A Low-Pressure Make-along to Support Designers of Color

I love the idea and the spirit behind the BIPOC Make Along, hosted by Desamour Designs.

One of the important things I’ve learned — and I think a lot of other people have learned, too — in the past year is that it’s not enough to say you’re not racist or that you support diversity in the fiber arts community, you need to really show it.

And one way to show it, of course, is through financial support, such as buying a designer’s pattern or a maker’s yarn.

To that end this make-along was designed to encourage people to support BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) designers while also making something great to give as a gift or to keep for yourself. And of course you can use a free pattern as well.

The make-along officially runs from Sept. 2 to Nov. 4 and is meant to be casual and stress-free as well as a supportive environment for making new friends in the fiber community around the world.

Of course there will be prizes, too, for people who share their progress online. Click the link above for all the details.

I’m thinking hard about a My Boy Lollipop, which has been on my mind all summer. If you join in, I’d love to know what you’re knitting!

[Photo via Desamour Designs.]

Next Pattern:

Why should the fireplace get all the fun? Instead of knitting stockings this year, why not whip up a pair of Christmas themed socks? These Christmas sock knitting patterns are lots of fun to make and you can wear them to holiday gatherings for years to come.

For our friends in the southern part of the world, there are the Christmas in July socks from the Kiwi Lodge – Kylie (Ravelry link). These shorty socks are covered in Christmas trees and have bright pink heels and toes for a tropical feel. There’s also an option to make a longer sock if you celebrate somewhere it’s colder.

Twin Stitches Designs (Ravelry) has a fun pattern with mix and match colorwork motifs you can use to build your own cozy Christmas socks. From the sample socks I see Christmas puddings, trucks hauling trees, Santa belts, ornaments and a couple of different borders. There may be more patterns included but the listing doesn’t say. Make a pair that matches or use different motifs on each foot for extra holiday cheer.

If you want to stick to Christmas puddings on your holiday socks, check out this cute pattern from Stone Knits. These lovely socks feature a band of puddings around the leg and a bit of holly by the toes.

These vintage holiday light socks from Grey Owl Knits by Sarah are classic looking and lots of fun at the same time. I love this color combination but of course you can make your lights and stripes whatever colors you like or have on hand. They’re worked using stranded knitting.

And if you’d like even more of a mix of patterns for your socks, try Barbara Ceglédi’s Christmas Chaos socks, a free pattern on Ravelry. The pattern includes 25 little motifs you can choose from, ranging from snowflakes and Christmas trees to elf hats, reindeer and hearts.

Next Pattern:

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