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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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Stitch Your Favorite Fruit on a Sweater

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]