Hello and welcome! I’m Holly Chayes

I help makers, thinkers, builders, operators, creators, etc. implement solid containers for creative chaos, and functional systems for sustainable momentum, all in aid of making a life or business you love. 

Right now I’m working with people and businesses in a couple capacities… 

Business

Business coaching and consulting for small businesses ready to dig into the practicalities of what’s next.

When you’ve graduated from mindset-only to mindset+ 

When you’ve built something that functions but doesn’t flow yet.

When you’ve outgrown and overrun what used to work.

Whatever your stuck, we can get you moving on to what’s next.

Learn more and get in touch here

Individual

Life and clothing magic for individuals who thought they would be more prepared for this moment.

Personal or professional.

Once in a lifetime or every day.

A surprise or something you’ve been working towards for years.

Whatever this moment is, we can get you ready for it.

Discover more here

Projects

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Long Over Due

I must say that I’ve been a tad neglectful of the blog lately, but my life had taken on a few more levels of complexity since the end of August. I’ve moved, started classes (4 this semester), started two costume design internships, all the while trying to more forward with my knitting design, at a relatively steady pace.

Speaking of crazy busy and moving, the place I moved to has particularly horrible lighting. So, I will try to get as many pictures as possible, but I can’t promise pictures with every post. That being said, I will still be focussing primarily on my knitting and will get pictures whenever possible, but there will be many more descriptions than pictures. I’ve also got some article idea brewing, and have been itching to get back into writing, so I’ll be posting those once they have been researched, written, and edited.

Now onto what’s on (and off) my needles. Right before I moved, I got bitten by the accessories bug big time! Most notably fingerless gloves, and hats. Since then I’ve started and finished a pair and a half of long fingerless gloves, about 8 inches long, and a pair of wristlets that are about 4 and a half inches long. As well as, starting and finishing two hats, at which point I started a 3rd.
The completed pair of longer fingerless mitts, and the completed wristlets are variations on the same stitch pattern, and will be released together (maybe as a freebie?). The backs of the hands are made up of a simple lace ribbing, and the palms are stockinette. The long size has two inches of 1×1 ribbing all the way around the cuff to keep wind from climbing up the wearer’s arm. While on the wristlets the lace ribbing begins at the cast on edge and continues all the way up the fingers, with 1×1 ribbing for one inch on half of the cuff to keep it from curling.
While the half completed pair of long mitts is more unisex. The palm, 2/3rds of the back of the hand, and the thumb are all knit in 3×1 ribbing, making them lie flat and stretch enough to accommodate multiple hand sizes. The last 1/3rd of the back of the hand has simple but elegant braided cable running up it. These are destined to be my sister’s, but I think I might need to knit a pair for myself (not out of the charcoal gray that her’s are out of though). I’ve also got a possible matching hat kicking around my brain, so this pattern might end up being offered as a set.
Now onto the hats. This November I’m going to be releasing a set of 4 cabled and ribbed hats (for individual sale, and as an ebook) just in time for not quite last minute holiday gifts. At the moment I’m leaning towards Crisscross Caps being the title for the collection, though if anyone has any other ideas I’m always open to suggestions.
I’ve also got a new lace shawl, and a new lace scarf on the needles, as well as Icy Fields. But I think those will need to wait until later in the week, because this post is already getting quite long.

On the design front.
The Dancing Girls Scarf became available on Ravelry on September 5th, but I haven’t gotten around to writing up the release post or adding it to the Original Designs page. Both of these will happen later this week, fingers crossed.
I’ve also got plans to figure something out for the About Page this week. But I must admit that this isn’t at the very top of the to do list so it might not get done until later.
The Birds of a Feather Tam (Ravelry Link) went out to test knitters over the weekend, and I’m hoping to have the pattern released at the end of September/beginning of October.

I’m going to end it here, and will post again before the month is over. (I hope).

