Just Like Me Knits: Matching Patterns for Kids and Their Favorite Dolls

364 Pages·2013·7.19 MB·English

by  Brandy Fortune

Text and photographs copyright © 2013 by Brandy Fortune
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Potter Craft, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of
Random House, Inc., New York.
www.crownpublishing.com
wwww.pottercraft.com
POTTER CRAFT and colophon is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fortune, Brandy.
Just like me knits / Brandy Fortune. -- First Edition.
pages cm
Includes index.
1. Knitting--Patterns. 2. Children’s clothing. I. Title.
TT825.F67 2013
746.43′2--dc23
2012020351
eISBN: 978-0-7704-3437-3
Photography by Brandy Fortune
Illustrations on this page used with the permission of Rachelle Anne Miller
The author and publisher would like to thank the Craft Yarn Council of America for providing the yarn
weight standards and accompanying icons used in this book.
For more information, please visit www.YarnStandards.com.
v3.1
For Sydney and Rowan, who always inspire me, and for
Jesse, who always supports me.
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Foreword by Susan B. Anderson
Introduction
Before You Begin

everyday
Katie Garter Jacket
Brett Deer Vest
Aiden Pullover
Ari Owl Sweater
Gigi Military Jacket
Reagan Pinafore

dress-up
Sydney Lace Dress
Satya Ballet Wrap
Kaylee Beaded Skirt
Elliot Cabled Vest
Nicole Lace Shrug
Michelle Mermaid Bracelets
Laura Camisole

accessories
Grayson Felted Crown
Samantha Lace Kneesocks
James Mixed-Up Socks
Rowan Owl Hat
Quinn Blanket
Jesse Bear Hat

just like me sewing
The Jeans
The T-Shirt
The Leggings
The Ribbon Dress
The Ruffle Skirt
Special Stitches and Techniques
Abbreviations
Standard Yarn Weight System
Skill Levels Explained
Resources
Meet the Dolls
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Index
Quite a few years ago I started listening to knitting podcasts. There weren’t
many around at that time. It was the early days for the pairing of technology
and knitting. One day I was checking to see if any new knitting podcasts had
become available and I ran across the Pixie Purls podcast. The host was a
bright, cheerful young woman from Georgia who earnestly explored knitting
and shared her findings through her podcast and blog. I loved listening to
who I now know is none other than Brandy Fortune.
I followed along to every episode and blog post, as Brandy became a
mother for the first time and then the second time. She dove into
parenthood headfirst and fell head over heels in love with all that it entails,
similar to the way she embraces her knitting. I could relate to Brandy on so
many levels. I started my own knitting career with little ones on my lap and
running around at my feet. It is not an easy thing to do.
With dewy love and appreciation for parenthood, Brandy began designing
knitwear for her young daughters. Through her firsthand experience with
young children and years of knitting experience, Brandy knows exactly what
knitters want in a pattern. Her designs always hit the mark for beautiful
simplicity, practicality, and an uncanny understanding of what and how
knitters want to knit, especially when it comes to knitting for children. This
combination of experience, skill, and understanding is a rare find.
It was a few years ago that Brandy noticed an unfilled gap in the online
knitting community and it was in line with her own interests in knitting as
the mother of two young children. Brandy and Allegra Wermuth, her online
knitting friend and fellow parent, began moving into uncharted territory by
creating an online magazine, PetitePurls.com, that offers children’s knitting
patterns along with articles and features about parenthood and living a
creative lifestyle. Petite Purls also put Brandy’s other love (yes, there is
another love), photography, at the forefront. Brandy photographs many of
the knitwear designs and beauty shots for Petite Purls. With her bag
overflowing with skills, Brandy is one of the most talented and versatile
young knitting designers in the industry today. She does it all with great
style, passion, and love.
Brandy’s quick rise in the knitting industry does not surprise me. She has
worked hard, and it is clear she has an undeniable passion for her work.
When I heard she was writing a knitting book I immediately became excited.
Of course, it would be a thoughtful, beautiful book of knits for young
children. When I learned that Brandy was photographing and designing
everything in the book, I knew with certainty that it would become a
treasured and well-used collection for years to come. She has taken her
experience as a parent, her nostalgia and current love of dolls and
educational toys, and her passion for childhood and its adventures, and
combined it all to create this book in front of you.
The only way to truly understand Brandy’s passion for children, learning,
and knitting is to dive right into the pages of this innovative book she has
thoughtfully created. With nearly thirty-eight knitting patterns (nineteen
patterns for children and matching patterns for dolls), hand-sewing basics,
and five sewing patterns, this book is destined to become a great resource for
generations to come.
Brandy is a role model for our online knitting community. She is deeply
rooted in family, in living a creative lifestyle, in taking the time to nurture
and appreciate children, and in making the world a better place. She is
passionate and earnest to a fault and that is apparent in the pages ahead of
you.
I encourage you to take Brandy’s lead as an example of knitting for the
small but always living large at the same time!
Susan B. Anderson