How to Make a Needlepoint Belt, Part One

Over the past year or so, I’ve found myself really interested in needlepoint. It’s a hobby I’ve picked up time and again for well over 20 years, since my undergrad days at Transylvania. I absolutely love making needlepoint belts. They're such a fun project to undertake, and they make incredible gifts!

Over on Instagram, I’ve posted some photos of belts I’ve made or works in progress, and have had a lot of questions about how to get started. Today, I’ve teamed up with NeedlePaint, a custom needlepoint company, to give you a step-by-step guide!

Step 1: Determine your project!

Are you making a belt, dog collar, key chain, or sunglass strap? These questions weigh heavily into how much time and money you’ll spend on the project. It might be best to start with something small like a dog collar, or a pattern that doesn’t involve a lot of tiny detail. You’ll probably find that you get the hang of it in a hurry and are ready to move on to a more complex project fairly quickly!

What materials are used in your belt kit? I can’t stress this enough. If it’s your first belt, then you’ll want to purchase a kit that has all of your materials together! As a general rule, the folks who sell the canvas are going to be better at selecting the appropriate threads and needles than you are. Let them kit your thread so that you have the correct colors, and the appropriate thread and needle sizes. Here are a few things you’ll need to know about the materials:

The canvas comes pre-painted on a mesh canvas. Mesh is graded into different sizes. The number on the mesh is determined by the number of holes per inch. So, an 18 mesh canvas has more holes per inch than a 14 mesh or a 12 mesh. This, in turn, determines the type of thread you’ll use. You may use DMC brand thread in Pearl Cotton sizes 3, 5, or embroidery floss size 25. These threads are also denoted by a color number. It’s a lot to learn, and it’s way easier to let the professionals choose the threads for you. If you have an option to choose the mesh (Needlepaint has a great blog about this here!), you should consider that a very small canvas (i.e., an 18 mesh) is going to take a longer time to complete and may be more difficult for someone who is very far-sighted or has a history of tendonitis or carpal tunnel in their dominant wrist. (I learned the hard way that I need to wear a wrist brace if I’m going to do a lot of needlepointing!) Don't be shy about asking your needlepoint shop for specific details. You can contact NeedlePaint here to ask more questions about your project, and you can rest assured that their products have a 100% satisfaction guarantee!

Step 2: Choose Your Pattern!

This is the fun part! You’ll want to pick out a pattern that really speaks to your recipient’s personality. This is a keepsake, so you probably want to go with an interest or hobby that is important to the person who’ll be wearing the belt. Some folks love to go with the customized hobby/ memory belt that commemorates several of the wearer’s hobbies; I’ve made one like that for my dad.

As for this project, I’ve made UK logo belts for Bob in the past, as well as a Bourbon Trail theme. This time, I went with a lovely, intricate pattern that depicts UK’s campus. Since both Bob’s law degree and his MBA are from the University of Kentucky, it seemed like both a fun commemoration and a clever way to show team spirit. I love that they combined images of older buildings like Bowman Hall and Memorial Hall with the sports stadiums — both Rupp Arena and Kroger Field! — as well as newer buildings like the WT Young Library and landmarks like the Arboretum. It really is a great design for someone who loves UK’s campus!

Now that you and your needlepoint store are on the same page about everything — the pattern, the colors, the initials, etc., there’s just one more thing to do before checkout: Measure Again!!! You’ll want to make sure you’re working with the vendor to ensure a properly fitting belt. NeedlePaint does a great job explaining their sizing system here.

Step 3: Start Stitching!

You basically are just going to do a single, diagonal stitch in correspondence with the painted design on your belt canvas. The only stitch you have to know is the continental stitch (This guide from DMC explains it way better than I ever could!), but I often add in a basketweave for stability. You can find a lot of great information on the internet, and the NeedlePaint blog has a wealth of information. I love that my NeedlePaint canvas not only has the design painted on the canvas, but also includes a full pattern that lets you know which color of thread to use on every single hole. As you can imagine, the UK campus belt utilizes several shades of blue. The pattern guarantees that I select the right thread for every stitch!!

