The Christmas season is just around the corner and it’s crunch time for getting those family portraits done and in the mail to family and friends. Family portraits are so important! These snapshots freeze moments in time, creating memories and also give you a comparison look at how everyone and your family have changed in just one year. Or maybe you have some holiday parties to attend this year and want everyone looking their best and coordinate for the photos that might be taken when you are out and about?
Today, I want to share with you my passion for incorporating handmade crochet garments into your family’s holiday ensemble and how I do it, adding a touch of personal charm to your already beautiful memories. Hopefully, I can also help to take a little of the stress away from choosing outfits by giving you some tips to use when choosing for your family.
First Things First: The Color Palette
Before I ever decide on what to wear, I pick out the colors I’m going to use. If you want to build outfits using items you already have, the best thing to do would be to start going through your wardrobe and finding what color items your family already have that can coordinate together. Then building your palette off of those colors.
If you’re going to buy all new outfits for your pictures than you can really go with any combo of colors you want!
I like to stick to around five, three neutrals and two (often contrasting) basic colors. You want enough colors that everyone coordinates, but not too many that you don’t “go together” and not so few that you are all wearing exactly the same thing. Let’s build an example:
For my example I’m going to go with grey, white and khaki for neutrals and my basic colors, sense these are holiday outfits, I’ll go with red and green! I tend to pick a shade of my basic colors, so I’ll go with army green and a mauve. With the neutrals any shade goes! I also tend to end up with some black, especially in shoes and belt areas so remember these rules are NOT absolute.
If you need some help coming up with color palettes, I suggest Pinterest! Just type in color palettes and you’ll get a ton or be a little more specific like “winter color palettes” or if you know at least one color you want to use you can search things like “blue color palettes”.
Next: Choose the Outfits
Nope, you aren’t going to choose the crochet pattern first. Unless you have one you ABSOLUTELY want to use, then you can build an outfit around that, but I like to do this the other way around. I pick out the outfit and then I replace a piece with something I can crochet! I picked out all the pieces I wanted for this little boy outfit and then I decided which pieces I could realistically make a crochet version of.
Last: Find the Pattern and Yarn
Now that I know the pieces I want to crochet I can head to the internet to track down a pattern or pull it from my library. I do it in this order for two reasons, one; It’s easier to just find a general outfit idea and then make a simple swap, than trying to form an outfit around a specific piece. Two, it’s easier to search for a “crochet vest pattern” than just “boys crochet patterns”, cutting down on the time I spend browsing the internet. The last thing to do is my personal favorite part of the whole process: YARN SHOPPING!
And TADA! Here’s what I settled on for this look:
I used the Creekside Vest pattern to replace the vest from the original outfit idea. I can make it in a similar shade of grey to the fabric vest and the outfit is complete! Add a pair of plaid pants, an undershirt in your chosen basic color, some fancy shoes and a newsboy hat, and you’ve got a picture-perfect holiday outfit for your little guy. You can follow this same process with any of the outfits you need for your family portraits.
Here’s how I would style the rest of the family in this color palette and each with a handmade piece incorporated.
I’m always trying to balance looking nice with comfort for pictures because I still am usually trying to wrangle kids. The last thing I want is something I can’t move in!
The Lilac Cardigan is duster length, so it will keep you comfy but has a classier look to it than a regular cardigan.
How to style it:
🍂I’d stick with a dark neutral for yarn like charcoal or black.
🍂 A midi length khaki skirt with an elastic waist is going to be comfortable and keep you covered but still feel sophisticated.
🍂 A classic collared white top. Wear it loose with that cute tie detail in front OR tuck it in for a more buttoned-up look.
🍂 Lastly, ankle high black heel boots. They’re dressy but easier to wear and walk in than full-on heels!
This outfit will go perfectly with the little boy look or this could work for a teen girl as well! 🥰
Is there much else better than a beautiful crocheted dress?? The First Bud Tunic is super easy to add length to and transform it into a dress perfect for portraits or holiday parties.
How to style it:
🍂Create the dress with the body in a main color and the accents done in a neutral. I went with mauve and dark grey yarn for this palette.
🍂It’s cold out, so bring this piece into the season with a simple white high neck cotton top underneath.
🍂Add some warm and comfy tights to match that dark grey accent color from the dress.
🍂Finish this adorable look off with some t-strap shoes. I found these gorgeous black ones that have a leaf detail that matches the top. 😍
Now for the smallest family members! You don’t want to get too complicated with the babies outfit because it will either be destroyed or grown out of right after the holidays. The Gallivanter Romper is a perfect way to bring some handmade into the babies outfit. It’s gender neutral, too, so I was able to get this one styled for either a boy or a girl with some simple tweaks to what you pair it with.
How to style it:
🍂Make the romper in the army green basic color yarn.
🍂For girls, I’d grab a white top with a peter pan collar and small floral print with mauve colored flowers to draw in that basic color. For boys, I would go with a khaki turtleneck.
🍂Grab some thick knit tights in a matching color to the onesie you chose. Keep those babies warm!
🍂Some adorable little boots will finish off the outfit perfectly!
We can’t forget Dad!
I didn’t have any men’s patterns of my own so Michelle of Two Brother’s Blankets let me use her Reed Raglan Sweater as an example to put something together for Dad to wear! This sweater is classic and stylish so can work into a lot of different style choices.
How I would style it:
🍂I’d go with one of your neutral colors for making the sweater, like the khaki color featured here.
🍂 Then I would get a collared shirt in one of your basic colors for underneath the sweater like this mauve. It will give it a nice POP of color.
🍂 Some denim jeans in one of your other neutrals will keep the outfit on track to coordinate with everyone else but keep dad comfy!
🍂 Lastly, bring that shoe into the whole look by matching it with your sweater color or keep it in one of your neutrals!
I hope this has helped you organize your thoughts and ideas around how to dress your family this year and years to come!
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