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Holly Kane ✷

@heywhiterabbit

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fibresmith
I like to make, mend, teach, share, sew, knit, etc.

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my #janettecardigan finally off my needles !

✷ pattern: #janettecardigan by @morecaknit best pattern I've ever used! Such good shoulder shaping
✷ yarn: 9.5 balls of concept by katia merino & 7 balls of @samil_natural_fibres mohair that I won in the @capetowncraftclub quiz
✷ loved knitting this and am loving wearing it ! by @heywhiterabbit

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4 months ago

🤭

Blocking in progress. Will be ready in a few days! #dagmarsweater by @heywhiterabbit

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a year ago

I feel a bit like a doll in this top - in the absolute best way 🎀

I love love love how this project turned out. I love the drama of the sleeves, the neatness of the smocking, and how the colour matches my favourite shoes.

This was my first time trying out english smocking, and I adore the end result. It's a slow slow process, but some juice is worth the squeeze.

✷ pattern: this is a heavily hacked #olyashirt. You could make similar adjustments to any shirt pattern to get the same vibe :) I've made the olya shirt a few times (but haven't posted any of them oops!) so felt comfortable adjusting the pattern.

Alterations I made:
- doubled width of front and back panel
- removed button placket
- widened sleeve cuff so I could add in the smocking detail
- added a long rectangular piece instead of the collar so I can tie it into a bow. I was thinking of doing quilling ribbons, but did some testers and the fabric was just too thick.

✷ fabric: brown thin cotton from fabric world

✷ true cost: ~20 hours of sewing and hand smocking, R279 worth of fabric

✷ this idea was inspired by the beautiful smocking of @makehell and @cawleystudio by @heywhiterabbit

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2 years ago

!!! drape tee release day ! I was one of the pattern testers and I can't wait to see this pattern out in the world :)

✷ pattern: #thedrapetee by @loupystudio
Size 4, 6mm version (but actually used 5.5mm to get gauge).

✷ yarn: two strands held together of dreamy dreamy kidsilk mohair from @samil_natural_fibres

✷ alterations: This was a test knit, so I did quite a few adjustments which have been added into the pattern :) Main things were reducing the length and casting on extra stitches at the underarm. Also added long sleeves, provisional cast on at the shoulders and no decreases to the wrist. If I knit it again, I'd do the ribbing alteration at the waist and probably go down a size.

Overall I'm sooo so happy with this piece. I've long admired Evvia's clever construction, so it was such a treat to get my hands on this pattern early. Definitely will be making a tee version with some viscose cotton I have in my stash :)

#thedrapetee #drapetee

✷ colour & stripes ! I settled on a periwinkle blue and chocolate brown. Stripe pattern is 6-2-6-2-2-2, repeat. So happy with how balanced the colours look!

Sooo many swatches >:) @samil_natural_fibres sent me a big box of mohair a few months ago and it's such a treat to play around with colour combos without committing to buying a ball in every colour. Has definitely brought more creative vibes to my knitting !

How epic do the stripes look at the shoulder?

Knitting at the @twygmag Africa Textile Talks

Before adding sleeves!

It looks so funny laid flat 🤭 such a clever construction !

Mandatory video showing the fit for any knitters thinking of buying the pattern! by @heywhiterabbit

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16 days ago

new skirt woohoo! My Pinterest has been full of plaid skirts for a while now so I knew it was time 😌

✷ pattern: third time using the #mercerbiasskirt by @thepatternline - cooked it up in just a few hours the night before Africa Textile Talks because I didn't know what to wear. French seams everywhere. Love that this pattern has an elastic waist but no ruffles.

✷ fabric: bought this lightweight cotton plaid from uncle Harold at Nicholson Textiles. Chatted with him for about an hour about the local textile mills. Very wholesome guy and he has a great selection of cotton knit fabric which is sooo hard to come by in Cape Town (this is foreshadowing for my other most recent finished project!). I was sceptical at first whether I'd get much wear out of this fabric but actually a plaid is soooo easy to style and this one is a combo of my most worn colours. Love how the plaid looks on the diagonal. Also, the elastic I used was a really nice quality one I bought in Aus. The elastic I used in my other pairs was kak quality and too thin :/ this one is already looking so much better and gives the waist better definition

✷ alterations: added a simple lining but otherwise no changes. Added darts to my last pair but didn't seem to need it with this fabric. The cotton worked out better than I expected cut on the bias.

