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Enter the Knitcation contest & build your own travel wardrobe!

knitcationblog

Recently, I took a trip to Austin. On the plane, I wore my white Mabel pencil skirt, a simple black t-shirt from Everlane, and a scarf.

When I posted the photo to Instagram for Me Made May, I got a comment from Denise saying

I wore my #moneta on the plane today–it’s the perfect travel dress!

Knits are pretty much the ideal thing to travel in, no matter what the season.

  1. They’re comfortable.
  2. They’re easy to pack.
  3. They don’t wrinkle much.
  4. They’re easy to layer.
  5. They can be dressed up or down.

That’s why Kristen had the brilliant idea of doing a travel-themed contest. We’re calling it Knitcation, and we’ve got some fabulous prizes courtesy of Grey’s Fabric, Hart’s Fabric, and Brooklyn General Store.

How it works

The basic idea is this: Use the Mabel and Moneta patterns to create a 7-day wardrobe for a (real or imagined) trip.

Here’s how to enter:

  1. Decide where to go. Pick a fantasy destination, or plan for a real upcoming trip you might be taking.
  2. Create at least one Mabel and one Moneta. You can create more if you want, but there should be at least one of each.
  3. Photograph your makes. You can photograph them on yourself, on a hanger, on the floor, on a dress form if you have one… however you want.
  4. Create 7 days of outfits. Combine your Mabels and Monetas with other pieces to create 7 outifts for your trip. You can use photos from around the web, inspiration images of your destination, photos of other clothing you have or have made, or actually wear the outfits and photograph them. Do whatever will tell the story best. Make it inspiring and fun!
  5. Post your outfits online. You can post them to your blog, instagram, Flickr, a polyvore account, anywhere that they are public.
  6. Fill out an entry form. Click here for the form and tell us where we can see your entry. All entries must be submitted by the end of June (the 30th at midnight Pacific time).

How winners will be chosen

Winners will be chosen by the Colette Patterns team based on creativity, originality, and how well your finished images tell the story of your knitcation.

The prizes

A grand prize and second prize winner will be chosen, along with a bonus Instagram prize.

knitcation-prize

Grand prize:

You’ll receive a gift basket of fabric and goodies courtesy of Grey’s Fabric and Colette Patterns, along with a $200 gift certificate to Brooklyn General for fabric, tools, yarn, and more! This grand prize is worth over $400. You’ll get:

From Grey’s Fabric:

  • 1 handmade toadstool pincushion
  • 3 sublime stitching embroidery patterns
  • 2 yards orange double knit
  • 1.5 yards red rayon/spandex knit
  • 2 yards aqua cotton/spandex knit
  • 2 yards pink cotton/spandex knit
  • 3 yards thistle slub rayon knit
  • 3 yards neon stripe rayon knit
  • 5 yards white rayon sweater knit (to be dyed using included dyes)
  • 3 packets of dylon dye
  • 1 ruler set
  • 1 pin set
  • 2 ballpoint needle sets
  • 1 retractable tape measure
  • 1 twin stretch needle
  • 1 packet clear elastic
  • 1 vintage dress pouch

From Brooklyn General:

  • 1 $200 gift certificate!

Second Prize:

Second prize is a $200 gift certificate to the wonderful Hart’s Fabric, who has an amazing selection of quality fabric.

Bonus Prize:

Post one of your outfits (whether a photo of you or moodboard style image) to Instagram with the hashtag #knitcation and mention @colettepatterns. One instagram entry will be chosen at random for a bonus prize of a $100 Colette Pattern gift certificate. You can post just one, or your entire travel wardrobe.

In addition to these prizes, we’ll round up some of our favorites here on the blog.

Example entries

Here are some example entries that Kristen and I created using versions of Mabel and Moneta we’ve made.

Sarai’s trip to Mexico

I decided that my trip would be back to Mexico City.

mexico-city-day-1

mexico-city-day-2

mexico-city-day-3

mexico-city-day-4

mexico-city-day-5

mexico-city-day-6

mexico-city-day-7

I used 2 Mabels and 2 Monetas for my wardrobe. To see credits for other items, see my Mexico City collection on polyvore.

Kristen’s trip to Alaska

Kristen’s knitcation is to Alaska.

Knitcation-Alaska-01

Knitcation-Alaska-02

Knitcation-Alaska-03

Knitcation-Alaska-04

Knitcation-Alaska-05

Knitcation-Alaska-06

Knitcation-Alaska-07

Kristen used 1 Mabel and 2 Monetas for her travel wardrobe.

We both used Polyvore to create these images. You can use polyvore, photoshop, or free software such as Gimp or Picasa. There are even apps that make it easy to create collage images on your phone, like Fuzel.

If you want to use Polyvore like we did, we found the easiest thing to do was (1) take pictures of our garments, (2) upload them to Pinterest, (3) Clip the photos of the garments from Pinterest to Polyvore.

