as long as your new shorts from waist to cut off edge, and as wide as you need to make the shorts fit comfortable plus seam allowance.
4) Sew these strips in right sides together. I like to taper in a bit up by the waist for a more flattering and comfortable fit. Be careful for any metal rivets (usually near the pockets) These guys are notorious needle breakers.
5) If you want your new cutoff to have a raw edge, I like to sew a straight line about 1/2" up to keep a tidy fringe, without an excess of unraveling.
These are so easy to make! You get to decide how short you want them, what color fabric to add, and how much wider they need to be to fit comfortably. I also feel like this is a pressure-free sewing project, since these jeans are already useless, you really have nothing to lose!
Follow me on Instagram to see all the pretty places Ginger will be wearing her new jean cutoff shorts @em_waechtler and @emily_bluecorduroy to see all the cute babies in Blue Corduroy sunhats!
Some more fun and quick clothing alteration DIY's you may want to check out Easy 3 step T-shirt to Tank Top DIY and How to Turn Your Skinny Jeans into Boot Cut Jeans.
You guys go play outside often. You have babies and kids of all ages. And you're very conscientious of the food you eat and the products you use on your precious family. That's why I asked YOU for your sunscreen recommendations!
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) says the safest way to prevent skin cancer is to stay covered up! Wear a sun hat, sunglasses, shirt, and find some shade. But we all know getting in the direct sun can't be avoided all together, and heck, I crave getting those rays directly on my skin (for short periods of time) it just feels so good!
1. Look for sunscreens that have Zinc Oxide and/or Titanium Oxide as the active ingredient. These are MINERAL SUNSCREENS and they rate high in the EWG ratings. "They are stable in sunlight, offer a good balance between protection from the two types of ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB) and don’t often contain potentially harmful additives."
2. Spf 30-50 offers adequate protection, even for those people most sensitive to sunburns. EWG research has found that an SPF rating higher than 50 can be misleading.
3. You want a sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB sun rays.
1. As handy as SPRAY SUNSCREENS can be with squirmy little bodies, they are actually not as effective as lotions. Most people don't get enough actually on the skin, and there is a risk of inhaling the sunscreen which is harmful for your lungs.
2. Similarly, the experts say that people who use STICK SUNSCREENS are often not getting enough of the sunscreen onto the skin to adequately protect against burning.
3. Harmful ingredients. Here are 3 ingredients you want to avoid:
Retinyl Palmitate is a form of Vitamin A and can harm your skin.
Oxybenzone is a hormone disruptor and allergen.
Methyliosthiazolinones (MI) was named skin allergen of the year in 2013 by the The American Contact Dermatitis Society.
BADGER spf 30, mineral based, pediatrician approved. Water resistant.
HONEST spf 50, mineral based, ideal for babies and sensitive skin. Water resistant.
ALBA spf 30, mineral based, fragrance free. Water resistant.
BEAUTY COUNTER spf 30, mineral based, good for the whole family. Water resistant.
BABYGANICS spf 50, mineral based, oraganic ingredients. Water resistant.
SUNBUM spf 30, mineral based, naturally sourced ingredients. Water resistant.
THINKBABY spf 50, mineral based, passes Whole Foods premium care requirements. Water resistant.
SURFACE PRODUCTS spf 30, mineral based, hypoallergenic. Water resistant.
BLUE LIZARD BABY spf 30, mineral based, Australian made. Bottle changes color in the sun!
AIRBONNE spf 30, mineral based, made with vitamins and botanicals. Water resistant.
CALIFORNIA BABY spf 30, mineral based, award winning. Water resistant.
NO-AD spf 50, mineral based, Skin Cancer Foundation Recommended. Water resistant.
NEUTRAGENA BABY spf 60, mineral based, won't sting eyes. Water resistant.
ALL GOOD PRODUCTS spf 30, mineral based, made with organic chamomile. Water resistant.
COCO BEE NATURALS spf 30, mineral based, only 3 ingredients. Water resistant.
I was so surprised and pleased to see the numerous readers who use strictly oils with or without mixing them with zinc oxide as a natural sun protection. There were so many variations that I plan on doing a bit of research and sharing a list of these options soon!
If this subject interests you and you like to get all the scientific details, I highly suggest browsing the Environmental Working Group website. It is so informative and quite interesting. You can also download their 2017 Guide to Safer Sunscreens.
For those days you accidentally stay out longer in the sun than you intended, or forgot a spot with your sunscreen you may want to try out one of these soothing Natural Sunburn Relief Rememdies.
Early life sunburns are worse in the skin cancer battle. We really want to make sure we're protecting our kids and avoiding sunburns. So grab a hat and some sunscreen and go find your adventure!
Ruffle Baby Sunbonnet by Blue Corduroy. photo by Native Fern.
There's a spot just inland of us that boasts the most beautiful meadows of wildflowers. We look forward to visiting it every year, and after such a wet winter we knew it would be amazing. This year the creek was flowing and full of tadpoles, the fields were carpeted with yellow, purple, white, and blue flowers, and we were basically in wildflower heaven.
Bouquet of Tidy Tips, Lupine, Owl Clover, and Blue Eyes. A Wildflower Nature Study!
Visiting and interacting with beautiful places is the best way I know how to instill a love of learning in my girls. I don't put any expectations on what they will take away from the experience, but rather provide what I can to make the most of it. I do my part by equally being involved with the wonder around us.