✷ Honourable mention to the red coral beaded necklace I made that goes perfectly with this dress! by @heywhiterabbit

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2 months ago

a quick fluffy beanie for cold cold cape town

I recently received a massive box of mohair from @samil_natural_fibres (love you cayly 😚) and was frozen by all the choice. I decided to start with the two colours I wear most (navy and plum) and make a simple beanie ☺️

✷ pattern: @purlsoho #givinghat
✷ alterations: I can never resist doing some pattern alterations 🤭 I adjusted the decreases to avoid that weird pointy apex. Instead of decreasing evenly throughout, I did double the decreases in the second last row, and then k2tog for the whole of the last row.
✷ yarn: thick fuzzy mohair from @samil_natural_fibres which knits up sooo quickly
✷ I've had some great beanies over the years but always seem to lose them, so I'm very happy to replenish my stash :) by @heywhiterabbit

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3 months ago

colour choice and ribbing very much inspired by @hanaanbonet ! Cast on at Shelley beach in Sydney, Australia

✷ yarn: 50g of @westyorkshirespinners Signature 4 Ply in Cardamom. It was nice to knit with but it is pilling like *crazy*. Bought this yarn while in Aus cause I needed a travel project :)

✷ pattern: Up & Down Vanilla Swirl by Holly Isaac. It's a short row heel with a wedge gusset and it fits soooo good.

✷ over time I've learnt a lot about how I like to knit socks! This is my current preference. Knit two at a time using magic loop. Toe up so I can try on as I go. 28 stitch circumference, knit on 2.25mm needles. I did double the increases for the first two increase rounds in the toe so they don't look so pointy. This pattern has a mini wedge gusset and shadow wrap heel. Loved the fit. Heel flaps fit well but are too ugly imo. First time trying Jeny's interlock bind off and it is SO stretchy but doesn't flare. I did 3x1 rib for most of the sock, and then finished with 1x1. I wish my tension with the ribbing were better, might try knitting them inside out next time a la @hanaanbonet

I still have half a ball of this yarn, so might do another pair with a contrast heel/toe. Tried to do a striped pair but the yarn management was tedious and it's been abandoned :p by @heywhiterabbit

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3 months ago

Some pretty photos from the Curious Creatives pop up exhibition back in October 🥹❤️

It was a very special weekend filled with darning mushrooms and laughter and lovely chats with other creative people :)

📸 @_sunkissed_illustrations by @heywhiterabbit

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7 months ago

Visit the In Circulation booth at @investeccapetownartfair this weekend to see some lovely zines !

Thanks @twygmag for the workshop :) by @heywhiterabbit

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7 months ago

made a stunning skirt and a stunning top for a stunning wedding !

✷ pattern: #woosterbiastop and #mercerbiasskirt by @thepatternline :) honestly the Mercer skirt is probably my favourite pattern to date - simple but it uses couture techniques for a reaaaally nice finish. French seams, hand basting, fabric cut on the bias, sooo much goodness!
✷ modifications: I shortened the top by 3 inches, and plan to grade to a bigger size at the hips for the next one. I added two darts to the back of the skirt, taking off about 2 inches from the waist. My hips are a size up from my bust/waist so these are pretty standard mods for me.
✷ fabric: the man at studio 47 first said it was linen, then a linen cotton blend, and then wrote rayon on my receipt 🤨 I used about 3.5m for the top and skirt - cutting on the bias really gobbles fabric!

Overall I looove the skirt and will be making many more in plenty of colours for summer! The top I'm unsure of, I think I prefer it when not worn with the skirt. I wore it to a craft-themed pub quiz and won so that's a bonus ! by @heywhiterabbit

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10 months ago

A fun, fast project to get my groove back. Knit while lying in the morning sun on my bed or drinking chai lattes with friends.

✷ pattern: #helixbag from @rows_knitwear
✷ materials: a curtain that I bought secondhand in fish hoek and cut into strips.
✷ I have some fabric spare, so will likely sew a lining and some pockets. Still undecided whether I will do a drawstring or a zip :-) by @heywhiterabbit

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10 months ago

two weeks of inspiration gleaning (and a bit of on-the-go mending of course) in Manchester and London 🫶 by @heywhiterabbit

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a year ago