So start making your travel plans! We’re all going on knitcation.

Enter your finished outfits here

Sarai Mitnick

Founder

Sarai started Colette back in 2009. She believes the primary role of a business should be to help people. She loves good books, sewing with wool, her charming cats, working in her garden, and eating salsa.

Comments

Theresa

May 28, 2014 #

I had a question… Do I have to have a Mabel or a Monetta on each day? I was planning 1 Mabel (which I would wear 3 days, styled differently) and 2 Monettas (1 for 1 day and 1 for 2) Does there need to be a Monetta/Mabel on that 7th day? (If so, you talked me into a 3rd Monetta, oh my fabric budget lol)

Sarai

May 28, 2014 #

The idea is to showcase the versatility of these two patterns, so we’re asking you to create 7 outfits using these two, yes.

But you could also style one of your existing Monetas for another day!

Hanna

May 28, 2014 #

How exciting! I have both Moneta and Mabel patterns and knit fabrics ready! I also just tested out the twin needle and it’s so easy even though it seemed daunting! Perfect timing to find out there is a knitcation happening :)

Emily

May 28, 2014 #

How fun!! What is the deadline? And do we have to make all of the pieces or just the Mabel and Moneta? I would love to take part – I have the fabric and the patterns – but maybe not the time; I have to make my wedding dress first!

Sarai

May 28, 2014 #

See #6: “All entries must be submitted by the end of June (the 30th at midnight Pacific time).”

Leslie

May 28, 2014 #

Whenever I try to wear a knit dress or skirt over tights, it clings. Do people wear slips under their knit dresses or skirts? Thanks!

Becky

May 28, 2014 #

That’s what I do – thanks to some sage advice from my stylish friend. Now I wear dresses and skirts all winter long!

I’m looking forward to the contest!

Denise

May 28, 2014 #

Count me in!

Marika

May 28, 2014 #

Alright! I’m in, I’ve got two Mables made already. Just need to get Moneta and whip it up. Got the rest of my wardrobe planned in my head, now I just need to plan a vacation for this summer!

s.

May 28, 2014 #

These patterns really make me want to try sewing knits. However, one thing that deters me is, despite being really comfortable, my experience with the few knit garments I have is the fabric tends to pill. It’s hard for me to commit to buying fabric and a sewing project when I’m worried that the end result may only look nice for a few wears/washes.

Are there knits that don’t pill? Any tips on choosing fabric?

Jeni

May 28, 2014 #

This might be perfectly timed, as I actually am going on a vacation in June… to Portland, actually! I was already planning on making up a Mabel for the adventure, maybe this is my excuse to make a Moneta or two as well.

Debbie

May 28, 2014 #

Perfect timing! I am going on vacation at the end of August. Out west to Victoria and Torfino (Vancouver Island). I already have the fabric for a red mabel and a turquoise Moneta. Now to add one or two more and build my vacation wardrobe!

meredith

May 28, 2014 #

Awesome idea — I’ve got a few of each planned already, and making a week of outfits sounds fun!

Katie

May 28, 2014 #

Sounds great! I already have 3 Mabels under my belt (I love them) and I have my fabric for a Moneta ready to cut!

Helen!

May 28, 2014 #

Great way to have a fantasy week. Even though I haven’t a serger, I’m looking forward to learning how to work knits with a traditional machine. Now, off to my wardrobe fantasy…

Ami

May 29, 2014 #

Oooo this is such a fun contest! I have been wanting both these patterns since they came out and have just ordered them- yay!! Now where am I going to go for my knitcation…..

Shanna

May 30, 2014 #

Oh, that sounds great! I have the Moneta already, not quite sure about the Mabel, although I do see the potential – just not quite sold on such a skimming skirt on my behind. But I’ll give it a try!
We’re going camping in southern France in July, so that will be my destination: Languedoc-Rousillon area in France.

Adri

May 31, 2014 #

Oh My God… (picture Janis while reading it hahaha!) Sarai! Awesome, you chose to come back to Mexico City! I live on the same neighborhood from the place on “Day 6”! Love your outfit choices for sunny weather… it’s been an oven around here ja! Best wishes, A.

Sarai

June 2, 2014 #

Yay, I love DF and can’t wait to go back some day soon!

Miss Crayola Creepy

June 2, 2014 #

This is a really cool contest idea! I’m going to San Francisco and New Orleans in July and definitely want to travel in style aka a Colette outfit :) I better get started on my wardrobe!

Elaine

June 16, 2014 #

I have already made a Monetta and I love it. For the purpose of this contest does a Monetta “tweak” qualify for one of the days worn with a pair of jeans or leggings?

I want to do a cold weather vacation to Paris or New York.

I have made a Mabel that I will pair with “funky” tights for the airplane.

What fun to plan. The planning is way more fun than winning. Love the process!

Sarai

June 17, 2014 #

Absolutely! Tweak away!