The Fall Sweater Challenge explained by Susie Allen opens a magic box of fun on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly. 
Just the kind of thing we love on a Tuesday!
Mom taught Susie Allen to knit using chopsticks with bright yellow yarn when she was about ten or eleven. She traveled to Vermont, and developed an eye for the handwork that she always seem to love. One day, her then boyfriend now husband was having surgery so she picked up a book to learn to crochet and with her mother-in-laws help she got through. Then friends started requesting her scarves, and she began writing things down to remind herself what she was doing. When her daughter was born and she began posting on Etsy and someone said ‘have you heard of Ravelry?’ Her travels to Vermont eventually landed at the Green Mountain Spinnery at about the time she began to post things in Etsy, and she fell in love with creating things from their yarns.
knitters love, called The Fall Sweater Challenge. It’s pretty simple, the Fall Sweater Challenge is being put on by a group of knitwear designers, local and online yarn shops, yarn companies, and others in the hand-knitting/crocheting industry to hopefully encourage you to get a jump on your fall knitting, and make pretty things. Sponsors are still being accepted, so prizes for participants are rolling in. Points will be gathered from around social media by using hashtags (phrases that look like this #FallSweaterChallenge) when sharing what they are working on.There is a website: www.FallSweaterChallenge.com that has a place to enroll, the lists of sponsors, and plenty of suggestions for sweaters and yarns. There are other places, that you may wish to follow or join, there is a Ravelry group which seems to be the place more people are gathering, there is a Facebook page to stay tuned for special announcements and a Facebook group for encouraging each other and share progress.
Susie Allen can be followed at her website: www.EastEndDesignCo.wordpress.com and she has a Ravelry Designer page. She’s also in Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
If you missed hearing this visit LIVE you can still hear it as an archived episode at this link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2016/08/30/the-fall-sweater-challenge-explained-by-susie-allen or with your favorite podcast catcher like iTunes or Stitcher Radio. There is also a video on Marly’s Facebook page that she recorded as behind-the-scenes video from her studio.
Staci Lockman says
August 31, 2016 at 7:54 amMy Fall Sweater Challenge is the Talus Cardigan by Romi Hill. I’ve spent the summer spinning Shetland and finally have enough to knit this beautiful lace cardigan. I can’t wait to wear it and this is the perfect opportunity to power through, start to finish, and get it done.
Lauren says
August 31, 2016 at 8:37 amMy Fall Sweater Challenge is to finish a lime green & navy stripe hooded pullover that I started for my Grandson months ago. Because he lives in the South, I’m doing it in the super soft 100% cotton- Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme.
Your program was so inspiring that I dug the sweater out & I’m excited to finish it, so he can wear it this fall.
Ida Williamson says
August 31, 2016 at 9:34 amMy Fall Sweater Challenge is to crochet a Mickey Mouse themed sweater for my grandson.
Trisha says
August 31, 2016 at 12:34 pmMy Fall Sweater Challenge is to knit the Meris sweater by Elizabeth Doherty.
Louise Gingery says
August 31, 2016 at 2:48 pmMy fall sweater challenge is to FINALLY choose a pattern and use my Green Mountain Spinnery Maine Organic yarn I purchased at Maryland Sheep and Wool last May
Theresa says
August 31, 2016 at 5:14 pmMy fall sweater challenge is to actually finish one. I had anUFO from last year that I want to finish this year. Meanwhile I’ve started two other sweaters.
Pam Bjerke says
August 31, 2016 at 5:56 pmMy fall sweater challenge is to finish a sweater for my husband. He always complains that I never knit him anything. I have some fantastic gray machine spun yarn from my flock of sheep. It is very rustic looking and will make a great sweater – or maybe he can wait a little longer and I’ll knit a sweater for myself!
Anita says
August 31, 2016 at 7:18 pmMy Fall sweater challenge is to knit a sweater using the lovely green WSK wool I bought last spring at the Interweave Yarn Fest. It is a single ply fingering and in my favorite shade of green. I am thinking of a Elizabeth Dougherty sweater. Just need to swatch and start.
lisa Nixon says
September 1, 2016 at 6:18 amMy fall sweater challenge is to get caught up on all my current WIPs so that I can start a sweater with a clear conscience!
savannagal says
September 1, 2016 at 10:10 amMy Fall Sweater Challenge is to knit Stomping Grounds Pullover by Danielle Chalson. I’ve made 4 large stockinette swatches using 4 different needles and still haven’t come close to gauge. I practically have one side knit in gauge swatches already!
amy says
September 1, 2016 at 6:34 pmMy fall sweater challenge is to take on steeks in a fair isle sweater.
