Tag: Holla Knits

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Multiplicity

I finished my Multiplicity purse this afternoon, and I love it!  The purse is knit using double knit, which I had been wanting to learn for some time.  The technique is interesting because one creates a double sided fabric by knitting one stitch from one side then one stitch from the other.  The stitches from both sides are alternating on one set of needles.  In the case of this purse, the fabric was grey with yellow details on one side and yellow with grey details on the other.  The purse features a large main pocket that folds over a smaller pocket.  I purchased the leather strap from Homestead Heirlooms.

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Difficulty:  Moderate

Time Required:  12 Movies

Overall Experience:  Excellent

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Bombshell Shorts

I finally finished my Bombshell Shorts!  It took me a while because I had several other projects in the works at the same time.  They turned out adorable.  I love love love them.  The pattern was very customizable.  My goal here is to share how I customized it and what I would do differently if I made them again.

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  • The length of the shorts is customizable.  The length that is suggested is longer than I would wear, but a short length suggestion isn’t given.  I knitted the band at the bottom of the shorts and knit the first 8 rows of the first 16 row repeat before joining.  I like the length of the front of the shorts, but my butt requires more material in the back.  They are shorter than I would prefer in the back.  I would knit 12-16 rows of the first 16 row repeat before joining if I were to make them again.  Ideally, the back could be made longer.  At least on me, the difference in length in the front and back is noticeable if you are really looking.  I don’t think there is really any way to do that with this pattern.
  • The pattern suggests that the knitter can decrease for butt shaping if a gap starts to form, but doesn’t give any details on where to decrease.  I didn’t have a noticeable gap until I reached Row 8 of my fourth 16 row repeat.  I made a size medium and decreased as follows:
    • Row 9:  Pearl each stitch until two stitches before the first 4-Stitch Cable, pearl two together, follow established pattern until last 4-Stitch Cable is complete, pearl two together though back loops, pearl until end of row (following rows will have two fewer pear stitches in back panel)
    • Row 10:  Follow pattern until second 4-Stitch Cable is complete, pearl 1, pearl two together, Celtic Cable, pearl two together through back loops, follow pattern until sixth 4-Stitch Cable is complete, pearl 1, pearl two together, Celtic Cable, pearl two together through back loops, follow pattern until end of row (the following rows will have one fewer pearl stitch on each side of Celtic Cable)
    • Row 11:  Pearl each stitch until two stitches before the first 4-Stitch Cable, pearl two together, follow established pattern until last 4-Stitch Cable is complete, pearl two together though back loops, pearl until end of row (following rows will have two fewer pear stitches in back panel)
    • Row 12:  Follow established pattern
    • Row 13:  Pearl each stitch until two stitches before the first 4-Stitch Cable, pearl two together, follow established pattern until last 4-Stitch Cable is complete, pearl two together though back loops, pearl until end of row (following rows will have two fewer pear stitches in back panel)
    • Row 14:  Follow established pattern
    • Row 15:  Pearl each stitch until two stitches before the first 4-Stitch Cable, pearl two together, follow established pattern until last 4-Stitch Cable is complete, pearl two together though back loops, pearl until end of row (following rows will have two fewer pear stitches in back panel)
    • Row 16:  Follow established pattern
  • My shorts bunch a little bit in the front crotch area.  If I were to make these again, I would try to work out some shaping in this area.

Difficulty:  Moderate-Hard

Time Required:  40 Movies

Overall Experience:  Excellent

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Bombshell Shorts Week 4

I did not get a lot of knitting accomplished over the last week.  My parents came into town.  Then my husband and I both caught my dad’s illness.  Here’s a progress picture for the Bombshell Shorts.  I’m still loving these cables!

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Obsessed with Bombshell Shorts

None of my recent projects have featured cables, and I didn’t realize how much I missed them until I cast on Bombshell Shorts!  I’ve been obsessed with these cables this week and basically neglecting my other projects.  I also really like how the shorts are fitting thus far.  Please ignore my spandex-clad booty.

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KALs, KALs, KALs

I’ve knitted a ton this week and have nothing finished to show for it.  Here is a progress picture of all three of my current knit-a-long (KAL) projects.

  • Socks with Sarah is still going steady.  I’ve knit at least one row on the sock everyday that I’ve knitted since January 15.  (I think there have only been two days that I haven’t knitted.)  I don’t have much to show for it.  Sock knitting has tons of tiny stitches and it hasn’t been my main focus.
  • Multiplicity is tons of fun!  Learning to double knit was enjoyable, and I love the two sided fabric.
  • Of all knitting techniques, I think cables are still my favorites.  Bombshell Shorts lets me cable to my heart’s content.

