Cowls on Knit Picks, Wheeee!

Gettin' chilly*? My cowl patterns are the perfect one-skein knit for fall! 

Chevron Sunshine Cowl, Tiny Cables Cowl, and Basketweave Neckerchief are all available on Knit Picks Independent Design Program! Each is knit with one skein of Knit Picks Gloss Fingering and size 6 needles. 

*Full disclosure: I'm not actually chilly. These photos of me in a jacket were taken in doors with the air conditioning on. It's still about 95 degrees in Southern California. :(

Holla Knits KAL Progress

The Holla Knits KAL is still chugging along! I finished this week's assignment while driving to Ojai and Santa Barbara for a little birthday getaway (pictures forthcoming). 

It's been relaxing to knit this over 8 weeks, instead of my usual rush-through-it method, where I just knit a garment as fast as humanly possible. I'm definitely not a process knitter, but it's been nice to just knit a bit, and then put it down. Yup, usually I can't put it down. I miiiight have a touch of the OCD. 

Recently Read: Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

Ok, I’ll admit it: Sometimes I sign up for these book reviews before I actually read through the book summary. The sign up sheets fill up so fast! And I love reading and doing reviews! 

This book - Daring Greatly by Brene Brown - was completely unexpected. After I realized what I had signed up for, a “self-help,” type book, I was dreading the reading. I’m not really a self help-y person. 

But Daring Greatly is about so much more than self-help. Brown writes a funny, insightful manual on shame and vulnerability, and offers personal stories and tips on how to deal with your own shame and build personal relationships by being vulnerable. I was riveted from the first chapter. 

Her work is profound for everyone, but I found many of the examples in the book apply directly to confidence in art and specifically, acting. Sharing yourself with another person is difficult enough in everyday life - sharing yourself at an audition is a whole other ball of wax. Try being vulnerable when everyone else in the room is blonder, skinnier, and has a longer resume!

Brown offers a few specific examples in the book, but one of her personal mantras stuck out to me. I immediately wrote it on a post it note and have been carrying it around in my planner. “Give me the courage to show up and let myself be seen.” Sounds like a good plan to me. 

This review is compensated as part of Blogher Book Reviews, but all opinions expressed are my own. I really do think this book is fabulous, and have already recommended it to friends! 

Little Yoda Bottle Cozy

I'm always on the lookout for cute baby patterns, and I've found a doozy in Gabrielle Thériaultin's Yoda Baby Bottle Cozy. 

I've had this one in my Ravelry queue for awhile, just waiting for the right moment. See, I like to save a few different levels of hand knit baby patterns, and I consider this pattern the perfect first level pattern. Just a little something to congratulate the expecting parents - a small toy, a pair of booties or socks, and now, Yoda on a baby bottle!

Those decreases look like little eyebrows, I love it!

He's knit with leftovers from my Christmas stockings, and covers a Nuk baby bottle. I don't actually know anything about baby bottles, so I hope this is an acceptable one to gift. 

I made a few changes - I knit the pattern on size 5 needles, instead of size 4. I also just knit until the body seemed like it would cover the bottle before doing some decreases at the top, and I only did one row of decreases (knit 5, k2tog, instead of as written). This means it's just a bit tight at the top, and fits this bottle well. And I embroidered large eyes, instead of squinty ones. 

I love the little hood on the back of the jacket! The details really make it. This is pretty much the perfect pattern for any Star Wars loving parents and their future-Star-Wars-loving baby! 

About the knit shorts...

Last week I released my newest Holla Knits pattern, and was reminded just how big the internet is, and how much we can learn from each other.

While an "Irish Car Bomb," is just a drink to Americans, it's a very real and recent horror for the British and Irish. I named my pattern "Irish Cable Bomb," thinking it was a clever way to play on several meanings at once - the design incorporates Celtic cables and is an edgy little pair of shorts, and I borrowed the structure of the drink name. Understandably, people who lived through The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the UK took offense.

I apologize wholeheartedly for any harm or offense I may have caused with this knitting pattern.

I have changed the name to "Bombshell Shorts," to capture the original intent of my pattern name. I was wrong, and I completely understand if you choose to not support my work in the future, or just don't like me very much right now.

After listening to victims sharing their stories and educating me on something that I, as an American under 30, had learned almost nothing about, I want to share a few links:

BBC History's Coverage of The Troubles
An Interactive Lesson about The Troubles
Foundation for Peace - Donate to help victims of The Troubles

Holla Knits Fall 2012 Launches Today!

I'm excited to announce that Holla Knits Fall 2012 Issue launches today!

All the patterns in this issue are awesome, and I'm happy that my Bombshell Shorts have been included!

These shorts are an addictive, cabley knit that will challenge your brain and your fingers. And unlike my last HK design, there's almost no finishing! It's knit with DK weight yarn on Size 5 needles, and you can buy it here or check it out on Ravelry, here.

Holla Knits KAL Week 3: Finished Front

I've finished the front of the sweater, whoohoo! 

This week's goal was easy peasy, and I actually finished almost a week ago, but I've been fighting some serious internet burn-out. You know how it is, you don't want to post, you don't want to tweet, and Facebook is terrible. What do you guys do to get that ole spark back again?