Laura says
September 2, 2016 at 6:40 amMy fall sweater challenge is to re-make the collar on the sweater I made earlier this year. I thought I had a better idea than the designer. Yeah…not so much. Only we are going in to spring here in Australia so it may have to stay on hold a few more months because Berocco Folio yarn is seriously warm to sit under!
Amberly says
September 2, 2016 at 10:49 amMy fall sweater challenge is to knit my first sweater!
Jennifer S. Williams says
September 2, 2016 at 11:51 amMy fall sweater challenge will be Marly’s crocheted sweater pattern that she mentioned on the show. Looking it up now!
Michelle says
September 2, 2016 at 2:12 pmMy fall sweater challenge will be Marly’s Hamiliton Sweater. It is GORGEOUSE!
Rosanne Oggoian says
September 4, 2016 at 8:42 pmMy fall sweater challenge is to knit a child’s sweater for a wonderful friend’s daughter. I’m casting on today 🙂
Linda Archibald says
September 4, 2016 at 10:48 pmMy fall sweater challenge is actually knitting four sweaters all of my family by Christmas, some are easy, some are complicated, and one is “mindless” for doing at my kids’ hockey practices/games. Fingers crossed I can get all done in time.
Carol T says
September 6, 2016 at 12:34 amGreat podcast. I have not knit a sweater to date and am having an urge to try one. So I guess that My Fall Sweater Challenge is to knit my first sweater!! I am excited just thinking about it. Lets GO.
Vicki says
September 6, 2016 at 4:44 amMy Fall Sweater Challenge is Iba by Bonn Marie Burns.
Martha says
September 7, 2016 at 3:25 pmMy fall sweater challenge sweater is Macgoean pullover by Quenna Lee from Interweave Knits winter 2016. I am making it out of Buffalo skies natural color. I have had the yarn for a while and when I saw the sweater I knew that was what the yarn was calling for. Its always good to be part of a knit along and this is the mother of all knit alongs.
Devora Baronofsky says
September 8, 2016 at 7:11 ammy fall sweater challenge is to finish 2 sweaters that I started for baby gifts.
Nancy Faris says
September 8, 2016 at 12:06 pmMy Fall sweater challenge is to knit up Celtic Grace for myself and then 3 more sweaters as Christmas gifts (finishing one up this week).
Lisa Lee says
September 8, 2016 at 5:22 pmI am fascinated by Cowichan Sweaters. My Fall Sweater Challenge is to knit a sweater using the skills I learned in the class I took on Cowichan Sweaters with Beth Brown-Reinsel earlier this year.
Suzanne says
September 11, 2016 at 11:58 amMy sweater challenge is to transform the yarn into a Hitofude. I need to get moving on a gauge swatch. Thanks for inspiring me.
colleenstorzek@yahoo.com says
September 11, 2016 at 5:07 pmMy Sweater challenge is to finish seaming all of the made sweaters I have, but never want to finish =)
MAYPAT says
September 12, 2016 at 1:19 pmMy Fall sweater challenge is to do my first sweater with the craftsy class that I purchased.
Jill H. says
September 13, 2016 at 5:23 pmMy fall sweater challenge is to knit one of 2 sweaters I have planned (out of many), I haven’t decided which one yet, but it will be one with heavier yarn.
Mary Kay Smith says
September 16, 2016 at 7:16 amMy fall sweater challenge is to dig out the yarn and pattern for a vest that I bought a couple years ago, before I started on the blanket I made for my daughter to take to college.
Alicia Anderson says
September 17, 2016 at 10:02 pmMy fall sweater challenge is to take my first baby cardigan sweater.
Steph says
October 3, 2016 at 11:48 amYeah Susie! My fall sweater challenge is a Harry Potter Christmas sweater (the original pattern and yarn from Scotland) for my cousin. He lives several states away so I’m only working with measurements. Good thing it’s not a fitted sweater!
Katelyn M says
October 19, 2016 at 1:43 pmI am trying really hard to accomplish the Fall sweater challenge. I have started the Silver Creek sweater from Knittin Little. Hopefully I will get it done. It is always easier to put down a project for myself to make something for others. I will not let this one be put too far on the back burner. Thanks for another great show.