Have What it Takes to Be a Knitting Superstar?

Have you heard about the Fiber Factor yet? It’s a knitwear design competition that will pit 12 designers against each other in six challenges spanning in length from two to five weeks. Finalists will take part in a seventh challenge that will last several months, all leading up to the grand prize, which is a five-day fiber lover’s trip to Germany. (Winners of individual challenges will get $500.)

This sounds like an incredible experience for someone with a lot of creativity and stamina (I’d love to do it but honestly I have enough work right now, which is a nice problem to have). If you’re up for the challenge you can apply now through March 24. Participants must be American (because the sponsor of the contest, skacel, will be sending yarn and people have to ship their finished projects back) and at least 21 years old. You also need to be comfortable taking video of yourself and talking about your design process.

The application process is lengthy and includes filling out a form, sending in photos of yourself and your original designs, and shooting a video about your background and why you want to take part in the contest.

It sounds like a lot of work but also a lot of fun. Would you try out for a challenge like this? Are you applying? I’d love to hear about it!

Next Pattern:

I feel like a lot of the patterns I have been sharing lately are sweaters that you can use for layering. Maybe that’s because it stayed warm for so long this year where I live that I’m still thinking about lighter weight sweaters.

I love this kind of garment for wearing over a T-shirt when it’s cool in the morning but warm in the afternoon. They’re great for throwing on top of a dress to get more use out of them when it’s cooler, or wearing under a warmer sweater when it finally gets cold.

The Sunset Sweatshirt pattern from Jessie Maed Designs is an oversized, boxy, cropped pullover with slightly dropped shoulders for a cozy fit that’s almost like your favorite sweatshirt. Worked in worsted weight yarn, it will keep you warm through several seasons, and is a great one to throw in your bag to slip on when it’s cool for part of the day.

The pattern comes in nine sizes, to fit a chest from 28 to 60 inches, or 71 to 152.5 cm. It’s designed to have 9 to 12 inches, or 23 to 30.5 cm, of positive ease, so the fit is quite relaxed. There are optional bust darts if you want to add a bit of shaping. The pattern recommends knitting a smaller size and adding darts if you have a full bust in relation to your upper chest. Jessie Maed is known for their size inclusive patterns so I’m sure it’s well explained in the pattern how to do this should you want to.

The design is worked from the top down in one piece with short row shaping for the shoulders and slightly tapered sleeves. To make this one you should be comfortable with working in the round, increasing, decreasing and working German short rows.

You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Jessie Maed Designs]

Knit a Cozy Vest for Fall

A Beyond-Basic Vest to Knit for Fall or Spring

Fun Hats to Knit for Fall

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