Jacqueline Cieslak is a designer, teacher, and maker based in the US. Her passion for knitting and sewing, and her inclusive, welcoming attitude to her crafts all come together in Embody.
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Empowering makers to create clothes that honour their bodies is at the core of Jacqui’s designing practice, and this shines through in her debut book. These are the same personal values that I work and live by in my own wardrobe styling and body confidence work at New Boots and Panties, and so I love it when I come across mirror-minded designers and makers!  

Embody consists of three infinitely adaptable patterns — two knitting, one sewing — with bespoke instructions to create customised, perfectly fitted garments designed to be the foundation of any maker’s me-made wardrobe. With included variations resulting in as many as 25 unique pieces from the three cornerstone patterns, this book encourages makers to think of a pattern as the starting point for their own creativity — a skill that will change how they approach any given pattern.

Embody comes with a code to allow you to download the printable sewing patterns on A4 or A0 format. 
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SUMMARY OF THE THREE EMBODY PATTERNS: WOOLFORK, DEREN & ELSOM...

DEREN (knit)

• Jersey
• Cardigan
• Tee
• Vest

A knitted top pattern to cover your every need. I adore the simplicity and classic lines of the Deren, and has really made me look at the knitted tee as a wardrobe option that I’d never have considered before...and now REALLY want to try!

As a big sucker for anything cardigan, I simply love the Deren cardigan variation, in the pictured green and with buttons and I’d like to replicate this entire example. ​

ELSOM (knit)

• Shawl

A beautiful long, draping shawl, with interesting textures that you can wrap, wind and fold a multitude of ways. The secret to capsule wardrobes is in the layering and this shawl is the perfect way to add depth, interest and added dimension to your collection. ​

Finally, whilst I cannot stress enough how much I appreciate how plus-size friendly this is, and what an ambassador for Body Acceptance Jacqueline is.

​Finally, something that I like the most about this collection is how the designs are simple, sophisticated, classic and not hyper-feminine in their styles. 

Of course what colours and fabrics you make these patterns in is up to you, and the capsule could be made with bright, bold, patterns and colours. However as a plus size woman I constantly know and feel pressure in the eyes of the world to dress super-feminine all of the time, often being made to feel quite infantile and pigeonholed in the way I'm expected to present. Don’t get me wrong, I love a tassel, tutu and bright colour as much as the next person, but it's exhausting when it feel like the only socially acceptable way to dress as a fat woman. 

Embody’s collection, in its earth tones, simple shapes, and natural fabrics, on the other hand, feels very grown up and sophisticated. Never old, stuffy, or boring. Just classy, elegant, natural and sexy without being sexual. ​​

The day that I have been eagerly anticipating has finally arrived - that's right - the Lissy Cole Designs  collection is here.

OH WOW I AM EXCITED!!!

In collaboration with Lissy Cole Designs, Outlaw Yarn are thrilled to introduce their new collection of super chunky yarn in a fabulous range of bright colours; Auahu Haukura.

Today in Never Been Knit, I'm going to be telling you why, as a newbie knitter, I'm so fizzing for Auaha Haukura, why you should not fear the neon, and what I'm planning to create with my stash of these beautiful chubby yarn babies!

​Deliciously versatile, wonderfully warm and endearingly retro, you really can’t beat a knitted garment wrapped around your upper torso when it comes to assembling a classic and enduring wardrobe.

It’s a somewhat momentous day here at Never Been Knit because, dear friends, I am here to announce that I HAVE COMPLETED MY FIRST KNITTED PROJECT!

*please imagine a rather large glitter cannon going off at this point*

My first ever knitted project was the Skyping Beanie by Halldora J. It's a pattern that Ethan picked out for me after we agreed that I wanted to start my first garment. I’ve since been told that this pattern, with all its ribbing, was perhaps a bit ambitious for my first go. Sometimes Ethan’s idea of ‘easy’ is not the same as everyone else’s. After all, we all know that Ethan IS an actual IRL knitting god!!

I don't mean that as a humblebrag on my part, the project was a huge challenge that I needed decent amounts of help with. But at the same time I think it's cool I didn't know that it was a little tricky and gave it a good solid crack, after all, anything I'd be trying for the first time was going to be hard regardless! Sometimes in life ignorance is bliss and it’s better not to know how high and steep the hill you’re about to walk up is, until you get to the top!