Category: Uncategorized

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Lavenda Rainbow Jumper Knit-a-long

Lizzie Violet

Hello all! I know, it’s been a while. Life. Life has been crazy busy and unfortunately, I really haven’t had the energy to blog. That however has changed and I’m back at it. I will hopefully, be doing more with the Haslam Tutorials in the new year so, stay tuned.

I’ve been wanting to knit the Lavenda Rainbow Jumper forever! I’ve actually had the yarn in my stash for a few years now. I’m certain you’ve seen many versions of this fun and versatile pattern and as a matter of fact, those who saw JoJo Rabbit, would have caught a glimpse of it on the lovely Scarlett Johansson. I kept putting off knitting it to work on other projects and sometimes, we just need a little push, so… here is my push. Let’s do a knit-a-long!

We will be hosting the KAL over on Discord (link: https://discord.gg/4q5EpGS6Fh). If you post about your progress on social media, please use hashtag #lavendarainbowjumperKAL.

There is no firm start or end. Join when you can. I’m starting beginning of next week.

We have a link to a free pattern for the KAL and you will find it over on Discord.

Let me know if you are joining in.

Uncategorized

To Knit or Not to Knit

Lizzie Violet

Well, that is the question. Today I took a long hard look at all of my handmade sweaters. Which ones I wear often and which ones I don’t. (usually the don’ts are ones I’m not happy with) For the longest time I would knit to keep my hands busy and as a way of mediation and stress relief. Due to this, the sweater cubby is bursting. The problem is, I still want to, need to knit!!! What’s a girl to do? I have a solution. We always have a solution. I’ve broken it down below.

  1. Allow yourself 2 personal knits/crochet per season. Only knit to fill holes in my wardrobe.
  2. Knit more garments as gifts.
  3. Knit to stockpile for when you can sell at artisan shows again. (or if not possible, I may start selling online)
  4. SEW MORE!

I’m a huge fan of #4. I’m also not sewing as many garments as I did before. Now it’s quality over quantity and I’m working to fill holes in my wardrobe as well. I have to keep reminding myself that I don’t need to sew and knit EVERYTHING!

That all said, I have chosen two knits (above), that will be my fall knits. I’m currently working on my summer ones, the Denise jumper and a summer, cotton, crocheted jumper (both below). Once those are done, that is it for my own personal summer knitting. Currently we have a pop-up knit-a-long over in our Vintage WIPs Facebook group. There is no deadline and you can join when you like.

Speaking of knit-a-longs, once I’m done Denise, I will be starting the two-toned cardigan and we will have another pop-up knit-a-long for that as well. I will announce it here!

Where to find the patterns. (click on the photos and it will take you to the pattern – some are free and some are paid)

What are you knitting plans? Do you limit yourself? Or do you knit all the things?

Uncategorized

Our First Knit-a-long for 2019 is a Stripes-a-long!

Lizzie Violet

Whether vertical or horizontal, everyone needs some stripes in their vintage wardrobe! Adding a little texture or patterns to your knit also makes it all that much more fun!  For our first vintage knit-along for 2019 let’s do a stripes-a-long!

For this knit-a-long, you can use your own pattern, it just needs to be vintage (1920s to 1950s) and have a stripe texture. Not worry, if you don’t have a pattern in your stash I will be providing some patterns or information on where to search!  The patterns I am providing are all free for use and will be in the files area of our Facebook Group. I will also have an information document in the group as well. The stripes-a-long will run from January 1st to March 31st, 2019.

Link to our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/killerkitschvintageknitalong/

If you post your KAL photos on Instagram please tag me at @killerkitsch13 and use tags #killerkitschknitalong and #stripesalong.

1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, free knitting pattern, knit-a-long, knitting, knitting community, sew-a-long, sewing, Uncategorized, vintage knitting, vintage knitting patterns, vintage sewing

December Beret-a-long!

Lizzie Violet

The beret has been an accessory for centuries but became a fashion staple when made popular in the 1920s by sassy actresses such as Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Marlene Dietrich, Carol Lombard, and Marion Davies. It continued to be popular as each decade of fashion changed and it is a popular quick knit, crochet or sew when you need to add a little something extra to your wardrobe!

The beret is versatile and can be worn with short hair or long hair. It can be worn all year long. It can be knit, crocheted or sewn! It really is the perfect fashion accessory. For the entire month of December, we will be doing a Beret-a-long in conjunction with the ongoing Accessory-a-long! You can knit, crochet or sew your beret!

