WIP Holla Knits Test Knit

Although my time is somewhat limited lately, I always make time to help Allyson out with her new patterns. She has helped me so often with clients and questions and I feel this is my way of making it up to her (while getting amazing yarn to knit and amazing design). The Holla Knits 2nd Spring Collection is coming soon and I am anxious to see all of the beautiful pieces and designs. I am currently working on one of Allyson's designs for this collection.

One of the best things about testing knitting for Allyson? I get beautiful hand dyed yarn for FREE (my reward for helping). I have received some of the most beautiful yarns when knitting these projects for her.

The Tigers and the World Series

For anyone who doesn't know, our family are avid Tigers fans. My husband is literally obsessed with baseball, especially Tigers Baseball. So much so that we are planning a vow renewal ceremony for our 5 year anniversary that will have a heavy Tigers influence and our kids' names are Nolan and Ryenn (I was tricked with Nolan's name after I said no professional athletes, but then couldn't get the name Ryenn out of my head for our little miss). But right now, we are only concerned with the Tigers winning the World Series.

Holla Knits Accessories: Multiplicity!

Welcome Holla Knits Readers! I am excited to once again have helped Allyson with test knitting her pattern for the Holla Knits Accessories issue. Not only do I help my sis out, but I get amazing knitted projects in the process!


Top: Emma Welford's Wallpaper Cowl, Katie Canavan's  Scallop of the Sea; Middle: Teresa Gregorio's Knight Service, Tara Shade's Black Swan; Bottom: Anna Elliott's Snowball Bonnet, Allyson Dykhuizen's Multiplicity

FO McCarren Park Cap

So due to my busyness, or maybe laziness, I didn't even mention last week that I was working on an order for a hat. My friend, Sam, saw one of the pictures from the Holla Knits photo shoot and LOVED the hat I was wearing with the Devon Cardigan. The hat belonged to Lily and just happened to be one of Allyson's designs.

WIP Holla Knits Accessory

Sometimes I feel like Holla Knits is my baby too, thanks to Allyson allowing me to be a part of the preproduction of it. This is my fourth test knit for her for Holla Knits, and every pattern is just as great as the last. There is amazing talent in the designers involved in Holla Knits.

Holla Knits Knit-along Week 4

Week number 5 of the knit-along started on Monday. However, with the overwhelming amount of orders I have this week, I have put both my knit-along sweaters on the back burner. That being said, I made some great progress on BOTH my sweaters this past week.

FO Modeling Photo Shoot

I was super excited to get the chance to model in the Fall/Winter issue of Holla Knits. It was great to work with Lily, Susan, and Allyson. It was a blast hanging out with them. And of course, what girl doesn't like to try on different outfits! The launch of this issue was on Monday and I must say it is packed with so many great patterns (one of which I got to test knit). I thought I would share some of the pictures we had, as well as show of the talent of these designers.

 

FO New Girl

The Fall/Winter 2012 issue of Holla Knits launched yesterday. Seeing as Allyson is my sister, I am lucky enough to see everything while it's "in the works." I also get to test knit Allyson's designs. The New Girl was my third test knit for Holla Knits.

Holla Knits Knit-along Week 3

Heading into week four for the Holla Knits knit-along, I am WAY ahead of schedule. This is mostly because I want to finish both of my sweaters on time. It also has something to do with the fact that I am modifying the pattern by adding sleeves of some sort to both tank tops.

Holla Knits Knit-along Week 2: part 2

I told you that I was being ambitious with this knit-along and attempting to finish 2 sweaters in 8 weeks. So far, I am ahead of schedule. I actually think I may finish this one this week. I am also debating on whether or not I want to make it a tank top.

I don't really wear tank tops too often and I am leaning more towards a short sleeve sweater. I couldn't find another set of size  needles around my house or in the stores, so I picked up a size 6. I decided to knit this sweater in the smallest size (29in) in order to make up for the size difference.

I also chose another Knit Picks Comfy Fingering weight yarn in Semolina. I am also going to attempt a yoke sweater. I LOVE the way this looks. I will just have to hone in my math skills to figure out what will be best for the stitch counts for this. I guess we will see.

Holla Knits Knit-along Week 2: part 1

I haven't mentioned yet that I am participating in a knit-along for Holla Knits. We are knitting Emma Wolford's pattern, the Holla Back Tank. I am still debating on whether I actually want to knit this as a tank top.

Modeling Photo Shoot?!

I never in a million years thought that I would be modeling for anything. Granted it is for Allyson's magazine so I kind of have an in with the boss, but still. I never thought I would feel comfortable enough with myself to model. But after losing so much weight, it was really a no brainer when Allyson asked me. I was excited and felt more comfortable after dieting.

Teasers of New Girl for Holla Knits Fall

I recently talked about the mystery knit that I was working on for Allyson for the fall edition of Holla Knits. Today I finished it. I had to do a bit of altering. Allyson helped me figure out that my knitting in the round gauge is different than my regular gauging. This makes complete sense, seeing as every knit that I knit in the round is off!

