Weddings are some of the most beautiful celebrations one can experience in their life (usually). The deep connection between two lovers taking physical form in a ceremonious act for all to see is one that a lot of couples look forward to.
However, it also comes with months upon months of planning, stress, and even more planning. The one thing that a bride cannot go without—the special dress. Whether it be white, maroon, black, fluffy, frilly, or form-fitting, it must make the wearer feel likе the most beautiful woman in the whole entire world.
Some brides take the plunge of crafting their own dresses, be it for the challenge, for the love of the craft, or both. Today we delve into the story of Veronika Lindberg Heino, or Kika, who knitted her special gown for her big day in 6 weeks. She was kind enough to answer some of Bored Panda’s questions so let’s get into it!
Veronika Lindberg Heino, better known by her nickname Kika, decided to take up the challenge of knitting her own stunning wedding dress
Image credits: kutovakika
If you were given 2.5 kg of yarn and 250 hours, what would you create? Mayhaps a blanket, mayhaps a 3D portrait, or maybe a knitted wedding dress. Seeing as you clicked on this article for a very particular reason, you probably know by now that we’ll be speaking about the last option.
Opening herself to the challenge was Veronika Lindberg Heino, better known by her nickname Kika, who documented the birth of her special white dress, sharing the ups and downs with her followers on Instagram (which she started in 2017) and YouTube.
This project came about when she and her husband-to-be were both moving house and planning an impromptu wedding, making for a very stressful 7 weeks
Image credits: kutovakika
For what was already an intense project, life decided to add an extra bit of *spice*: they were moving house and planning their wedding, happening 7 weeks later, at the same time, so why not add in a project of great significance on top of it all? Unless you’re as skiIIed as Kika, I wouldn’t recommend it!
“I do love a challenge and I’m often a little bit over-ambitious, and the thought felt so wild and inspiring that I just decided to take the risk and do it,” the Finland-based knitter told Good Morning America (GMA). “I ordered 2.5 kg of pure silk yarn and announced my crazy plan on Instagram, and knew right then, there was no turning back anymore.”
She ordered 2.5 kg of pure silk yarn and announced her plans to her followers on Instagram, getting the project officially started with no way to turn back
Image credits: kutovakika
Kika based her design around Dior, Chanel, and Ulla Johnson’s dresses. She then sketched and planned the patterns. After all that, the knitting began!
Image credits: kutovakika
Nothing worth doing ever comes easy. It was a struggle finding time to knit in between moving, planning the wedding, and publishing her first book
Image credits: kutovakika
Instead of throwing Kika off balance, this added project seemed to have the opposite effect: it kept her grounded through the tumultuous time, at least for a while. Nothing worth doing comes easy, and this project was no exception, especially as she’d never knitted a dress before.
“The process was definitely intense, and the biggest struggle was to find enough time for knitting since we were in the process of moving and organizing the wedding at the same time,” said Kika. “Plus I published my first-ever knitting book, so it was definitely hectic. But, I also enjoyed it immensely and loved seeing my vision come to life in the process.”
Image credits: kutovakika
Then a big setback occured—her bodice was far too big, requiring her to rip it all up and start again. Her sleeves then kept slipping off, which took lots of time to fix
Image credits: kutovakika
Glaring issues started appearing about two weeks in when Kika had finished the bodice and tried it on for the first time—it was way too big. Disappointed, but not defeated, the bride-to-be ripped it all up, starting all over again, describing it as “a tough and frustrating moment where some tears were shed.”
One more issue came along with the slippy sleeves that kept on slipping, revealing a tad bit too much, which Kika found hilarious yet time-consuming to fix. “I made sure to film all my mistakes so I could be real and honest with my viewers, rather than only showing them the picture-perfect moments,” she told Insider.
Not having any other option (you typically can’t just go and buy a dress off the rack, as those require alterations, which take a long time), she kept moving forward until it was one week til the wedding. Encouraging messages from her followers kept her spirits up, the promise she’d made to the project at the very beginning providing her with a sense of accountability.
However, “the biggest motivator was definitely seeing for myself if I could pull my idea and vision off, and the thought of having the dress as a memory for life really kept me going, too.”
But all that didn’t deter her! Just 4 days before the big day, the dress was finished and Kika got to have a well-deserved rest
Image credits: kutovakika
Everything was done. She finished her dress on Tuesday, feeling more tired and frustrated than elated, but once she put it on for the ceremony, she couldn’t have been happier with the end result.
Kika got married to her husband Jukka Heino on Saturday, September 10, at their new home (which inspired the cottage-themed wedding tone), just 4 days after she’d finished her dress. Although her partner was a bit more skeptical about her last-minute knitting project, “in the end, he was super impressed and proud of me, and thought it looked really good too,” Kika said.
