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Submit Your Winter Accessories for a Chance at a Design Contract

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uncommon goods contestHere’s a really fun competition you might be interested in getting in on if you’re a designer. Uncommon Goods, which is a really awesome online/catalog store featuring handmade, sustainable and otherwise really good items, is looking for some new, unique winter accessories to sell this year.

They’re hosting a contest for unique, handmade knit, crocheted, sewn or woven hats, gloves, scarves and mittens, and the winner will receive $500 and a design contract with the company.

Design hopefuls can send up to five different items, or five pictures of one item. You’ll have to provide information about the materials used and the story behind the item, and can include links to sketches, videos and other materials as you like. They want items that are safe and animal-friendly, which means no leather, feathers or pearls (but I did read somewhere that wool is OK).

Entries will be accepted via web form through the end of July, at which time semifinalists will be selected. The Uncommon Goods community will choose the finalists, and the top five projects with the most votes will be considered by a team of judges. The winner will be contacted by Aug. 21, and other finalists may also be offered vendor contracts.

This sounds like a lot of fun and a great way to get thinking about design and the stories behind the things you make and the things you buy. If you want more information check out the official rules (PDF).

I’ve been thinking about entering but I’m not sure I have time right now. If any of you enter I’d love to hear about it!

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A Blanket Knitting Pattern Where Yarn Selection is Everything

Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]