Look What's New: Fringed Scarves

The fringed scarves are forever evolving.  I never know what they will turn out to look like - it's always a surprise.  The yarn that is used to make the fringe is frogged (or unraveled) from the scraps I have left over after I make my basic colorblock scarves.  I then wrap the yarn around a "fringe-maker" (I have 3 different widths).  The variety comes from wrapping different yarns at the same time - varying the colors, the thickness of yarn, and the curliness.  It's like fireworks - without the boom or fire - just the "aaaahhhh!"  factor!

Look What's New: Owl Pins!

I know I told you about them last spring, but I sold out and had to have more made so I could list them in my online shop.  So here they are [again]... 

 

  100% recycled cashmere owl pins.  I also have tattoo heart and flower pins.  And they look so cute on scarves... and coats, and hats, and...  You can find them in the Haute Goat Labs etsy shop and at Tasty on Greenwood in Seattle.

Look Mom, I'm famous!

reclaimed cashmere Little hOOt with gadget pocket

Seattle Magazine has chosen Haute Goat as one of the "crafty stars" in their feature article about the city's up-and-coming fashion and design talent!  Anybody need an iPod holder (which also works as a gift card holder, Tooth Fairy pillow, or great place to hide small gifts like

Oh so cute headbands!

So as you already know, Kayce from NueToMe on etsy has been making things out of my cashmere scraps.  She is über creative and always comes up with

Baby Hats are here!

Last May I debutted baby hats designed by the ever-so-talented Kayce at Nue to Me and made out of my cashmere scraps.  They were a huge hit at

Introducing Haute Goat Labs

I have been working with some very talented and creative people to create items out of my cashmere scraps.  As you can imagine, after 4 years of making scarves the scraps are starting to stack up (and I am determined not to send any cashmere to the land-fill).

As a result, I have lots of goodies that are one-of-a-kind for sale.  I decided to open up an extension to my Haute Goat shop to showcase these items that are in limited quatities.  Think of Haute Goat labs as a studio think tank.  A creative space to try new things.  A laboratory of ideas.

You may find everything from pillows to plushies, eye masks to sachets, skirts to hats, and maybe even more!  Come check it out.  And remember, if you see something you like grab it, because there is no guarantee we will be making more!

Look What's New - Cashmere Bunnies

One of the new items for spring this year is the Haute Goat cashmere bunnies.  

The bunnies are made from 100% reclaimed cashmere and stuffed with new polyester fiberfill.  They are 18" tall, and the same sizing as an American Girl doll.  The clothes are 100% reclaimed cashmere also, and will fit the bunny as well as the dolls.

The initial line will include 3 colors of rabbits - camel, black and black/white houndstooth.

Come see them in person at the etsyRAIN Spring Craft Show on May 7th in Seattle, or buy them online after May 15th.

Look What's New: Owl Pins

2 1/4" to 2 3/4" recycled cashmere hOOt owl pins

How cute are these?   Kayce from World of Whimm is having a blast with the 100% cashmere scraps I've been giving her.  She is ultra-creative!   Check out what she made for Haute Goat this time - little hOOt owl appliqué pins.   They are recycled and eco-friendly.  I will have them for sale at the etsyRAIN Spring Craft Show on May 7 at the Intiman Theater in Seattle.

 

2 1/4" to 2 3/4" recycled cashmere hOOt owl pins

More Owls are here

Just in time for Valentine's Day, I've been working on posting cashmere Little Hoot Owls in my etsy shop.  Many of them have pockets in the back (perfect for small expensive gifts or love notes) and some even have heart appliqués!  Get 'em while they last - we sold out at Christmas!

P.S.  Thanks to Kayce at NueToMe - she makes 'em for me!

Look What's New: Gadget Pouches

Totally cute and really soft. Designed to protect your gadgets and keep them warm. I designed them to fit small digital cameras, the FLIP camcorder, smart phones, and 3 1/2" x 5" Moleskine notebooks. But as you can see, the possibilities of what you put in your pouch are endless!

The closure is a cashmere covered button with a flower applique on it. I can also make them with plain cashmere covered buttons. They are sold with a small notebook to get you started. You can find them in my online shop (and some of the stores that carry my scarves).

Look What's New: Insulated Recycled Cashmere Headband Earwarmers

My head gets hot in hats. I think it is a function of age - even though I am not "that old" yet, my internal thermostat seems to think I am. I also don't like the feeling of tight hats rubbing on my hair. I have fine hair and I get static electricity very easily. I used to battle with my mom about wearing winter stocking caps when I grew up in Denver. As a mother now, I see her point - my daughter must wear a hat on cold days too. But in the era I grew up, we didn't have fuzzy polar fleece and my mom never ponied up the big bucks to get anything other than acrylic. yuck.

So, here was my brain storm. An affordable alternative to those cheap acrylic, static-inducing, scratchy stocking caps. A cashmere headband that doubles as an ear warmer. Actually an ear-tip warmer, because I like to keep my ears uncovered so I can hear people talking to me. There is a thin layer of insulation inside to keep you a little warmer; elastic in the back so it fits on big heads like mine; and the outside is made of über-soft 100% cashmere (which is 8 times warmer than wool). I make them with or without the appliquéd flower - the "without" version is reversible.

