Get a Great Deal on Patterns with the Indie Design Gift-a-Long

This year nearly 300 independent knit and crochet designers are participating in a massive show of creativity known as the Indie Design Gift-a-Long. Select patterns from each of these designers are on sale for 25 percent off now through Nov. 21, and from then until the end of the year a bunch of knit and crochet-a-longs will be happening (various ones for different types of garments) and participants will be eligible for various prizes.

You can find all the participating designers in this thread on Ravelry (though if you’re looking for a specific kind of pattern you should check the Pinterest boards, which are organized by garment type) and get the discount by using the code giftalong2014. Participants in the gift-a-long can use any paid for pattern by any participating designer, not just the ones involved in the sale, so if you’ve been sitting on something you’d love to knit you can do that, too.

Again this discount is available through Friday, November 21, 2014 at 11:59 pm US EST, and of course you could buy some patterns even if you’re not participating in the gift-a-long. But why not use the added incentive of prizes and community to get some great giftables off the needles?

It’s entirely likely that I don’t need another challenge in my life right now, but there are some really cute patterns up for grabs here. And it’s a wonderful way to support independent designers, who need all the help we can give them. I’d love to hear if you decide to take part and if you do, what you’re planning to knit!

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The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.”

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them.

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits.

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves.

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit.

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy.

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]

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