This evening as I was organizing and cleaning out my dresser drawers I thought, “it’s not fair, I never get to wear my own knitwear.” I knit all the samples you see on the website. After the photo shoots the sweaters get wrapped up and then shipped off to yarn shops for trunk shows. They’re never worn and I never knit myself one because I’ve moved onto the next design. After pouting for a second I was hit with an idea.
MY CHALLENGE
From November 4th to December 3rd I am only going to wear my own knitwear designs. Unfortunately I don’t have all of my designs to pull from as many are with the editors of the magazines and books that published the designs. This means that with 30 days to dress, I’ll be duplicating sweaters a few times. My challenge each day will be to style the sweater in a new way. I’ll document it here each day. Personal fashion blogs like What I Wore, Weardrobe and The Uniform Project are among my daily reads, so I’m really excited to join in the fun.
Here’s the part where you could win a Jordana Paige…
YOUR CHALLENGE
Let’s see how you style my knitwear designs. Submit 3 photos of yourself (or the person you knit the garment for) wearing a Jordana Paige knitwear design. Each photo must be of the same knitwear design, but styled differently. One look could be the sweater with a dress, the second look could be the sweater paired with a cute pair of pants and the third look could be something different and unexpected. So pull out your accessories and get creative. There’s 31 Jordana Paige designs to choose from. You can see a full portfolio at Ravelry.
To enter: Email your photos to contestsATjordanapaige.com (replace the AT with @) by December 3rd. Please include your first and last name, yarn info, any modifications you made to the pattern and a few notes about how you styled the three looks. If you’ve made more than one Jordana Paige sweater, you can enter for each sweater, but you must submit 3 different looks per sweater.
The Winner: I’ll select my favorite set of photos based on how well you styled the sweater. The person selected will receive a Jordana Paige bag of his/her choice, from available stock. There will probably be some runner up prizes too!
Void where prohibited. Submissions must be received by December 3rd, 2009 at 11:59PM PST. By submitting your photos, you grant Jordana Paige permission to use the photos on this blog.
Whoo, this is going to be super fun! I’m so excited to see what you come up with.
For the past two and a half years I’ve been a Big Sister through the organization Big Brothers Big Sisters. It’s the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. We all have causes that are close to our hearts and BBBS would be mine.
Studies have shown that Little Brothers and Sisters who participate in mentoring programs are more confident in their school work, get along better with their families, are 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, 27% less likely to begin using alcohol and 52% less likely to skip school.
I was going to tell you about the amazing relationships that are created through the organization, but I think this video says it better than I ever could.
April 25th I will be participating in the BBBS fundraiser, Bowl for Kids Sake. Would you would please sponsor my team? I know that when people give it comes from their heart and not another motivation. But because this is so important to me, I would like to give a thank you to those who donate to the organization. So, from now until April 25th, I will give anyone who sponsors my team with a donation of at least $10 a free Jordana Paige knitting pattern.
How to Donate:
1. Visit our team’s page: Winner Winner Turkey Dinner
2. Select either General Team Donation, or one of the team member’s name.
3. Make a donation.
4. Copy and paste the confirmation page in an email and forward it to info@jordanapaige.com. Include a note saying which pattern you would like to receive (select from JP001-JP006).
5. I’ll send you the pdf pattern and a huge thank you.
Fine Print: Limit one pattern per donor.
Thank you for your support and taking the time to learn more about Big Brother Big Sisters.
Just two weeks until the cruise! Catalina is the cardigan I will be teaching on the trip. It’s the pattern that I polled you for. The results–knitter’s want both charts and written instructions. I’m not surprised by this, I think I was just being lazy. Even though the cruise is two weeks away, I am mentally already on the ship. I did get some really helpful comments, so thank you for your help and for taking the poll.
Just another heads up, later this week I’ll be doing a pattern giveaway thing. I just haven’t worked out the details yet. It’s not a quick-on-your-toes thing like the Upside Down Sale, but after all that excitement I learned that Twitter really is the best way for announcements. So if you’re not following yet, get to it.
