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#miimal2020

Promised Fibers is hosting a make-along! The Make It Inclusive Make-Along is meant to highlight those designs that are size inclusive and/or POC designed, and that we all want to wear! #miimal2020 will run from June 1 – July 1 to celebrate Promised Fibers turning 1 in June! There will be prizes! Read on for participation guidelines and prize descriptions.

Participation Guidelines

Anyone can participate in #miimal2020. However, if you want to be eligible for prizes, please adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Work on a size inclusive and/or POC designed knit, crochet, or sew pattern. [Minimum of 60″ bust size and minimum of 60″ hip size available for your chosen pattern].
  • Post your wip to Instagram with the hashtag, #miimal2020, and tag @promised.fibers. Include the name of the pattern you’re working on in the caption.
  • Make sure you’re following @promised.fibers on Instagram!
  • There’s no need to make more than one wip post, but you can if you want!

Prizes

There will be prizes for knitters, crocheters, and sewers. This list will be updated as more prizes are added. If you are a business and would like to donate a prize, please reach out via the Contact Us page! If there is a particular prize you’d like to be considered for, then please mention that in your #miimal2020 post.

  • Modus Operandi Fibers yarn
  • Modus Operandi DIRT + DYE Seedlings membership
  • Snickerdoodleknits Shawl pattern
  • Red and The Wolf pattern
  • EWE Fibers gift card (anonymously donated)

Changes for 2020 and Beyond

In my quest to expand Promised Fibers’ reach, I began looking into the rules for raffles in the state of Pennsylvania. According to their definitions for games of small chance, the way the mini-grants were done previously were too similar for own comfort. So before trouble has the chance to blossom, I’m going to avoid it by changing the mini-grant regulations to clearly differentiate them from the raffles we hope to do in the future.

Mini-grant recipients (fiber artist, small business, & specialty) will be chosen by the Promised Fibers Mini-Grant Committee – more on that near the end of this post. The applications will be changed to include the following:

  • Mini-grant recipients will be referred to only as recipients and not “winners”.
  • The description at the top of application will now include: “Applicants do not have to make a donation to Promised Fibers.” [This was always the case, I just wanted to make it explicit]
  • The acknowledgment section will now include: “I understand that mini-grants will be awarded on the basis of need and furthering the goals for inclusivity. Applications will be reviewed by the Promised Fibers Mini-Grant Committee made up of volunteers and the Promised Fibers director. Volunteers will NOT have access to the names or contact information of the applicants. Projects will not be funded if they intend to infringe on the copyright or trademarks of another person or company.”
  • Fiber Artists Applications will include this question: “I identify as…” with checkboxes for BIPOC, disabled, low socioeconomic status, LGBTQ, Other.
  • Small Business Applications will include this question: “My business is committed to inclusivity and/or diversity by…..”

The Promised Fibers Mini-Grant Committee does not exist yet, but it will be a group of unpaid volunteers who with me to review the submitted applications to decide on the monthly recipients. It will be a once a month commitment that they can leave at any time. Committee members will be emailed a spreadsheet of the application responses MINUS identifiable information and asked to discuss/vote. The voting process is not decided yet and will depend on the needs and ideas of the chosen committee members.

If the committee is something that you are interested in participating in, please apply!

Reflecting on 2019

These 7 months have flown by! Promised Fibers, Inc. was started this June with the help of the fiber arts community. In that time we have:

  • Created a list of accessible/affordable fiber arts patterns and supplies
  • Created a list of size inclusive fiber arts patterns
  • Raised over $3000 to help with non-profit fees and mini-grants
  • Provided 18 mini-grants
  • Made connections with businesses to begin offering sponsored grants

This means so much to me and to this community. I am glad that I took the leap of faith to start this non-profit and I look forward to expanding Promised Fibers’ reach to help more people in this community.

Some goals for next year:

  • Increase our donations/income to continue our work and provide more mini-grants
  • Write at least 4 educational posts related to the fiber arts
  • Increase our connections with people and businesses in the fiber arts community

Thank you for a great 2019! Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2020!

-Meesha

Size Inclusive Pattern Designers

Being inclusive is a key value to Promised Fibers. Size inclusive patterns should not be hard to come by and one day we hope they won’t be. This list is divided in crochet, knit, and sew pattern designers. Designers included have a majority (or all) of their patterns written up to size 3X according to the Craft Yarn Council’s measurements. Designers were only included if their pattern pages have the measurements noted specifically and not just letters (i.e. XL) or numbers (i.e. 9). Based on the information listed on pattern pages, it is assumed that these designers are size inclusive AFTER accounting for ease of the garment. If you experience trouble with the links on this page or notice any errors, please reach out to Promised Fibers using the contact form on the home page.

