February Link Love

It's time for link love this moth and I am super excited about all the links I've found around on some of my favorite blogs.  Here they are:

Delighfully Tacky

1. Elizabeth from Delightfully Tacky always seems to have the best recipes.  These carnitas look so yummy.  I think I know what we'll be eating this weekend.

30 Pounds of Apples

2.  Need to pamper yourself or need a luxurious gift to give?  30 Pounds of Apples can teach you how to make Homemade Sugar Scrubs.

Love Elycia

3.  How cut are these zig zag nails.  Next time I want do my nails i might just have to try my hand at Elycia's tutorial.

My Girl Thursday

 4. My Girl Thursday has a great way to put the love back in a favorite pair of jeans.  I'm going to keep this tutorial up my sleeve for the summer.

One Sheepish Girl

5. This may be the cutest little knitting project.  Learn how to knit a espresso machine handle cover over at One Sheepish Girl.

Etsy Blog

 6. Have a scarf that needs some sprucing up.  There is a great tutorial on the Etsy Blog about embroidery with Diana Rupp.

Looking Back: Tutorials

This year I had tons of fun planing and executing some fun tutorials and DIY posts here on Blue Betty.  Here are some of my favorite.

Tutorials
Quick Yarn Embellished  Picture Frames
Guest Post With Alli From OPB: Yarn Covered Bangles
Making a Mobius Cowl
Obi Belt Tutorial 

Free Knitting Patterns
Easy as Pie Tam Knitting Pattern
Easy Peasy Beanie Pattern
Put a Bow on It, A Knit Headband

Obi Belt Tutorial

 I made this belt for my purple shift dress.  It was super easy and added that extra something to that dress that I thought I would share how I made this belt.  It's not a true obi belt, but that was my inspiration to this project. 

Materials:
*About a 1/2 a yard of a woven fabric (My green belt was duponi silk and the one I made for the tutorial is a heavy quilting cotton.)
* Thread
*Interfacing (If using a light weight fabric I suggest using a fusible interfacing for the middle section of the belt, but If you are using a heavier fabric the interfacing isn't necessary.)

Tools:
*Measuring Tape
*Ruler
*Chalk
*Scissors
*Pins
*Sewing Machine

Step One
Measure your fabric length and split that into thirds.  If you want a wider belt you will need a longer piece of fabric.  My green belt is about 3 1/2 inches wide so my thirds were all about 8 inches wide.  The fabric I am using for this belt is only 16 inches long so I will be splitting it into 5 inch sections
Use your chalk and ruler to mark your fabric.

(If you are using interfacing you will want to cut a piece out that is the same length and width as one of the thirds of fabric)

 Step Two
Cut your fabric into thirds and attach interfacing to one of the strips, this piece will be your middle section of the belt.
Pin the ends of the belt and sew a seam with about 1/2 an inch seam allowence.

Press seams open.

Step Three
Fold your belt in half with right sides facing and pin.  Sew the end and side seam of the belt leaving one end open.

Turn the fabric tube right side out and press.

Step Four
Fold unfinished edges of the open end in and pin.

Top stitch around the edge of the entire belt leaving about a 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch edge.

There you have it a quick sash or obi belt.

Because of the belts length you can tie it a bunch of different ways.  Wrap it around as many times as you can and tie a small knot.  Wrap it around twice and tie a dramatic bow at the front. 

October Link Love

Why don't we start out the love with a little fall inspiration over at Delightfully Tacky, Fall Inspiration: Pumpkins.

Next how about one of my favorite things combined with learning a new skill, Wild Olive has Coffee Embroidery Patterns. 

Over on the Etsy blog they had a fun project and how to on Building a Bat House, a great twist on the old bird house project.

Offbeat Home had two great DIYs, the first one was a recipe and a how to on Making State Fair Style Corn Dogs (one of my favorite fried things on a stick), and the second was two different how tos on making a Hanging Garden.

While we're exploring home tips and decorating options I love Upcountry Vintage's Ultra Affordable Bathroom Art Solution.

This last link has saved my butt a few times and I am now in love with Bias Binding.  Over on Coletterie there is a great tutorial on Bias binding as a Facing or Detail.

Link Love

Just Sharing some Links that I Love this month.
The Purl Bee, Chevron Baby Blanket
So cute I want to make an adult sized one.

Colletterie, Fitting pants
I want to make a few pairs of pants this fall (or at least I'm dreaming about making them), and this blog post from Colette's blog really got me thinking about it.

One Pearl Button, Spool of Thread Necklace
When I saw these I feel in love.  Now I've been searching through my local thrift stores trying to find wooden spools of thread.

Offbeat Home, Knitted plant holders I want to make these for me neighborhood, but I think it will have to wait till next spring.  I have also been thinking about how to make and display a few in our apartment.

Offbeat Home, Craft Basket I need about ten of these.

Upcountry Vintage, Chalk Board Tutorial
I have a major chalk board obsession.  I have been planing on where in our apartment we could turn a wall into a chalk board.


Burda Style, Fabric covered Bangles
I have seen a ton of these around the interwebs and love them since I can't bare to throw out my fabric scraps.  I swear there will be a use of them some day.