Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Introducing the "Banbury Cross Cardigan" e-pattern + giveaway!

Well, it's September now and you may be getting signs of cooler days to come. If you're feeling the lure of more autumnal sewing projects, I'm excited to be offering a PDF e-pattern of my Banbury Cross Cardigan design!

Banbury Cross Cardigan

Banbury Cross Cardigan

This is a sewing pattern in four sizes (six months, 12 months, two years, and three years) designed to be cut from a recycled adult sweater. Yes, you can sew the sweater fabric just like any other knit! The green cardigan that Edmund is modeling in the photos began its life as an Abercrombie & Fitch 100% shetland wool sweater that I found at the thrift store. It had a few moth holes, but with some strategic cutting I was able to give it a new look! Lavinia's cardigan was a creamy acrylic ladies' sweater with a sewn-in ivory charmeuse collar. You'd never be able to tell, would you? It's really a unisex pattern that can work for both boys and girls. You can play up the "English gent" look by choosing muted colors, leather or horn buttons, and tweedy elbow patches. Or, I think the cardigan would look really feminine and cute sewn up in a brighter color, with coordinating floral cotton elbow patches and quirkily mis-matched buttons! There's lots of room for creativity.

Banbury Cross Cardigan

You may remember my first design here, and my redesign the following year. Last year I began working on grading the pattern into different sizes, creating an e-pattern, and writing instructions. The entire process has been the biggest learning challenge for me, and I must thank my husband Douglas for all his help, as this project never would have gotten off the ground if he wasn't around to be my patient instructor! I've worked hard to make sure the pattern is easy to use and well-designed. I think beginner sewists could tackle this, provided you are comfortable sewing knits and buttonholes (although, if the buttonholes are holding you back, you could easily replace them with hand-sewn snaps instead!).

Banbury Cross Cardigan

So, without further ado, here is the link to my newly-opened Etsy shop where you may purchase your very own copy! This first opening week, I am offering the pattern at a special introductory price of 20% off. Use the coupon code WELCOMEFALL to receive your discount at checkout, good through Wednesday, September 11.

Banbury Cross Cardigan

Also, I would like your help to spread the word about this pattern, so I'm offering a giveaway of a copy of the Banbury Cross Cardigan e-pattern to one reader! :) Just leave a comment below and you'll be automatically entered in the random drawing. For extra entries, you can: Just let me know which things you did in a comment and I'll add your extra entries! Please be sure to leave a correct e-mail address, either in your comment or in your blogger profile, so that I can send you the pattern if you're the winner. The giveaway is open until 11:59PM (CST) on Monday, September 9. Thanks, everyone, and happy September!

18 comments:

  1. Hi Laura,
    Many, many congrats on your first pattern and the opening of your Etsy shop! I have admired your work for years and can't wait to see what else you have in store for your shop. I have added it to my Etsy faves and intend to purchase the pattern in the near future, as I have a dapper little three year-old man of my own I'd like to make this for. If I should win your giveaway, please pass my prize along to the next entry as I'm looking forward to supporting your work!

    Best wishes,
    Emily

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  2. What wonderful news! Congratulations on the success of producing a pattern and opening a shop! I'll pray now that your business would be successful. :)

    While I really would love to win this pattern, I did a bunch of "sharing" just to help you get the word out. I shared a link of FB, pinned on Pinterest, added your new shop to my favorite shops on etsy, and I already like Quietude on FB. :)

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  3. Laura,
    This is exciting news! You have been very productive with your time.
    Edmond is really getting big, and he is adorable in your sweater creation :-)
    The FB page is new, too, I see, and I 'Like' you! Also, I shared the post on DRAH. Do you suppose I might do a giveaway on the blog? Thoughts?

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  4. Lovely pattern! I follow Quietude on facebook and I pinned your pattern to my pinterest.

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  5. OH I have a "sweater" (jumper as we call them in the uk) put aside waiting for a project just like this for arrival of number 3. Its like you read my mind!
    Anyway I will pin, tweet, share on facebook and like you on facebook immediatly and keep everything crossed :)

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  6. What a beautiful sweater!

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  7. So very cute, and such a good use of an old jumper (as we call them in NZ--being British too!). Well done.

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  8. oh! oh! This is exciting on several levels - I didn't know you could sew old sweaters!? I have several old cotton sweaters that I was simply planning to cut up as hotpad filler, but your pattern is MUCH better. I'm going to go look again to see how I can get extra entries :) and then I'll just up and buy the pattern if I need to. Thank you!

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  9. Okay: I favorited your pattern on Etsy, favorited your shop, and pinned the pattern to Pinterest, Sewing & Making Clothes. I'm impressed with your marketing skills, too!

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  10. I'm so excited about this, and I'd love to win my own copy. :-) I've blogged about your blog and etsy, "liked" you on fb, pinned a picture, and favorited your shop and listing. Like I said- I'm a fan. ;-)

    Thank you so much for making this resource available!!

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  11. Wow! Looks great. Would love a copy to make sweaters for my little.

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  12. What a gorgeous looking pattern and I like that it is versatile for a little boy or girl, congratulations!

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  13. I'm not sure if I should be entering individual comments but I pinned this banbury cross pattern on one of my boards as well as the KCWC-Fall community board and I liked the pattern on etsy as well as making your etsy shop one of my favorites. Best of luck with your Etsy shop and thanks for the chance to win.

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  14. Laura, this is fabulous! I was actually just thinking about this cardigan the other day, and wishing I had the pattern. :-)

    I'm thrilled that you're hosting this giveaway, but I'll surely be making a trip over to your shop if I'm not the lucky winner. I've posted a link to your blog and your shop on my blog, "Liked" you on Facebook, pinned the pattern on Pinterest, and favorited both your shop and your pattern on Etsy. All of which I would have done regardless of the giveaway, by the by. :-)

    I can't tell you how excited I am -- I wish you all the best with your new shop!

    Blessings,
    Shannon

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  15. I just liked your etsy shop and pinned a photo on pinterest.

    Good luck with your shop!!!! You are such a great seamstress, I´m sure you will do great!

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  16. I just got a new sewing machine, and I'd love to win this beautiful pattern. Thank you for the opportunity.
    Sandra
    swhite828 at netscape dot net

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