Image credits: kutovakika
Kika told Bored Panda that they’d met back in Spring of 2020, when she moved back home to Finland from London, as the pandemic put the world in lockdown. “Just a few months after moving back I met Juki and for our first date we walked around in Helsinki for hours since all cafés and bars were closed due to the restrictions,” she said.
“I was immediately drawn to his humor and often colorful stories of his adventures which made me laugh, and of course I found him really handsome. I think he was drawn to my enthusiasm, something we both have in common and my positive attitude towards life.”
She married Jukka Heino on Saturday, September 10, at their new home. Everyone loved her dress, praising her for all the effort she’d put into it
Image credits: kutovakika
“Over the course of the day, guests would come up to me and immediately feel the dress and comment on it. It sometimes felt likе they were more interested in the dress than in me, but I love talking about knitting, so I didn’t mind too much,” she told Insider.
The entire process demanded around 45 days, roughly 250 hours, and 1.5 kg of pure silk yarn, costing 300 euros, or around $295, which is a bargain when it comes to wedding dresses, which go for $1,800 on average. Her 149k followers on Instagram absolutely loved the journey, jumping in with suggestions and support any time she needed it.
The entire process demanded around 45 days, roughly 250 hours, and 1.5 kg of pure silk yarn, costing 300 euros, or around $295
Image credits: kutovakika
The 46-minute vlog of the whole journey posted on YouTube has garnered over 3.4M views, quickly becoming the highlight of her channel, which has over 253k subscribers that look forward to her knitting tutorials. “I’m absolutely amazed by all the positive attention the video and my dress has gotten, wow!” said Kika.
“I’ve received messages from people all over the world telling me I’ve inspired them to take up knitting again or to learn it, which makes me so glad. I’m also proud that I’ve maybe been able to push the boundaries and show what is possible using knitting.”
According to Kika, “knitting was actually done primarily by men at some point in history, so the fact that knitting nowadays is associated with something mostly feminine hasn’t always been the case.” Knitting is not just for grandmas, y’all!
The 46-minute vlog of the entire process garnered over 3.4M views on YouTube, inspiring hundreds of people to take up or go back to the craft
Image credits: kutovakika
What began as a bonding activity with her grandma when she was 5 years old has become a lifestyle, bringing together likе-minded people from all over the world. The one lesson she’d always kept was to be playful with the craft, rather than searching for perfection.
“With knitting there are a lot of ‘rules’ or principles that come with the territory which sometimes can make it feel likе you’re not doing things the right way,” she told Bored Panda. “My grandmother always encouraged me to make things without getting hung up on perfection, being creative and playful was more important.”
She hopes her followers and those who jumped on the bandwagon to see the final dress get inspired to embrace creative projects they might feel tempted to try—“even if it might feel a bit ambitious, I say go for it!”
We wish Kika and Jukka all the best for their future together and can’t wait to see what’s coming up for them next!
Image credits: kutovakika
A post-pandemic resurgence of knitting is a very welcome sight for many who are getting into arts and crafts for the first time or returning back to the familiar time-passing activity. Recent research shows that knitting has a measurable effect on calming anxiety, relieving stress, and aiding with chronic pain, as well as helping one build a community of friends. And you end up with a cute hat and mittens in the meantime!
“I think knitting as a craft teaches you a lot about patience and really makes you think about what kind of garments you most likе to wear,” Kika said. “When you’re going to spend 40-60 hours making a sweater, you really want to make sure it’s something that is going to stay in your wardrobe for a long time, which makes knitting a very sustainable practice, too.”
Honestly, what’s not to love!? We wish Kika and Jukka all the best for their future together and hope to see many more exciting knitting projects! Let us know your thoughts on the dress in the comments below, and I shall see you in the next one!
People have absolutely loved this project and the final dress. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
My Fiancé Abandoned Me and His Twin Daughters on Vacation, Leaving a Note: ‘I Have to Disappear. Soon, You’ll Understand’
When I agreed to go on vacation with my fiancé and his twin daughters, I thought we were celebrating a fresh start. Instead, I returned from the resort’s pool to a mysterious note that confused me more than ever. When we went back home, a shocking surprise awaited.
I met Matt three years ago at a charity event. He was charming and confident and had this soft spot for his daughters that instantly melted my heart. Ella and Sophie, his five-year-old twins, were the sweetest little girls.
A happy blonde man in his 30s running in the park with his twin daughters | Source: Midjourney
They’d lost their mother at the age of one, and Matt had done a marvelous job at raising them to be polite little girls.
I didn’t have much experience with kids, but those two made it easy. They’d run up to me with school stories whenever I was around, and before I knew it, they’d wormed their way into my heart.
