Fall/Winter Holla Knits is Here!

The new edition of Holla Knits is out, and it looks so cute I can’t even stand it. If you don’t know about Holla Knits, you should. It’s the brainchild of Allyson Dykhuizen, who also runs the website The Sweatshop of Love. I interviewed Allyson over at About when the first edition of Holla Knits came out earlier this year, so check that out for all the backstory.

The new version for fall has six patterns, and I want to knit about five of them (sorry, cabled shorts!). My favorites, though, are the Devon Cardigan by Karin Kemper, a sort of slouchy cardi worked with stripes in a different color and pattern than the rest of the sweater; Lilith Ubberlohde’s Sexxxy Librarian, a close-fitting, cabled, cowl-necked vest; and Allyson’s own New Girl skirt, which may be the thing that gets me to knit a skirt. It’s a circle skirt with an elastic waist and pockets (be still my knitterly heart!), as well as some cute color and texture blocking.

Each pattern is shown both in two sizes and in two yarns: one is an indie yarn maker and the other is Knit Picks. Patterns are available for purchase individually or you can get a yearly subscription for $36, which gets you three issues of six patterns each as well as access to special videos and a chance to win yarn and needles to make projects from the collections.

[Photo via Holla Knits.]Looking for Fall patterns to Knit? Check out these Fall knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

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Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]

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