 

 



To be part of our Beret-a-long, please join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/killerkitschvintagewips/. If you aren’t on Facebook, you can still join in the fun via Instagram!

If you make a beret, please use the hashtags #beretalong #killerkitschknitalong #killerkitschsewalong and please tag @killerkitsch13 (Instagram).

1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, free knitting pattern, knitting, knitting community, Uncategorized, vintage knitting, vintage knitting patterns

November Knit-a-longs!

Lizzie Violet

Hello! For the month of November we will be doing TWO KALs! All of the details are below!

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Raise your hand if you’ve started knitting your Xmas Jumpers!!! If not, don’t worry, we have the perfect knit-a-long for you! For the month of November we will be knitting Andi Satterlund’s Julgran Jumper! This jumper is knitted in worsted weight and will be a fast knit! We will begin on November 1st and have an end date of November 30th, BUT don’t worry, if you don’t think you can finish it by then, please still do the KAL. It will be a lot of fun!

Andi has very generously provided us with a discount code for the pattern. To receive the code and to join the KAL, please go to our Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/killerkitschvintageWIPs/

Andi is super excited that we are doing a KAL for her sweater! I hope you are as well!

The KAL will be from November 1st to November 30th and as with all other KALs and SALs, if you post on Instagram please tag @killerkitsch13 @andisatt and use hashtags #killerkitschknitalong, #andisatt and #julgranalong.

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For some of us the colder weather is coming and with the chilly air and snowflakes we need fall and winter accessories! It’s also time to start your Xmas gifts and what better gift than a handmade accessory!!! For these reasons and sometimes you just need a quick fun knit, we’ve decided to have an accessory-a-long!

The accessory-a-long will run from November 1st to February 28th! It can be a pattern in our .pdf document or one of your own favourite patterns! If you have any patterns that you want to add to accessory-a-long, please send me a .pdf or jpg files and will add them. 

As with all other KALs and SALs, if you post on Instagram please tag @killerkitsch13 and use hashtags #killerkitschknitalong #accessoryalong

Thank you to Erica and Beth for providing patterns for this KAL!

Since we are doing a KAL, we won’t be doing a SAL in November. We will continue with SALs in December.

1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, halloween, halloween-a-long, sew-a-long, sewing, Uncategorized, vintage, Vintage Community, vintage life, vintage pattern, vintage reproduction, vintage sewing, vintage style

Halloween-a-long

Lizzie Violet

The most spooktacular time of the year! Halloween oh how I love thee! For the entire month of October, we are going to have a Halloween-a-long! Let’s make some vintage style Halloween themed garments! I will leave the style of vintage type garment up to you, the only catch is it must be Halloween themed. You can do this with colours, material patterns, by adding adornments or show us the costume you are making!  I plan on making a few Halloween themed circle skirts! Show us your spooktacular creations!

 

To join in all of the fun, please join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/killerkitschvintagewips/

If you post photos on Instagram, please tag me @killerkitsch13 and use hashtags, #killerkitschsewalong #halloweenalong

We are starting on October  1st and will do the SAL for the month of October!

Everyone is welcome to join!

1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, free knitting pattern, knit-a-long, knitting, knitting community, Uncategorized, vintage, Vintage Community, vintage knitting, vintage knitting patterns, vintage life, vintage pattern, vintage reproduction, vintage style

Schiaparelli Bowknot Sweater Knit-a-long

Lizzie Violet

Let’s get all tied up with our bowtie-a-long. See what I did there… all tied up. Bowtie… Ok. Let’s move along.

For our October to December knit-a-long let’s do a bowtie-a-long. We will have two patterns available for this knit-a-long. The first is the Bow-tie Spencer and the second pattern is an updated version of the Elsa Schiaparelli Bowknot sweater. The pattern was re-created and by knitwear designer Lisa Stockebrand (https://www.ravelry.com/designers/lisa-stockebrand). It is a free Ravelry pattern, but for ease, I have put a .pdf pattern in the files area of our Killer Kitsch Vintage Knit-a-long Facebook Group. Both patterns will be available there.

The Elsa Schiaparelli Bowknot sweater is from her 1927 collection. It is beyond stunning!