Baby’s Magic Blankie

Baby’s Magic Blankie is now available for purchase as a download, for $6.00 either on Ravelry, or directly through the blog by clicking this buy now button.

If you like this pattern you may also wish to purchase A Study in Grey, the shawl pattern that inspired this blanket.

You can buy both patterns at the same time for $9.00 total, either on Ravelry, or directly through the blog by clicking this buy now button.

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Based on the shawl A Study in Grey, this blanket has the same fundamental elements, but is knit on larger needles with a heavier yarn for a faster knit. This pattern also calls for a machine washable yarn, to make it as household friendly as possible. Available in two sizes, the baby size is perfect for bundling a baby up in, while the adult size is great for pulling around yourself while watching a movie and knitting, or reading a good book.

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If you like this pattern you may also wish to purchase A Study in Grey, the shawl pattern that inspired this blanket.

You can buy both patterns at the same time for a reduced price of $9.00.

Yarn: 1000 – 2100 yards (914 – 1920 m) of Knit Picks Stroll, or another fingering weight yarn

Needles: 1 set of US size 5s (3.75mm) circulars, and 2 US size 5 DPNs

Notions: 8 stitch markers
1 row marker

Gauge: 6.5sts/inch; 8.5 rows/inch in stockinette stitch

Blocked Dimensions: baby (37″x37″); adult (37″x74″)

Skills Used:
provisional cast on
knitting and purling
slipping stitches
picking up and knitting stitches
grafting
weaving in ends
blocking lace
knitting 2 and 3 stitches together
yarn over
slip, slip, knit
knit 2 together- through the back loop
slip, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over

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A Study in Grey

A Study in Grey is now available for purchase as a download, for $6.00 either on Ravelry, or directly through the blog by clicking this buy now button.

If you like this pattern you may also wish to purchase Baby’s Magic Blankie, a blanket (available in a baby as well as adult size) pattern inspired by this shawl.

You can buy both patterns at the same time for $9.00 total, either on Ravelry, or directly through the blog by clicking this buy now button.

Knit out of 100% baby alpaca, A Study in Grey looks great carefully draped over an elegant evening dress for a dinner party, casually thrown on over jeans and a shirt for a day of running errands, or wrapped around your shoulders to combat the air conditioning in a too chilly office building. The garter-based, knit on border lends a nice contrast to stockinette-based body, while the field of small and simple drops that make up the main body contrasts with the triangles which make up the base for the border. Yet the very subtle diagonal lines present in both stitches holds the piece together. All of these features combined create and air of Victorian inspired elegance.

Though this piece is knit on small needles using lace weight yarn, the easy to memorize pattern makes this shawl a good beginners lace project, and a relaxing project for the more experienced lace knitter. The main body of the stole is knit in one piece, beginning with a provisional cast on, then the border stitches are picked up, and the stole ends with a knit on border.

This download comes with a “printer friendly version” of the pattern, as well as a “normal version.” The idea of the “printer friendly version” is for the knitter to have a much smaller file, with all of the essential pattern information, but without the very large color intense photos. Along with a larger file, with the pattern and lots of photographs, as well as a description, and spacious formatting.

If you like this pattern you may also wish to purchase Baby’s Magic Blankie, a blanket (avalible in a baby as well as adult size) pattern inspired by this shawl.

You can buy both patterns at the same time for a reduced price of $9.00.

Yarn: 1700 yards (1554 meters) of Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud, or another lace weight yarn

Needles: 1 pair of US size 2s (2.75mm) circulars, and 2 US size 2 DPNs

Notions: 8 stitch markers
1 row marker

Gauge: 10sts/inch; 12 rows/inch in stockinette stitch

Blocked Dimensions: 25″x56″

Skills Used:
provisional cast on
knitting and purling
slipping stitches
picking up and knitting stitches
grafting
weaving in ends
blocking lace
knitting 2 and 3 stitches together
yarn over
slip, slip, knit
knit 2 together- through the back loop
slip, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over