One evening, after a particularly long day at work, Matt showed up at my apartment with the girls in tow. They were holding handmade cards with glitter and stickers.
Twin blonde girls, 5 years old, smile while holding cards in the living room | Source: Midjourney
“We wanted to surprise you!” Ella beamed, thrusting the card into my hands. Inside, it read, “Thank you for being part of our family.”
I was speechless. Before Matt, I had dated men who were incredibly afraid of commitment. Truly. I was a magnet for those. I’d had so many bad dates that I can’t remember them all. But at that moment, looking at my boyfriend’s glowing eyes and his little girls, I felt pure warmth. I loved all three of them.
A black-haired woman in her 30s frowning at a man on a bad date night in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
That’s why there was really no other answer than “YES!” when Matt proposed after a special dinner that his daughters helped prepare around a week later. My life was coming together at last, and I couldn’t wait to get started, so I moved into Matt’s house as soon as I could.
Then, I started wedding planning. I had particular ideas about flowers, my dress, the girls’ gowns, and the venue. I’m a type-A kind of person, so I was really in the zone, but Matt got overwhelmed after a couple of months.
A black-haired woman in her 30s sits on the floor in front of the couch in the living room with flowers and samples on the coffee table smiling | Source: Midjourney
“Let’s take a break before the chaos hits,” Matt suggested one night in our bed. “A family vacation, just the four of us. It’ll be our little escape before the big day.”
I wasn’t eager to leave when there was so much to do, plus our work, but I agreed. He needed it badly. We booked a trip to a cozy island resort.
The first two days were magical. Ella and Sophie couldn’t stop giggling as they splashed in the pool, and I loved watching them build sandcastles with Matt on the beach.
Twin blonde girls, 5 years old, smiling and building a sandcastle on the beach | Source: Midjourney
“Dorothy, look!” Sophie yelled, pointing at a sandcastle she’d decorated with shells. “Isn’t it pretty?”
“It’s beautiful,” I told her, snapping a picture with my phone.
Matt walked up, brushing sand off his hands. “You ready for some ice cream, girls?”
“Yes!” they both screamed in unison, running ahead.
Matt slipped his arm around my shoulders. “This was a good idea. We needed this.”
I leaned into him. “Yeah, we really did.”
A black-haired woman and a blonde man in their 30s cuddle close on the beach | Source: Midjourney
I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop because I knew most people didn’t have this many picture-perfect family moments. And that came on our third afternoon at the resort.
Matt had wanted to stay back at the hotel that morning. He felt too tired, but the girls were buzzing for more time at the pool. So, I took them myself.
But by noon, Matt still hadn’t come down and wasn’t answering my calls, so I rounded up the girls and headed back to our floor.
A black-haired woman in her 30s walks worried down a hotel hallway with two twin girls in the background | Source: Midjourney
The girls chattered excitedly about the new friends they’d made at the pool. I barely registered their words as I unlocked the door to our room. Pushing it open, I froze.
I didn’t see anything amiss immediately. But my instincts told me something was wrong. I walked deeper inside and finally noticed that Matt’s suitcase was gone.
The room was perfectly polished and our beds made, meaning the cleaning service had stopped by. I went to the bathroom and only saw my things along with the girls’ stuff.
A tidy resort hotel room with two beds | Source: Midjourney
His clothes, toiletries, and even his phone charger had vanished.
“Dorothy, where’s Daddy?” Ella asked, tugging at my hand.
My heart raced as I shook my head, and finally, on the nightstand, I spotted a note: “I have to disappear. Soon, you’ll understand.”
I sat down heavily on the bed, the heavy paper trembling in my hands. Disappear? What did that even mean? Was he in danger? Were we?
“Dorothy, are you okay?” Sophie whispered, her big eyes filled with worry.
Twin girls, 5 years old, stand worried in a hotel resort room | Source: Midjourney
I forced a smile, trying to think quickly. What would any guardian do in this situation? Distract the girls.
“I’m fine, sweetie,” I replied. “Let’s get cleaned up and go downstairs for ice cream. Daddy is probably down there, too.”
The girls cheered and went to the bathroom together. That was good. They hadn’t seen my panic, and I couldn’t let them. Not yet. Not until I got some answers.
But Matt was truly gone, according to a nice bellhop who saw him with bags, hailing a cab. I tried calling, being as discreet as possible, but he still wasn’t answering his phone.
A worried blonde man in his 30s getting into a car | Source: Midjourney
Later, I finally managed to get the girls to sleep. I’d assured them that their dad had to go home early, but the lie left a bitter taste in my mouth. Alone on the balcony, I scrolled endlessly through my phone messages.
Still nothing from Matt. I started biting my nails, a habit that hadn’t surfaced in years, as my mind raced. Did he get cold feet? Was there something he wasn’t telling me?
