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Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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How-to: Olympic Rings Tablescape

August 1, 2012 Leave a Comment

Last Friday, some friends came over to watch the Olympics’ opening ceremony on TV. I had been wanting to do something with styrofoam wreaths for the Olympics, but I wasn’t 100% sure what I should do. As I served my friends hummus, veggies, cheese and crackers on my shabby countertop, it hit me. The party was missing a tablescape! While I didn’t quite get this project ready in time for the party, I threw a sweet party for one to shoot my vision and share it with you guys today. Now I have lots of party snacks to eat while I watch the Olympics for the next couple weeks.

How-to: Olympic Rings Tablescape | HandsOccupied.com

When I talked to my friends at FloraCraft about this idea, they supplied me with some of the supplies this simple project requires. 

Supplies

5 styrofoam wreaths (such as these)

blue, black, red, yellow and green gloss acrylic paint - the gloss is optional, I just thought it looked cooler

sponge brush

waxed paper

party snacks

a flag-shaped piece of canvas that doesn’t quite cover your table (optional)

Directions

Paint your rings in each of the 5 olympic colors. Some colors, like blue and green, take more coats to completely cover. Other colors, like yellow, might only require one coat. I recommend using a sponge brush to paint your wreaths. I also recommend using waxed paper rather than newspaper to dry these on. The waxed paper won’t stick to the paint as it dries.

How-to: Olympic Rings Tablescape | HandsOccupied.com

When they’re completely painted and dried, you’re good to go! Simply set up your tablescape – remembering the correct rings color arrangement – by placing your party snacks within each ring. If you want to add a flag-shaped piece of canvas as a table cloth before laying down your food, the tablescape ends up looking a lot like the olympic flag, and if you have a dark dining table like mine, it helps the black ring stand out on the table too. The table cloth is totally optional, as is color-coordinating your snacks with the ring it’s in. I’m a dork, so I wanted both the flag and color-coordinating effect.

How-to: Olympic Rings Tablescape | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Olympic Rings Tablescape | HandsOccupied.com

I wanted to add a dessert to my table, as well as something metallic to nod to the winners’ medals earned at the Games. I looked for gold-wrapped chocolate coins at the bodega near my place, but had no luck. Instead, I got creative and grabbed a few rolls of Rolos, which come with a nice, shiny wrapper! I used the foil wrapping to line the bowl I served the Rolos in, not realizing until after the fact that I could have also grabbed a good ole Hershey bar with its convenient silver wrapper. Hindsight is 20/20, isn’t it ;).

How-to: Olympic Rings Tablescape | HandsOccupied.com

Sorry for the weird angle on this picture, but I wanted to share it since it’s the best way to see the flag:

How-to: Olympic Rings Tablescape | HandsOccupied.com

After your party is over and the food is cleaned up, you can convert your tablescape rings into a mantle decoration with almost zero effort. Here’s where my rings are going to live for the next couple weeks as I cheer on team USA.

How-to: Olympic Rings Tablescape | HandsOccupied.com

 

Filed Under: How-to, Olympics, Parties Tagged With: entertaining, floracraft, olympic rings, olympics, tablescape

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad (she/her) is a craft book author & designer specializing in yarn crafts. Her work combines vintage and modern design elements, prioritizing color and graphic motifs. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), and I’ve been helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010. I got my start here, as a blogger, and since then I’ve shared more than a few tutorials here and on YouTube as I’ve grown as a pattern designer. 🧶 

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Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts

handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer 🧶
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POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern fits with no ease vs. 4” of positive ease. There’s a bit more length to the cotton (brighter color) sample, but both are cropped and feature shoulder seams designed to sit an inch back onto the shoulder instead of on top, giving it a little swing. Length is easily adjustable for folks looking for less of a crop. 
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Pattern: Bevelled Tank by @handsoccupied for @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn summer 2024. Available for free from Hobbii at the 🔗 in my profile.
Yarn pictured: @kelbournewoolens Skipper and Camper. 
Dress form is adjusted to a 36” chest and ~5’3”ish in height. 
Human has a 40” chest and is 5’5”.
Both skirts are vintage.
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #handsoccupied #intarsia #handmade #knitting #colorwork
Let’s talk about fit and ease! . During the Beve Let’s talk about fit and ease!
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During the Bevelled Tank design process for @pompommag, I knit 2 samples using 2 different @KelbourneWoolens yarns. One was in Skipper (100% cotton, second photo) and the other was in Camper (100% 2 ply wool). The Skipper sample was knit for a 36” bust, which measures in at 40” with 4” of positive ease. And I knit the Camper Sample for my 40” bust with a 44” finished measurement. (BTW, I’m 5’5” for folks that find that measurement helpful in visualizing fit.)
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Based on the size chart for the Bevelled Tank, that means I knit one size 3 sample and one size 4. As designed, I conveniently fit a size 4 as intended with 4” of positive ease. When I wear the 3, there is no ease at all because the garment and my body are both 40” in size. Comparing the 2 garments, you can see how the fiber content (cotton vs. wool) and fit (no ease vs. 4” of positive ease) makes a difference in the look and feel of the finished garment. 
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These samples are a great way to compare what ease looks like on different bodies. While I can fit both a size 3 and 4, the garment with no ease feels more like pajamas or a bralette when I wear it. On the other hand, when I wear the one with 4” of positive ease, I feel comfortable enough to wear it to work, even as a crop top. Plus, it leaves me with enough room to layer it with a nice button down if I’m not feeling the cropped look one day. 
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I’m curious - how would you style this tank? Would you modify it with a few stockinette rows for added length? I’m so curious now that this pattern is finally out in the world. :) 
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #bevelledtank #handsoccupied #knitting #intarisa #handmade #kelbournewoolens #croppedsweater #summerknits
After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m ba After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m back with a brand new pattern in 9 sizes, and it’s FREE as part of @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn’s summer design collection! (Link is in my bio.)
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In my December newsletter, I announced that I was soliciting test knitters for a pattern that had originally been selected for the summer ’24 issue of Pom Pom Quarterly magazine. However, the magazine ceased publication after its spring ’24 issue, leaving in-progress designs unpublished. (It happens.) As a result, I’d begun the long process of editing, testing, and photographing the pattern for independent release through the Hands Occupied pattern shop and Ravelry.
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Before I was done with that process, Pom Pom Quarterly’s former editors reached out with an exciting proposal for the pattern. Post-magazine, they’ve begun to partner with yarn companies to produce high quality pattern collections. They wanted to include designs from the would-be current issue of Pom Pom Quarterly in a new collection for Hobbii yarn, including my Bevelled Tank. I worked with the same technical editors I would have for the magazine on this one, and as you can see from the photos, Pom Pom’s team did an amazing job of styling the garment to the beautiful standards they’re known for.
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You can learn more about the pattern on my blog and get the free pattern from Hobbii yarn - links to both in my profile. I’ll post sizing info in the comments for quick reference too. 🧶
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #knitting #intarsia #sponsored #colorworkknitting 
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Photos: @dianascarrunz 
Model: @angel.jade_
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Blue version 💙: knit with @eweeweyarns Ewe So Sporty in Sky Blue. Paired with the 1940s Boardwalk Duet sewing pattern from @decades_of_style 
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Image descriptions available in alt text. 
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P.S. I did like this design concept, but to make the pattern more knitter friendly as well as more wearable, I am making some tweaks to the construction. Excited to share when it’s ready! 🥰🧶
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Yarn: @blueskyfibers Woolstok North in Morning Frost & Highland Fleece 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #frogging #blueskyfibers #knittersofinstagram #blueskymakers #knittingvocabulary #bsfmakers #knitdesign
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