Sewing Pattern Designers

  • Caramiya: Caramiya currently only has one pattern for sale. The swimsuit pattern goes up to a 56″ bust.
  • Cashmerette: Cashmerette has patterns up to a 56″ bust and a 59″ hip.
  • Friday Pattern Company: Friday Pattern Company has tops, dresses, and swimsuits up to 60″ bust. However, their pants patterns do not appear to be available past a 49″ hip.
  • Helen’s Closet: Helen’s Closet offers patterns up to a 54″ bust and a 58″ hip.
  • Patterns for Pirates: Patterns for Pirates offers a wide variety of patterns up to size 3X and some of them are free.
  • Seamwork Mag: Seamwork Mag offers patterns up to a 54″ bust and a 58″ hip. Patterns are cheaper if you are a member.
  • Sew Altered Style: Sew Altered Style currently only has one pattern for sale. The top/dress pattern goes up to a 56″ bust.
  • Sew Liberated: Sew Liberated currently offers only one pattern that can fit the requirements of this list. The Estuary Skirt goes up to a 57″ hip.
  • Stitch Upon A Time: Stitch Upon A Time offers multiple patterns up to a 56.5″ bust.

Crochet Pattern Designers

  • By Stephanie Erin Designs: Some of Stephanie’s patterns go up to a 62″ bust.
  • Counting Crafty Sheep: Counting Crafty Sheep currently only has one pattern that fits the requirements of this list – The Melanie Tee written with up to a 62″ bust.
  • Cre8tion Crochet: Cre8tion Crochet offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • DeniMade: DeniMade offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • For the Frills: For the Frills offers patterns up to a 62″ bust. Link is to their ravelry page. All of the patterns are free. Specific measurements are found on their website which is linked on each pattern page.
  • Joanne Scrace: Joanne Scrace offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Knits N Knots: Knits N Knots offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Outstanding Crochet: Outstanding Crochet offers some patterns up to a 58″ bust.
  • Rachel Choi: Rachel Choi offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Raeli Masina: Raeli Masina currently has a top and a sweater pattern up to a 60″ bust.
  • Rebecca Velasquez: Rebecca Velasquez offers patterns up to a 60″ bust/hip after ease. Many of the top patterns offer a finished hip measurement but no bust measurement.
  • White Owl Crochet Co: White Owl Crochet Co. offers crochet sweater patterns up to a 60″ bust.

Knitting Pattern Designers

  • Ambah O’Brien: Ambah offers patterns up to a 60″ bust.
  • An Caitin Beag: An Caitin Beag offers patterns up to a 64″ bust.
  • Anne Hanson: Anne Hanson offers patterns up to a 62″ bust after accounting for ease.
  • Aroha Knits: Aroha Knits offers several patterns in 60″+ bust.
  • Baby Cocktails: Baby Cocktails offers patterns up to a 62″ bust. Link is to their website; they can be found on Ravelry as well.
  • BiggerThanLife Knits: BiggerThanLife Knits offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Born & Raised Knits: Born & Raised Knits offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Boyland Knitworks: Boyland Knitworks offers patterns up to a 56″ bust after accounting for ease.
  • Carolyn Day Designs: Carolyn Day Designs offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Coco Knits: Coco Knits offers some patterns up to 54″ & 56″ bust.
  • Dandelion Girl Designs: Dandelion Girl Designs offers patterns up to a 58″ bust after accounting for ease.
  • Dragon Hoard Designs: Dragon Hoard Designs offers patterns up to a 60″ bust after accounting for ease.
  • Drea Renee Knits: Drea Renee Knits offers patterns up to a 62″ bust after accounting for ease.
  • Hannah Fettig: Hannah Fettig offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • In A Panda’s World: In A Panda’s World offers some patterns up to a 58″ bust in both English and French.
  • Ivy and Autumn: Ivy and Autumn offers patterns up to 66″ bust.
  • Jacqueline Cieslak: Jacqueline Cieslak has patterns up to a 72″ bust.
  • JellyKnitting: JellyKnitting offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Jessie Maed Designs: All Jessie Maed Designs are offered up to a 62″ bust.
  • Joji Locatelli: Joji Locatelli offers patterns up to a 58″ bust after accounting for ease.
  • Just Run Knit Designs: Just Run Knit Designs offers patterns up to a 68″ bust after accounting for ease.
  • Kniterator: Kniterator offers the opportunity for knitters to generate a raglan sweater pattern customized to their measurements.
  • The Knitted Dingo: The Knitted Dingo offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Knitosophy: Knitosophy offers patterns up to a 63″ bust.
  • Knitting Expat Designs: Knitting Expat Designs has sweater patterns up to a 60″ bust.
  • Park & Knit: Park & Knit offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • The Petite Knitter: The Petite Knitter offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Pip & Pin: Pip & Pin offers patterns up to a 64″ bust after accounting for ease.
  • Ponder and Ply: Ponder and Ply offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Skeinanigans: Skeinanigans offers sweater patterns up to a 72″ bust.
  • Skeindeer Knits: Skeindeer Knits offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Softsweater Knits: Softsweater Knits offers patterns up to a 64″ bust.
  • Summer Lee: Summer Lee offers patterns up to a 64″ bust after accounting for ease.
  • Swanky Emu Knits: Swanky Emu Knits offers customizable patterns to fit you perfectly.
  • Tanis Fiber Arts: Tanis Fiber Arts offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Tellybean Knits: Tellybean Knits offers patterns up to a 60″ bust after accounting for ease.
  • Tin Can Knits: Tin Can Knits offers women’s and men’s sweater patterns up to size 4X based on the Craft Yarn Council measurements.
  • Truly Hooked: Truly Hooked offers patterns up to a 62″ bust.
  • Woodhouse Knits: Woodhouse Knits offers sweater patterns up to a 60″ bust.
  • Ysolda: Ysolda offers patterns up to a 60″ bust.