If you want to learn more about Elsa Schiaparelli and her designs, this is a great blog to start with. https://blog.pattern-vault.com/2014/01/22/schiaparelli-patterns-part-1/ or the official website. http://www.schiaparelli.com/fr/maison-schiaparelli/l-histoire-de-la-maison/#annees20

I am excited to see what you come up with! I think these are perfect Christmas/Yule jumpers!

To join our October to December KAL and any of our other KALs, please join our Facebook group. Killer Kitsch Vintage Knit-a-long — https://www.facebook.com/groups/killerkitschvintageknitalong/

If you post your KAL photos on Instagram please tag me at @killerkitsch13 and use tags #killerkitschknitalong and #bowtiealong.

1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, b-movie, knitting, knitting community, Uncategorized, vintage, Vintage Community, vintage knitting, vintage life, vintage pattern, vintage reproduction, vintage sewing, vintage style

This Retro Life

Lizzie Violet

Thank you Kia from This Retro Life for a wonderful chat! It was a lot of fun to talk about my passion for vintage, sewing, knitting and B-movies! Please check out, like her page and podcast. Kia’s podcast is chalk full of amazing vintage chats!

You can find This Retro Life by clicking the below link or on most podcast apps such as iTunes, PlayFm or Stitcher.

Please also check out This Retro Life’s website.

1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, sewing, Uncategorized, vintage, Vintage Community, vintage life, vintage pattern, vintage reproduction, vintage sewing, vintage style

Goredskirt-a-long

Lizzie Violet

I’m excited about the gored skirt sew-a-long. This is a wardrobe staple and will fit in with every vintage wardrobe. The gored skirt dates back to the 14th century and is much used in 19th century. Very popular in the late 1860s, mid-1890s, early 20th century, 1930s, 1940s, and now worn as a classic skirt style.  

The beauty of a gored skirt pattern is it is easier to add or remove panels or make them larger to fit your curves! You can also do a straight bottom, rounded panels or make a tulip shaped bottom! Many, many options.  The additional beauty of this sew-a-long is you can use a commercial pattern, your own pattern or self-draft the skirt. I’ve included links to both self-drafted or paid patterns information in our Facebook group.

This sew-a-long will run from September 15th to September 30th.

I have created an FAQ page with links and you will find it in the files over at our Killer Kitsch Vintage WIPs group. There is a variety of tutorials that are very easy to follow.

If you post photos on Instagram, please tag me @killerkitsch13 and use hashtags, #killerkitschsewalong #goredskirtsewalong

Everyone is welcome to join!

1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, sewing, Uncategorized, vintage, Vintage Community, vintage knitting, vintage knitting patterns, vintage life, vintage pattern, vintage reproduction, vintage sewing, vintage style

I’ve Awoken the Monster

Lizzie Violet

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a little girl would draw and draw and draw. Some of those drawings were of glorious garments to be worn by princesses and queens. Then one day, an evil sorcerer cast a spell on the young girl forcing her to take job after job after job leaving little time to draw or sew. This left the little girl very, very sad.

One day, while the little girl was re-arranging books on a very dusty bookcase, she came across a book of drawings. These drawings looked familiar and a nostalgia began to build in that little girl. It grew and grew and grew until that little part of her heart woke up again. A monster that had been hidden away, climbed out and reminded the little girl how much joy drawing and then turning her illustrations into garments made her. The little girl decided it was time to stop hiding that wonderful monster away! That little girl started drawing again, every single day!

Not the end, but a new beginning.

I am that little girl. After a few decades of not drawing, I have begun again. My skills are rusty. Oh boy… are they ever.  The thing is, you need to practice. They say 10,000 hours until you have finally got it. I’m about 14 or 15 hours in at this point. I have a ways to go.

You are wondering why I decided to begin again. For myself, it is easiest for me to articulate my ideas in writing and by drawing. Since I have begun making my own garments again, I have millions of ideas floating in my head. Many moons ago, I would sketch an outfit, draft up a pattern and make it. I’ve gotten back to the latter and need to do the former to help work out the look and feel. I’ve already created one of the outfits I drew.

I’m going to do something here. Step outside of my comfort zone. I’m going to post pictures of some of the drawings I’ve done so far (these are only a few, I haven’t taken pictures of everything). Maybe in a years time, when I look back, I will see an improvement. When you look at them, be gentle. I am just starting again after many years of not drawing. I’ve awoken a monster in my head and this is how to release it.

One hour at a time… 10,000 hours ahead of me!

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