I’ll post Part Two, How to Finish and Leather Your Belt, soon! Thanks so much to NeedlePaint for partnering with me on this project!

Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever made a needlepoint belt!

Talbots Blue and White Stripe Tunic for UK Football Season

Outfit details: Tunic | Jeans | Earrings

Most of the Kentucky women I know are ALWAYS on the hunt for great blue and white pieces. I think it’s because we’re usually thinking about game day — the next football game or basketball game truly can’t come quickly enough for Kentucky Wildcats fans! This tunic is in stock at Talbots right now and it is perfect for pretty much any occasion a UK fan can imagine — from a day at the office to a tailgate. These Kendra Scott earrings are a versatile piece of statement jewelry for game day, too!

Happy Game Day, y’all. Cats by 90 over Vandy!!

Go Big Blueberry-Lemon Brie En Croute!

Brie en Croute with Fond Originals Blueberry Lemon Jam. Stoneware & Co Hot Brown Plate, Pomegranate Inc UK Collage napkins.

If y'all are like me, you're counting the minutes until tonight's UK basketball game. It's the best time of the year and the 'Cats have been playing so well. You need a snack that's a little more sophisticated than hot wings or chips and dip. Well, here's the perfect treat -- it's quick and easy and so, so delicious!

You only need three ingredients: a wheel of brie, a sheet of puff pastry, and a jar of Fond Originals Blueberry Lemon Jam. Y'all, this stuff is so, so good. When Chef Madeline Dee, owner and executive chef at Fond, offered to send me a jar to try, I was so excited! Chef Madeline's tiny Frankfort Avenue bistro is already booked until after Derby! She must be doing something right! Just cover the brie in the jam, add to a defrosted sheet of puff pastry, and bake at 425 until golden brown. It's the perfect accompaniment to your March Madness enjoyment!

Alumni Hall is coming to The Summit at Fritz Farm!

Nike Twill Kentucky Hat | Kentucky Alex and Ani Charm Bracelet (c/o Alumni Hall)

I am so excited for the opening of The Summit at Fritz Farm in Lexington, y'all. No matter how long it's been since I lived there, Lexington just always feels like home - I have so many family and friends there, Bob and I both went to undergrad and grad school there, and then there are our Wildcats. We aren't just "wear blue and white on game day" Wildcats fans. We're thinking about our 'Cats every day of the year. So, of course, we were so excited when Alumni Hall sent us some fun UK gear to celebrate the opening of their Summit at Fritz Farm store and to get us ready for the upcoming season -- as we all know, basketball season is always almost here in Kentucky! 

Alex and Ani Kentucky Charm Bracelet (c/o Alumni Hall)

Oh my goodness, y'all. Their selection is so awesome. I'm pretty sure I want one of everything on the Alumni Hall website. I love this Alex and Ani charm bracelet so much. And this scarf is such a lovely way to celebrate the Bluegrass State!

Bob loved this Cutter & Buck DryTec polo shirt, and I know I'll wear the Blue 84 Lucille Terry V-Neck Tee all summer long!

Cutter & Buck DryTec polo | Blue 84 Terry V-Neck Tee (c/o Alumni Hall)

When you're a fourth generation Kentucky fan, like we are at our house, you love Kentucky gear that reflects the Wildcats' heritage.  The vintage look of Bob's blue tee is so fun for casual weekends, and the details on my baseball tee are so adorable. Check out the Wildcats logo on the back!

Kentucky 47 Big Blue Nation Tee | Kentucky League Women's Camp V-Neck Baseball Tee (c/o Alumni Hall)

Alumni Hall's newest store opens at  the Summit at Fritz Farm in early May. I look forward to seeing y'all there! Go Big Blue!

Thanks so much to The Summit at Fritz Farm and Alumni Hall for sponsoring this post!

Celebrate College Colors Day in Style!

