A Common Thread

We love making things! Here we feature all handmade projects including sewing, knitting, crochet, jewelry-making, and felting.

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Daisy Pearl Earrings

These 90s inspired earrings make me so happy. One part nostalgia, one part sophistication. Pearls make everything classy.

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Chain Jewelry Trends for Fall 2021 Fashion

I’ve been really into featuring unique chains into jewelry, making them the focal point.  Years ago, I found a box chain, or venetian chain, and it became one of my favorites because of it’s luxurious drape and strength to hold large pendants.  

More recently I’ve been into fun bold paperclip chains in raw vintage brass and have been using them in necklace designs, as well as chunky big chains of flat curb chain for their simple silhouette in earrings. 

Read more about our favorite chain link jewelry picks for Fall 2021 trends 

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Book Locket Necklace

Just revived a new necklace in the shop – the vintage book locket charm necklace. Made of vintage brass, the little locket opens right up for 2 pictures to be put inside. Makes a nice personalized gift. I put it on a 14kt gold filled chain for durability and longevity and it hangs about 16 inches long. The charm is weathered and rustic, like a good well-read book, with grooves on the book front. It measures just over .5inch tall.

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Collar Necklace Obsession

I’ve had a general collar obsession for a long time now, leading up to my collar necklace craze.  Different decades are marked by their collar shape, size and style — from the oversized pointy collars in the 70s, the peter pan collar which pops up nearly every decade starting in the 1920s, but also the 30s, 40s and 50s. What it says about you to wear a popped or upturned collar. How many different wonderful shapes their are to men’s collars.  And my favorite of all — the dissenting collars made famous by the wonderful Ruth Bader Ginsburg worn over her robes.

Read more about my collar necklace obsession.

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Sewing My Own Wardrobe

Having the past year and a half of not leaving the house and dressing for work everyday (maternity leave + quarantine) it’s given me a break from the pressure of clothes. I fully embraced my new uniform that worked well during those post-partum days: black leggings + tee + husband’s button down. Now that I’m ready to start exploring outside of this uniform, I’m working from home permanently so I don’t have that pressure to have a stock of office outfits in my closet. It gives me the freedom to slow down, only have a limited amount of things that I truly like, and assess what current style is. It also gives me a little breathing room to actually make my wardrobe.

Read More: Sewing My Own Wardrobe

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Mini Fox Stole Knit Pattern

This is another great (free) knitting pattern that makes a great baby gift. It’s incredibly adorable, and knits up quickly using pretty thick yarn.  The pattern is straightforward and the final fox is such a cheeky creation. I made this version for my niece for her first birthday.  Looking back at her photos, she looks so much like my son, who’s 15 months old.  

The pattern was a free one, and looks like the original webpage came down but the link is archived (for now) so be sure to grab the pattern soon!

Pattern: baby fox stole knit pattern

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Now offering free shipping in the jewelry shop on all orders in the US, and a low flat rate for all orders shipping outside of the US. 

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Earrings

Simple drapey gold chain earrings. In case you’re looking for a valentine’s gift. ♥

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Making Vintage Modern

The new onyx geometric necklace mixes well with vintage.  I mostly buy vintage clothes and find myself wearing head-to-toe in a specific decade, looking more like a costume than fashionable. To balance things out, here are some of my strategies:

- wear it with current statement shoes

- pair it with a modern necklace

- add a geometric accessory

- mix decades with different pieces (i.e. shirt/pants/shoes)

- change the silhouette, for example add a modern coat with a vintage dress

- alter the garment, for example if you have a great 80s print, alter it into a current/modern cut

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Geometric Jewels

Feeling art deco inspired and created a few new necklaces available in the shop! Brassy tones, geometric shapes and faceted gems. Both are made from limited supplies (and some vintage materials) so they are one of a kind. The new jewelry features a beautiful green marble and black tourmaline stone necklace and a black onyx and brass triangle necklace.

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Knit Collar Pattern

I’ve been working on a few new projects, and the eyelet knit collar pattern was one of them.  (Re)inspired to make collars because of RBG, I’ve created a few new options.  This latest one is a simple knit collar because there are so few knit collars out there!  They are all crochet and they are all lacy.  I wanted something simple and minimal yet elegant.  I really like how this one turned out and it’s super easy! 

This one is open in the front and back, giving it a nice little design touch.  It also makes it super simple whip up.  These use a minimal amount of yarn so it’s great for stash busting.