Look What's New: Cashmere Skirts

Again, Kayce at OnAWhimm has come up with a design that uses up my scraps. AND how cute are these? They come in sizes for toddlers to 8 year olds. They are washable. And most of them "swing" and "twirl" - a must for little girls' skirts, don't you agree? You can find them in my online store. We can work with special orders.

Look What's New: Recycled Cashmere Blankets

I've been collecting 100% cashmere woven scarves for quite a while when I see them at Goodwill. Somehow I can't bear to let them just hang there on the rack with all that acrylic. I had the intention of either making a dress or a blanket out them, but somehow I procrastinated (no surprise there). Well, in comes my daughter who asks to sleep with my cashmere sweater every night, because it is so soft to snuggle with (her cashmere plushies have too many seams and are therefore not as snuggly). So, now the motivation was there (mostly because I didn't want her drool all over my sweater).

Luckily I had enough scarves to make a pink & purple one for her, and then low-and-behold a tan, red & black one for me. I still have enough left to make at least one more blanket (I told you I've beeen collecting for a while!).

Here are the two I made. They are each about 40" wide and about 55" long. On my daughters, I made one edge without fringe since she sleeps with it. I also appliquéd some hearts onto her blanket, because 1) she's a girl and girls like hearts and 2) there were some small holes and a stain that I needed to cover up. Her's has been washed in the washing machine & dried in the dryer on normal settings already and they came out fine.

I hope to make more to sell. We'll see if I can find more woven scarves - the trick is to weed through all the fake cashmere to find them...

Look what's NEW: Octopus

Kayce over at OnAWhimm takes my scraps and converts them into the BEST things ever. She is so entirely creative and full of never-ending-energy, that I can't even keep up with her. I absolutely love what she does with the scraps that I would either have to store or trash. What would I (and the earth for that matter) do without her?

You can find my new octopus friend in my etsy shop.

Look What's New: Armwarmers

   

   

Actually you could use them as armwarmers or legwarmers. Totally warm and cozy. They don't have "thumb holes" - because I was hoping you would find the novelty of an armwarmer that can be worn right-side-up or upside-down kind of fun. I'm not going to tell you which is the right way, you decide how to be your own rebel!

You can buy them in my online shop - or at some of the stores that carry my scarves.

Frogging & Dying

As you may remember, I have been recycling the yarn from sweater parts I have laying around. I had this wonderfully thick Ann Taylor turtleneck that was light blue & white heather. Unwound, the yarn is gorgeous! But, on a whim, I decided to dye it. I have tried a few different methods (that's the scientist in me), and I landed on one that made the most unexpected colors (I was shooting for primary rainbow). I only dyed a small sample unfortunately, and I don't think I can duplicate the results - so I had to figure out what to do with such a small bit of cool yarn. Voila! A camera case for my new petite camera!

(Yes, the blue & white ball behind the camera case is the original color of the yarn. Cool, huh?)

Once a turtleneck, now bikini bottoms!

I have been doing everything in my power to avoid sewing lately - but being guilt-stricken, I of course have to do something with cashmere (makes me feel like I'm still working). So, I decided I was going to "frog" or unwind misc. cashmere sweater parts that I have sitting around. Mostly turtlenecks, and I set my mom to handle the waistband ribbing.

The temptation now is to do something with all the cashmere yarn I have accumulated. I have been joking about cashmere bras & panties for a while now, and as I researched knitting patterns for bikini bottoms I found they were really easy (if you make them "string bikinis" the are essentially a flat piece). I modified a pattern to suit my needs and set to work. Here is the prototype, complete with crocheted scallop edging. Mmmmm... toasty warm AND snuggly soft!

We have a new website!

*** Note: this post will stay at the top for a while - new posts will appear under it ***

Finally, one page to go to with all the links to Haute Goat Cashmere goodness!
Check it out! Bookmark it! You can even get back here to my blog by clicking on "READ".

www.HauteGoatCashmere.com

And while you're at it, if you aren't already a Facebook fan of Haute Goat... become a fan and keep updated on everything I'm up to - and what new goodies I will have that are only available at trunk shows, etc. (ok, and maybe online sometimes).

Oh soooooo much to do, so much to learn, so much to keep up with...

Little Cashmere Hoot

In an effort to find uses for every last piece of cashmere, I sent some scraps to my friend Kayce at On a Whimm to make plush owls. I saw the owls last weekend - and I have to say they are ADORABLE (and not just because I am biased). You can find the owls in her online shop - or at any of the summer fairs where she will be selling this summer.

cashmere Rainbow scarf

Think Judy Garland meets Kermit while looking for a pot of gold...or something like that. I actually think about rainbows in the sprinkler mist on a sunny summer day.

This is the newest listing in my etsy shop. Click here to check it out.

And while you're at it, you can become an Haute Goat fan on Facebook by clicking here!