Happy College Colors Day, y'all! I am just so excited that it's starting to look like fall, and that college football is back! I am so excited to be wearing my Kentucky Blue for College Colors Day, and I picked out a few great ideas for my friends who cheer on all the Kentucky D1 College Teams! 

Draper James Tailgate Essentials

Have you seen the newest batch of tailgate-inspired items from Reece Witherspoon's Draper James line? So, so cute, y'all. I feel like the scarf is going to be necessary as the weather gets cooler.

Go Big Blue!
 

Now, if you've been reading HerKentucky for any time at all, it's no surprise that I ride or die with the Kentucky Wildcats, even if football isn't exactly our premiere athletic program. UK will always feel like the home team for me, in any sport. I lived in Lexington for over a decade, my beau and I hold three graduate degrees from UK, and I grew up on stories of my grandfather and his siblings attending the University in the '30s. The 'Cats and I, we go way back.

I personally believe that there's no such thing as taking your 

Go Cards!

Y'all, I don't care what team you rep or what part of the Commonwealth you hail from. That Louisville win was ridic last night. Lamar Jackson was on fire, and my Cardinals fan friends were jubilant. That win deserves several days' worth of team-inspired outfits!!

Cheer on your Kentucky team!

Most of us can find a reason to cheer for just about every Kentucky college, if we look hard enough for a link. My parents each hold degrees from Morehead AND EKU. I have plenty of friends with ties to WKU and Murray State. And the list goes on. There are so many cute ways to rep your team. A Tervis Tumbler and a cap are, of course, standard equipment.

Let me know in the comments below what team you're repping today, and don't forget to visit the College Colors Day website to enter to win a trip to the 2017 National Championship Game! (please note that this post contains affiliate links.)

The HerKentucky Guide to Big Blue Madness

Tonight's the night, BBN. Big Blue Madness, our first glimpse at the 2016 Wildcats. The greatest recruiting tool in college basketball, where we've learned over the years that Drake is a 'Cats Fan, and that at least one Miss America bleeds blue and where we've seen Coach Pitino on a Harley, Mr. Keightley jump out of a cake, and as many sick dance moves as Coach Mitchell cares to lay down. In honor of tonight's event, here's some Big Blue Madness Trivia for y'all.

• The first Kentucky Wildcats late night practice was held on October 15, 1982. Although UK Coach Joe B. Hall was not the first coach to hold an open scrimmage or practice to kick off basketball season, his "Midnight Special" is credited with popularizing the custom.
• Big Blue Madness was held in Memorial Coliseum from 1982-2004 and was moved to Rupp Arena in 2005.
• Although the free event welcomes thousands of Wildcats super-fans, the unofficial guests of honor are always high schoolers. The blue chip recruits whom we hope to sway toward the Big Blue Nation are conspicuously in attendance. The day after the 1991 Big Blue Madness, all four recruits in attendance -- Rodrick Rhodes, Jared Prickett, Tony Delk, and Walter McCarty -- verbally committed to UK.
• Some of the celebrities who've attended Big Blue Madness include Drake, Secretariat owner Penny Chenery, Miss America Heather French, and, of course, Ashley Judd.
• The 2002 Big Blue Madness celebrated the 100th anniversary of Kentucky Basketball. A giant birthday cake was brought to center court prior to the player introductions, with  Mr. Wildcat, Bill Keightley, stealing the show by jumping out of the cake.
• When it became clear that the Internet was here to stay, tickets to BBM became even harder to acquire. The 2000 Big Blue Madness market the first time that tickets were available for online purchase; all 700 were distributed in 13 minutes. The remaining 8,000 were gone in 10 minutes to those waiting in line. 
• In 1995, seniors Tony Delk and Walter McCarty made their grand appearance as "Cat"man and Robin.

• And, of course, in 2012, this happened. And it was the best.

The KY Kernel has a great rundown of this year's 'Cats. I don't know about y'all, but I sure am excited to meet them!

Go Big Blue!!!

Blue and White Kentucky Wildcats Quilt

Today's Quilt of the Week is in honor of my Wildcats. It's perfect for tailgating or football and basketball season! Go Big Blue!