 

WIP Holla Knits Mystery Knit

When I got the yarn last week, I was in heaven. It's gorgeous and soft and, well, GORGEOUS!!!Working on this knit has been a bit monotonous, due to the immense amount of stockinette stitch. I feel that I don't have much to say about this knit so far that won't a) give away what it is, b) tell too much about the pattern itself, or c) again give away what it is.

Return of Holla Knits

I am proud to report that Allyson's baby was a huge success! Holla Knits' debut edition was beyond words! Every pattern was amazing. The designers involved had such great talent. I was so glad that I was able to help at all (by test knitting the Umbre Lovre and Put a Belt on it).

NEW YARN!!

FO Put a Belt on it

Although I have had this top finished for a while, it has taken me a while to get some pictures of this vest on me. I was excited to shoot some this week with Allyson so I could share the finished project with you. You can purchase the pattern for Put a Belt on it from Holla Knits. You can get just this pattern or subscribe to an amazing set of patterns. Enjoy!

FO Umbre Lovre

Although I have had this top finished for a while, it has taken me a while to get some pictures of it on me. I was excited to shoot some this week so I could share the finished project with you. You can purchase the pattern from Holla Knits. You can get just this pattern or subscribe to an amazing set of patterns. Enjoy!

Holla Knits the Sequel

I mentioned before that I was going to be knitting another sample for Allyson for the Holla Knits launch issue. I didn't think there could be a better pattern than the Umbre Lovre, but then I knit the second sample. This was an amazing knit full of gorgeous cables.

Cabley Goodness

This knit was amazing from the time I received this beautiful hand dyed yarn. I am feeling very spoiled and am not wanting to knit with anything other than hand dyed yarn. Its an amazing weight and fabulous colors. Allyson knows me very well because yellow is my favorite color. This is a goldeny yellow with gray accents. The gray sort of looks purple in some lights but I swear it is actually gray.

Great details

The details are amazing. The different stitch styles are so intelligently blended and used. It was one of the more difficult knits, technically speaking, I have knit (besides the Aidez confusion nightmare). I am not a pro at some of the elements but Allyson made this pattern very user friendly.

I am very excited for the rest of the patterns to be released because I have seen some finished samples, pictures, and works in progress. I am getting anxious to knit selfishly! And the big news, for those of you that don't follow me on twitter, I am designing me very first pattern as soon as I get the yarn delivered. Knit picks, here we come!!

FO Umbre Lovre

As stated before, I am test knitting some patterns for Allyson for her new baby, Holla Knits. I am finishing up the Umbre Lovre pattern, and I must say that I am absolutely in love with it! Its amazing colors and fantastic yarn (yes I know I mentioned that quite a bit before). Although I cannot show full pictures of the sweater, I will show some snippets of what's finished.

Starting to finish up

 I Love this teal color. Its AMAZING! I want to order a bunch of this color, just to knit a whole sweater of it.  I did have one issue where I didn't read my pattern thoroughly enough and screwed up. That's the problem with trying to knit with noisy kids surrounding you. I ended up pulling out 6 inches of the thing on Saturday! It was hard to do, but it had to be done.

AMAZING colors right?

I finally finished it on Sunday night and it looks great! Pictures do not do this any justice! Its greater, by far, in person! It is definitely worth subscribing to Allyson's e-zine. And that's just one pattern! Wait until you see the next one I am working on and the one's I gotten to peek at that will be included!!!!

Holla Knits

I have mentioned my sister, Allyson, quite a bit. She and my mother-in-law are the one's who have gotten me into knitting. They taught me how to knit in November 2009. I have been obsessed with it ever since. I stop to look at sweaters in the store to see if I could knit it ratehr than buy it. It's become an illness I believe. When Allsyon was here from Chicago at Christmas time, she was working on some things for her upcoming e-magazine, Holla Knits. I was absolutely in love with what she had on her needles! When I asked her if there was anything I could help with getting this project (meaning the whole magazine) up and running, she surprised me when she enlisted me to be a test knitter for her! I was super excited. I never thought of myself as on a level that would be good enough for that. I accepted and have been counting down the days to get started on these knits. 

Allyson posted this picture on her blog and I was anxiously waiting for this!

Allyson posted a picture of the yarn that Knits in Class had hand-dyed specifically for this project. I was like a puppy waiting by the door for their owner when I saw this picture, except I was waiting for some yarn! They are some of my favorite colors and I have never knit with hand-dyed yarns before!

Finally at home with me!

I received the yarn this past Friday and couldn't wait to get started. All of my knitting has had to take a back seat since I started school this January. Well this bad boy didn't sit in a bag too long. I got this on my needles on Saturday morning! I was loving the way the yarn felt and the colors and before you know it, I had quite a few rows done. 

Stained glass look

I absolutely loved what Allyson was knitting up and was excited when mine was looking the same (that tends to happen when you follow the same pattern). This "stained-glass" edging on the bottom of the Umbre Lovre Tee (amazing name right?) looks gorgeous! I cannot wait to get this done so I can wear it!

More edging

I was able to finish all of the bottom edging in a matter of an hour or two! The pattern is very easy to follow and very thorough. She does an amazing job! And Kate at Knits in Class will be releasing these yarn colors for you to purchase as well as Allyson will be selling subscriptions to her upcoming e-zine in April.