One of my daughters really enjoys capturing the beauty of the day with her camera. My other daughter can sit and watch the flowers blow in the breeze for hours, listening to the bugs and observing things others may pass by. I really love learning the names of the plants and flowers and birds, etc. I feel like I've made a new friend when I learn the name of a flower. And then I can introduce my new friend to my girls so they can now be friends too.
We also all enjoy drawing and painting in our nature journals and enjoying the moment with each other and our nature loving friends, who always make our adventures that much richer.
A patch of Goldenfields and Tidy Tips. Sunbonnet by Blue Corduroy.
To get the most our of our outdoor adventure, I like to follow up where I see more information would really round out our experience. Since this particular adventure was mostly about admiring the wildflowers, we took some time the next day to study the parts of a flower. We might find poems about springtime, or be inspired to write a poem ourselves. Or we may find out a handy medicinal use for our flower, or that it is even edible.
How the Chumash People of Southern California used the local plants for medicine, food, etc. I didn't know that Chia Seeds came from a Sage plant, and that they grow here and that the Native Indians used them as a quick and lasting energy source of protein.
A large variety of plants, organized by color which I find very helpful. Includes photographs and simple line drawings.
Mary has an intimate knowledge with the Central Coast and her love for it shows in her beautiful descriptions. I would use this book for her memories alone! Organized by habitat which I found very helpful.
My go to nature book! This book covers basically everything and is so simple, in a good way. We always gain a concrete base of knowledge we can then build upon where interest leads. The simple drawings are also always inspiring for our nature art journaling.
Not only is this book filled with amazing tips on how to draw what we find. It is also an incredible botany study book. It teaches us how to identify plants by learning parts of a flower, leaf and fruit identification, vein patterns and more.
Talk about flower art inspiration! This book is stunning!
I've added plant and flower names to my knowledge base, one or two at a time. And as the years add up, I'm so happy to discover how many my girls and I have learned! I also am finding that the more time we spend observing nature, the more we crave it. And how wonderful it is that this is something my daughters and I can do and enjoy together!
Have anyone on your list who needs a cozy handmade hat? I've got hats for the whole family! Today is your last chance to snag Blue Corduroy goodies at 30% off!
Use coupon code THANKU30 in my shop today only.
I'm so thankful for every hat I make and sell!
xo Emily
When my girls were little I felt it was an important skill for them to learn how to entertain, or play by, themselves. It mostly started as a need for myself to get some downtime, but I soon saw the many other reasons why this would be an important skill for them to master.
"Play has another important role in development: it helps expand a child's ability to learn. As they play, children learn how to solve problems intuitively rather than according to set rules. Because they enjoy the experience, they are motivated to use these problem-solving skills to process any later knowledge they acquire. That's a good thing. After all, we don't want our children to simply gain some sort of database of knowledge through education, and we don't want to simply indoctrinate them with our platitudes. We want them to understand the information they've taken-- to actively engage in it, not just compile the information. Enjoyment is a catalyst for owning what one is learning."- Sally Clarkson.
Learning how to entertain yourself, to be content when there's "nothing to do" builds important skills such as leadership, independence, and creativity. To be able to think for oneself, problem solve, build confidence and self motivation. To learn HOW to learn.
1. DO intentionally schedule time where the kids have "nothing to do".
2. Don't give in to their cries of boredom! This is part of the process. Often, when the word bored is uttered, or the phrase "there's nothing to do" , I will respond with some ideas for them, and those ideas are usually in the form of chores. It's amazing how quickly my girls find something else do to!
3. DO provide materials and space for whatever catches the child's heart at the moment.
4. Don't help them through problems or obstacles more than necessary. Part of the beauty of free play is for them to exercise their own freedom, creativity and problem solving skills.
5. DO let them see you "play". Being able to set the chores aside and enjoy some time just for yourself to explore whatever it is that puts a smile on your face does more than just fill your own soul. It is healthy role modeling mamas! Let them see you reading a book just for fun, knitting a scarf, drawing in your sketchbook, trying out a new recipe, tending your garden....
6. DO be patient. If we have been going from one busy afternoon to the next with non stop obligations and activities, my girls can easily get out of the practice of knowing how to find their own things to do with an unscheduled afternoon. It can take a few days or even up to a week before they start craving those empty hours rather than expecting for some external entertaining force to show up. Give it some time, and make it a priority, and soon your children will be masters at play.
Being entertained from outside sources (i.e. organized sports, music lessons, art lessons, etc) can be highly profitable pursuits. And they can be stepping stones and skill builders to use during unscheduled time. For example, the child who is taking violin lessons can now, in his free time, play around with the new chords he has learned and create a new song! Or the girl who's Grandma spent some precious bonding time teaching her to crochet, can, in her free unscheduled time, create a new dress for her doll.
But don't let these "lessons" and other time obligations take over your days! Being careful to not over schedule your calendar is a very important part to insure that "free" time happens. It's a balance, and it's a lesson in recognizing your priorities, and learning to not say yes to ALL those great opportunities that come your way, just the ones that fit in with your priorities during that season.
I'm noticing that "play" starts to look different as my girls get older. What once was playing baby dolls, has turned into miniature doll house homemaking and spinning wool. What once was scribbling, has turned into beautiful works of art. What once was running in the grass, has turned into being able to identify all the native wildflowers. What once was organizing her things, has now become running her own business. I would love to hear what kind of play your child likes best right now!
I am writing this post as a stay at home mom who also homeschools my children. I spend ALOT of one on one, special time bonding with and educating my girls and am assuming that your scheduled free time is in balance with building a personal relationship with your children.