Just in case, I called the front desk to ask if they’d heard from Matt. They hadn’t. I left more messages on his phone. Morning came, and there was nothing to do but pack up and go home.
A black-haired woman in her 30s packs clothes and carries a bag in a resort hotel room | Source: Midjourney
The plane ride was excruciating. Thankfully, the girls were occupied with their coloring books.
“Are we going to see Daddy when we get home?” Ella asked.
I swallowed hard. “I’m sure we will, sweetie.” I hated lying because I honestly had no idea what we were returning to.
When we finally landed, I was exhausted. The cab ride felt way too long, and I was so tired from the previous sleepless night that I fumbled with the keys several times, trying to unlock the door to our house while balancing our bags.
A woman’s hand holds keys in the lock of a front door | Source: Midjourney
“Come on, girls,” I called, yawning. “We’re home.”
But as I stepped inside, I stopped dead in my tracks.
In the middle of the living room, there was a bundle wrapped in a blanket. It was moving.
“What is that?” I whispered to myself.
Before I could react, the girls rushed past me.
“A puppy!” Ella squealed, dropping her backpack. “It’s a puppy!”
A Saint Bernard puppy wrapped in a blue blanket in the living room | Source: Midjourney
The bundle wriggled, and a tiny St. Bernard poked its head out, tail wagging furiously. Sophie knelt, giggling as the puppy licked her face.
“Can we keep him? Please, Dorothy?” Sophie begged, her eyes wide with excitement.
I was too stunned to answer. But then, I saw a note tucked into the puppy’s forgotten blanket and picked it up.
“Dorothy, I know this was sudden, and I probably acted too rashly, but let me explain. I was scrolling through my phone at the hotel when I saw my friend giving away pups online. I had to leave immediately to make sure this little guy would be ours.
A blonde man in his 30s sits on a hotel resort bed scrolling his phone smiling | Source: Midjourney
Remember the story you told me about your childhood St. Bernard, Max? I couldn’t pass up the chance to bring that joy back into your life, as you’ve brought love into our lives.
Thank you for caring so much about my daughters. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for moving right in, and thank you for accepting to be ours forever. I’m sorry I didn’t explain before, but I got too excited. Please forgive me and give Max Jr. a little pet.”
A happy Saint Bernard puppy with its tongue lolling out in the living room | Source: Midjourney
I sank onto the couch, shaking my head as my whole body felt relieved. My goofy fiancé had scared me half to death! But he’d done it for a beautiful reason.
Max. I hadn’t thought about him in years. When I was four, Max saved me from drowning during a family picnic. That dog was my hero, my protector. Losing him to old age had been devastating.
And now, Max Jr. was here, wagging his tail and making the girls laugh.
“Dorothy, what’s wrong?” Ella asked, her eyes shining.
Twin girls, 5 years old, smile with a Saint Bernard puppy in the living room | Source: Midjourney
I spoke through a thick throat. “Nothing, sweetheart. I’m just… surprised.”
A few minutes later, the front door creaked open. Matt stepped inside, looking sheepish and carrying a bag of puppy supplies.
“Surprise?” he said tentatively.
I stood up and ran to him, not knowing if I wanted to throttle him for scaring me or kiss him senselessly. Kissing him won out.
A couple in their 30s embrace in the living room, content | Source: Midjourney
“You could’ve told me! Do you have any idea what I’ve been through?” I whispered, breathless after our lips parted.
“I know, and I’m sorry,” Matt said, his arms tightening around my waist. “But I couldn’t risk someone else adopting all the dogs before I had a chance. I had to return yesterday.”
Just then, the girls ran over, Max Jr. bounding after them.
“Daddy, you got us the puppy?” Ella asked, beaming.
We separated, and Matt crouched down, ruffling their hair. “Yes, baby! What do you think? Good surprise?”
A blonde man in his 30s with twin girls, 5 years old, smiling happily while looking at a puppy in the living room | Source: Midjourney
“The best!” Sophie answered instead and hugged him tightly.
Her sister joined their embrace, and that’s why I couldn’t stay mad. Seeing the joy on their faces melted my frustration. Still, I wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easily.
“You owe me big time,” I warned, poking him in the chest.
Matt grinned. “Deal.”
We spent the rest of the evening playing with Max Jr. He chased the girls around the yard, barking happily, and curled up on the couch with us for a movie night.
A black-haired woman in her 30s curls up with a sleeping Saint Bernard puppy on the couch while watching TV | Source: Midjourney
Later, the puppy joined Matt and me in our bed, where he would sleep for the rest of his wonderful, amazing life.
Also, Matt paid what he owed me, so to speak… by giving me the best life possible.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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