Congratulations to Astrid, the first to finish knitting Landon. She knit the sweater in just three days! I’m absolutely amazed. Astrid will be receiving a Rio bag of her choice.
I’ve decided that having contests and giving away bags is simply fun. It’s about time for another one. This time, I’m going to make you work a little bit harder than I have for pastcontests.
Here’s the deal. On October 23rd I will be releasing the pattern for my latest sweater design, Landon (pictured left). The first person to knit the sweater and send me photographs will win a Rio in the color of her choosing.
The Rules
1. The photographs have to clearly show the sweater is complete, meaning they can’t cut off the sweater in certain parts.
2. Minor modifications are allowed. For example, adding button holes. Major modifications, like making it baby-size so you can finish first isn’t allowed. If you’re not sure about a modification, email me and I’ll let you know if it’s okay or not.
3. The sweater doesn’t have to be blocked, but the trims have to be sewn on and the ends woven in.
4. I get to be the judge and final say on whether or not a garment meets the above rules.
5. Void where prohibited.
To enter, make sure you’re on our mailing list to receive an email as soon as the pattern is available for sale. Below are the pattern details so you can pre-order your yarn and have it ready to go on October 23rd.
Description
Landon is worked from the top down. Stitches are cast on for the front, back and sleeves. Additional stitches are cast on at the neck for the charted cable pattern. Stitches are picked up at the center front to continue the cable pattern around the neck. The sides of the cardigan taper out from the armhole to the hem. The sleeves follow this same tapered shape. A cabled trim is sew on to the hem. The cardigan is finished with a shawl pin.
Materials
1. 14(15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21) skeins, 1824 Wool by Mission Falls (100% Wool; 85 yards/ 78 m per 50g skein); Color #006 Oatmeal
2. 24 inch – US #8/5mm circular needles, or size to obtain gauge
3. 4 – US #8/5mm dpn, or size to obtain gauge
4. Stitch markers
5. Cable needle
6. Darning needle
7. Shawl pin, or desired closure
Gauge
18 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette stitch
20 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in Cable Pattern
I announced the winner of the contest in an email to everyone who entered. But, I keep getting emails asking who the winner was, so I’ll announce it here too. Congrats to Miriam Huff!
The first pattern I will be self-publishing is currently being test knitted. Progress is moving right along. It’s so wonderful to drop some yarn in the mail and three weeks later receive it back as a finished garment. I’ll receive this one back in a week and a half. Then the pattern will be sent off to the tech editor.
My second pattern is also on schedule. I’ve finished knitting it, except for the second sleeve. I ran out of yarn and will have to get more this weekend. Today I’ll be shipping yarn off to a test knitter and grading (writing multiple sizes) the pattern. I’m not particularly fond of grading, but it must be done.
The third pattern hasn’t entered my head yet. I’m still waiting to be bit with inspiration. I’m on such a roll that I just want to get started on it. My hands are itching to knit.
Perfectly girly. Doesn’t it make want to dance around barefoot and carefree like a little girl yelling, “Summer is here!”
Take a look inside. The lining is green, the same as the lining in Bella. Too sweet, now I want a cupcake.
The Knitter’s Satchel in Pink will be available in just a couple weeks. If you like to be the first gal with the new stuff at Stitch ‘n’ Bitch, then I recommend pre-ordering yours and we’ll zip it off to you as soon as it’s available.
The winner of our contest has been notified by email. If you guessed pink, check your inbox to see if your name was drawn.
Win the new color of The Knitter’s Satchel! I’ll be announcing the new color of The Knitter’s Satchel next Friday, May 23rd. I must have received 1.23 million requests for this color since The Knitter’s Satchel was introduced.
People I hear you! To enter to win, fill out the form and guess what color you think the next Knitter’s Satchel will be. Good luck!