Affordable Fiber Arts Patterns & Supplies

While the fiber arts has a lot of benefits as a hobby, it can also quickly become too expensive to participate in fiber arts crafts. This post is meant to highlight businesses that are trying to make the fiber arts more accessible to all. Businesses are only included if we could verify discount information via their website/profiles. If you see any information that needs to be changed or would like to see a business added, please let us know via the contact form on the homepage.

Jessie Mae Martinson (@Jessssiemae on Instagram) has curated a spreadsheet of budget-friendly yarns.

  • Aroha Knits: Aroha Knits has multiple free and pay what works knit patterns.
  • Bedhead Fiber: Bedhead Fiber has a sponsorship program for education, yarn, and dye seeds. To be considered for sponsorship email hello@bedheadfiber.com.
  • Born and Raised Knits: Born and Raised Knits offers sliding scale discounts on their patterns.
  • byKiilerich: byKiilerich offers discounts on larger quantities of yarn.
  • Dye is Cast Yarns: Dye is Cast Yarns offers an automatic discount on sweater quantities of yarn (5+ skeins).
  • Elsie and Everly: Elsie and Everly offers sweater quantity discounts on their yarn that can be attained via email only.
  • Fiber Community Fund: Fiber Community Fund provides yarn and pattern support.
  • Fibre Forward: Fibre Forward is a nonprofit arts education charity that provides fiber arts resources to the public, at no cost.
  • Jessie Maed Designs: Jessie Maed Designs offers a sliding scale discount on their patterns. Discount codes can be found on the individual Raverly pattern pages.
  • Kindred Red: According to their website header, Kindred Red offers a 5% discount on 6-7 skeins with code 5OFF, a 7% discount on 8-9 skeins with code 7OFF, and an automatic 10% discount on 10+ skeins.
  • Knitcraft and Knittery: Knitcraft and Knittery has a community funded yarn project and details can be found on their website.
  • Little Skein: Little Skein has a community funded yarn project and details can be found on their website.
  • LoveCrafts: LoveCrafts is a global home for makers that supports artists pursuing their craft.
  • Old Rusted Chair: Old Rusted Chair gives an automatic 10% discount on orders of 5+ full size skeins.
  • Ritual Dyes: Ritual Dyes offers sliding scale discounts on their products.
  • Sprigs and Stone: Per their coupon code highlight on Instagram, Sprigs and Stone offers a 20% discount on 8+ skeins with the code SWEATER20.
  • Snickerdoodle Knits: Snickerdoodle Knits offers their patterns free to those in need (based on the honor system; details on their Ravelry page).
  • Stitch Upon A Time: Stitch Upon A Time has a pay it forward pattern program.
  • Teeny Button: Teeny Button offers a discount on sweater kits over a size large.
  • Traveling Yarn: Traveling Yarn offers an interest-free payment plan on orders over $35.
  • Truly Hooked: Truly Hooked is a UK based company offering an automatic 10% discount on purchases of 4-6 full skeins of the same product and 15% for 7+ skeins.
  • Undercover Otter: Undercover Otter offers quantity discounts for orders of 6+ and 8+ skeins.