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Etsy and KALs

Over the past few years, I’ve opened my Etsy store twice and never sold a single item.  Over the last few months, a lot of my friends have requested me to knit or crochet something for them.  They almost always ask if I have an Etsy store.  I finally ran out of orders, and decided to try Etsy one more time.  I gave my shop a facelift and uploaded pictures of all of my recent original projects that I could make quickly if ordered.  Check out my new and  improved store here.

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In the mean time, I’m working on designing Alice in Wonderland inspired top hats for the Crochet Crowd’s challenge.  My designs are top secret until after the competition is over.  I’m also starting two additional knit-a-longs (KALs) in addition to Socks with Sarah.  The KALs are hosted by Holla Knits, the same blog that hosted my last KAL.  I’m making Multiplicity and Bombshell Shorts over the next three months.  Cast on day is today.  I’m excited!

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Finished Nachtfalter and Misadventures

Behind, behind, behind…

Due to work vamping up right before my dissertation defense, I got way behind on my summer knit-a-long project. The website said I had until Monday, July 22 to post my finished picture. I took that to mean that I could post a picture on July 22, but I wasn’t sure. I knitted all day on Sunday, July 21, but at 11 pm I was worn out. I had all but three rows of knitting finished, but I still needed to bind off, sew up the sides, and tuck in all of my ends. On July 22 I was disappointed to find out that I had to submit my picture before July 22 to be eligible for prizes. I was still planning to finish my sweater on July 22; however…

The cat peed on my wedding dress

I picked up my dress about two weeks ago. My fiance has two extra closets with basically no clothing in them. I chose the taller closet, hung my plastic enclosed dress in it, and shut the stiff-hinged accordion-style doors. My fiance has a cat. Somehow she managed to get the door open and pee on the dress. I don’t have a clue how she got the door open. It’s difficult for me to open. Most of the pee was caught by the plastic bag, but some of it seeped through. There were only a couple of spots of yellow, but the dress reeked of cat pee. I spent all of Monday evening trying to get the smell and yellow out. I did both successfully. Yay! Needless to say, the cat is in trouble.

Kittyface and Kittyface

Finishing the sweater

I didn’t finish the sweater until Tuesday night. I wore it to work today (Wednesday). It turned out really cute! My colleagues couldn’t believe that I actually made it.

Nachtfalter Front

Nachtfalter Back

Pattern Tips

The pattern can be purchased at Holla Knits (the store/blog that hosted the knit-a-long).

Usually I post tips and hints for things that I make, but I basically made this pattern as written. I lot of other people were making this sweater at the same time, so they posted tips about what they were doing. You may find these resources helpful.

  • Stefanie (the pattern author) gave some helpful tips for the butterfly lace on her blog
  • I used a crocheted seam on the sides of the sweater, already described here
  • There is a Ravelry discussion that talks all about the project here
  • A lot of people ran out of yarn because the quantities in the pattern were a little off. I think that the pattern has been remedied, but I’m not sure.

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

The lace was difficult if you have never knitted lace before.

Time Required: ~50 movies

Overall Experience: Good

This was really fun to knit, and I love how it turned out!

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Nachtfalter Summer Knit-a-Long Week 6 Progress

Well… I should have had the sweater finished by today, but we were all graciously given another week.  I’ve knit 5/16 of the back lace repeats in the last two days.  Hopefully I can finish by next Sunday!  I love how it is turning out.

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Nachtfalter Front

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Nachtfalter Summer Knit-a-Long–Finished Front

I have been furiously finishing my dissertation this week, which resulted in no knitting from Sunday through Thursday.  I finally finished the front of my summer sweater this morning, almost two weeks late.  I’m really pleased with the way that it looks.  I wanted to post a quick picture of it pinned to my form.  Now I need to address those wedding invitations.  I picked up my wedding dress this morning.  Exciting!  Only 85 days until I walk down the aisle!

Nachtfalter Front

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Nachtfalter Summer Knit-a-Long Week 5 Progress

So…  I’m pretty much behind on everything.  I’m behind on my dissertation writing goal.  The wedding invitations should have gone out on July 5 and won’t be going out until after I get my dissertation done.  I’m way behind on my summer knit-a-long project.  At this point I should have 16 lace repeats finished for the front of the sweater and 8 on the back.  I have 15 total.  The good news is that Katie and Allison, who are in charge of the knit-a-long, have decided to give us an extra week to finish.  That should be perfect.  I’m almost exactly one week behind at this point.  See my progress below.

Week 5

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