This little beauty is currently available in the shop: Detachable Knitting Collar Pattern

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Sweaters to Knit

My knitting rampage continues with marled yarns (again) and these boxy boyfriend sweaters. I'm always super nervous to knit sweaters because 1) time 2) $$$$ 3) risk of looking like a frumpy handmade gift from your Aunt Linda. That's why I'm doing some super research to determine what makes the difference between a beautiful product vs a gross blob. Here's where I'm focusing:

Use great yarn, only the best. Can be plain but high quality

Sweater style -- I'm going for a straight crew neck pullover, with either a saddled shoulder (top middle photo) or raglan sleeve (top right photo)

Add an interesting detail // marled yarn (all of the above), contrasting shoulder color (top middle photo), minimal pattern (top left)

The Patterns

And here are the knit sweater patterns that I've tracked down, and hopefully one of them will turn out to be not awful!

Mix No. 1: Crew neck pull-over.  Basic, straight bodice. I would shorten the sleeves. $8 pattern

Stonehaven: Basic saddle shoulder sweater.  I would omit the garter details on the front "pocket." $6 pattern

Top-Down Seamless Sweater: This one is a men's sweater pattern, but has has the great set-in saddle sleeve. $6.50

Sweatshirt Sweater: Basic raglan sleeve pattern that is made to look like a sweatshirt.  I would omit the front pocket. Free

Seamless Raglan Sweater: Basic sweater that could be a bit boxy. $10 (in book)

Blank Canvas: This sweater is a bit more fitted than the others, which is a different look, but will come out more tailored. $8

Pullover: A raglan sleeve boxy sweater. Free

Raglan Sleeve Pullover: A basic raglan in bulky yarn which means it knits up quickly and a bit bulky and boxy. Free

Crew Neck Jumper: A basic men's sweater pattern.  A nice boxy look. Free

sweater inspiration: isabel marant / j crew / unknown / madewell / rachel comey / carhartt

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Marled Seed Stitch Blanket Scarf

It's so cold out! I'm pretty much knitting out of necessity these days.  I started this blanket scarf because 1) I'm obsessed with anything marled right now, and 2) this thing is huge and the thought of being wrapped in a blanket in public is VERY appealing when it's 5 degrees out.

I've been doing some experimenting on marled yarn (more to come), but trying out this Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool in Oak Tweed, which has a neat marled texture when you knit it up.  I'm using the Seed Stitch Wrap free pattern from purl soho, but instead of doing big color-blocked stripes, I'm layering in the marled oak tweed yarn with a mustard gloss yarn from knit picks (fingering weight, held doubled). More to come!  

Pattern and Yarn

Yarn: Fisherman's Wool in Oak Tweed / Gloss Fingering Wt in Honey (held double)

Pattern: Seed Stitch Wrap

Needle: Size 7

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DIY Knitting Needle Binder Case

After 10 years of dealing with a heap of tangled knitting needles, I decided to organize them.  After researching and researching, I finally decided on a mini binder with plastic sleeves to store my circular needles and DPNs. For the circular needles, there's no additional work, but for DPNs there is a tiny bit of sewing involved.

The Benefits

It's customizeable! Fits circulars, DPNs, crochet hooks, whatever!

It's expandable - buy more needles? buy more pockets

You can pick whatever case you want

Compact and small

One storage case for all

Good for home and travel

Total cost is about $28

Here's How To Make It

Buy yourself a binder. I went with a leather mini binder, that is a repurposed day planner organizer. It's small and compact, perfect height for circulars and DPNs. I got the 9 x  7 version with a 1" ring. It fits any paper/accessories that are 8.5" x 5.5" which is also called "half letter."  This particular version also comes with a ruler and pouch, which is useful for your knitting.

Get plastic pouches. I went with these Avery sheet protectors that come in a pack of 25, sized 8.5" x 5.5" for the mini binder.

Stitch pockets for DPNs and hooks. To keep DPNs organized, stitch up some little pockets.  I stitched about 4 pockets, vertically per page. Each pocket is about 1 3/8" apart -- give or take for larger or smaller needles --- stitched only half way up the page. 

Add your needles and labels. Add labels to your pages with your needle size.  Whenever you use your needle on a project, just leave a little note for yourself so you know where your needles are.

Overall, I love this needle case so far! I have about 15 sets of circular needles, and 9 sets of DPN needles inside. With the 1 inch binder ring, it's almost full now and I'm researching other case options for my Knit Picks Interchangeable needle set.

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If you're in Brookyn today or tomorrow (Feb 7 & 8) come say hello, have a glass of wine, and play dress up in some necklaces.  A Common Thread jewelry will be at the pop up shop in Red Hook, Brooklyn! 

Feb 7 & 8 // 12 - 6pm

250 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn, NY

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Featured in Laika Magazine

This month, you can check out A Common Thread necklaces featured in the fourth issue of vegan lifestyle magazine, Laika Magazine!  The story features the Galaxy Necklace paired with the Layered Chain Necklace. 

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I'm doing a little bit of summer closet clearing and posted some shoes and vintage clothes for sale! Up right now are Rachel Comey 'Bout' booties, pink Swedish Hasbeens, Michael Kor's peep toes, and other goodies.

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