Yak down for a good cause
(The title of this post will surely separate the knitters from the muggles, wonÂ’t it? Dear muggles, yak down is a good thing. A very very soft good thing.)
I was approached today by the kind folks at Shokay, who wanted permission to use my Baby Yoda Sweater pattern. Shokay works with Tibetan herders, with the goal of poverty alleviation in the Western regions of China. Do read about their enterprise on their website.
My sweater pattern will be made available on their website and will be provided to knitting stores where the Shokay yak down yarns are sold, to be offered as a free pattern for those who purchase the yarn. (Since the pattern is already offered for free right here on my blog, presumably their target audience is the non-dogsstealyarn-reading knitting world. Shocking, I know.)
Shokay is doing good work, and IÂ’m honored that they sought me out and gave me the opportunity to contribute in this small way. In fact, I plan to donate more designs for their use in the future. They’ve already worked up a Baby Yoda Sweater in their yarn and sent me these photos. IsnÂ’t that color fantastic? And how insanely cute is that baby?! I think Thumper needs a yak down sweater.
That’s so cool! Congrats!
Posted by: Kristy
Who doesn’t need a yak down sweater? 🙂 Congrats!
Posted by: JessZ
Awesome! I love the color too!
Posted by: Melissa
It’s fab in that gorgeous green. Cute baby too !
Posted by: Emma
That’s great. And that baby is completely adorable. The Shokay is amazing stuff. It fluffs up so much when knit and feels heavenly.
Posted by: Jessica
Gawd, you can almost see the softness. The baby looks very happy and yodalike in his sweater.
Posted by: Lizbon
That’s so cool! Congrats!
Posted by: Kristy
Who doesn’t need a yak down sweater? 🙂 Congrats!
Posted by: JessZ
Awesome! I love the color too!
Posted by: Melissa
It’s fab in that gorgeous green. Cute baby too !
Posted by: Emma
That’s great. And that baby is completely adorable. The Shokay is amazing stuff. It fluffs up so much when knit and feels heavenly.
Posted by: Jessica
Gawd, you can almost see the softness. The baby looks very happy and yodalike in his sweater.
Posted by: Lizbon
congratulations! you should be truly honored. it’s a great pattern. i just printed it out. 🙂 i’m on my way to visit the Shokay site now.
Posted by: lynette
At first I thought it was like “Yak down! Yak down!” as in, we need to call someone to help pick up the yaks. But no. 🙂
That’s a VERY cute baby, wearing a VERY cute sweater. Close enough for a play date?
Posted by: Patti
Congratulations! And that is one adorable baby! Not as cute as Thumper, of course….
And re your previous post — the Edmund Fitzgerald makes me cry, too.
Posted by: janna
OMG, that is insanely cute! And so is Thumper in the other photo with his gooey biscuit.
Posted by: Norma
I want a grown up yak down sweater. In that colour. (and I want to be as cute as that kid!) Awesome for you! Congrats on being singled out for this!
Posted by: miss ewe
Oh the sweater, the baby, it’s all very cute. (And so is Thumper, below this post, with his cookies 🙂 but you already knew that!)
And what a great company to be a part of. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Posted by: kodachrome
What does it say about me that I read your title and the second thing that crossed my mind (the first was about spinning, duh,) was some weird Far Side-ish cartoon captioned “Yak down! We’ve got a yak down! Retreat!” The sweater is very cool, looks exceptionally cozy (and the baby seems to be enjoying it!)
Posted by: loribird
yaks and babes – you can feel the lurv.
well done!
Posted by: Alison
What a lovely sweater, and the baby looks so cute in it too! Congratulations
Posted by: Janine
Cuteness abounds. Congratulations!
Posted by: jessie
It looks wonderful. That’s a great little sweater!
Posted by: Wendy
Congratulations, dear Cari!
Posted by: Elspeth
Awwwwwww! I gotta admit, that’s an excellent use for your pattern! But… there’s a world that doesn’t read dogsstealyarn? Hmm… ok, if you say so…
Congratulations!
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea
So cute!!! I think I’m going to stop knitting scarves for chilly chinamen and start knitting baby yoda sweaters 🙂 I need a change of pace!
Posted by: Liz
Oh, Yak Yoda, and in green too! Adorable baby, really and truly. (Have you ordered some of their yarn yet? Why do I suspect you might have?)
Posted by: Cassie
Love it. Perfect.
Posted by: Michelle
congratulations! you should be truly honored. it’s a great pattern. i just printed it out. 🙂 i’m on my way to visit the Shokay site now.
Posted by: lynette
At first I thought it was like “Yak down! Yak down!” as in, we need to call someone to help pick up the yaks. But no. 🙂
That’s a VERY cute baby, wearing a VERY cute sweater. Close enough for a play date?
Posted by: Patti
Congratulations! And that is one adorable baby! Not as cute as Thumper, of course….
And re your previous post — the Edmund Fitzgerald makes me cry, too.
Posted by: janna
OMG, that is insanely cute! And so is Thumper in the other photo with his gooey biscuit.
Posted by: Norma
I want a grown up yak down sweater. In that colour. (and I want to be as cute as that kid!) Awesome for you! Congrats on being singled out for this!
Posted by: miss ewe
Oh the sweater, the baby, it’s all very cute. (And so is Thumper, below this post, with his cookies 🙂 but you already knew that!)
And what a great company to be a part of. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Posted by: kodachrome
What does it say about me that I read your title and the second thing that crossed my mind (the first was about spinning, duh,) was some weird Far Side-ish cartoon captioned “Yak down! We’ve got a yak down! Retreat!” The sweater is very cool, looks exceptionally cozy (and the baby seems to be enjoying it!)
Posted by: loribird
yaks and babes – you can feel the lurv.
well done!
Posted by: Alison
What a lovely sweater, and the baby looks so cute in it too! Congratulations
Posted by: Janine
Cuteness abounds. Congratulations!
Posted by: jessie
It looks wonderful. That’s a great little sweater!
Posted by: Wendy
Congratulations, dear Cari!
Posted by: Elspeth
Awwwwwww! I gotta admit, that’s an excellent use for your pattern! But… there’s a world that doesn’t read dogsstealyarn? Hmm… ok, if you say so…
Congratulations!
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea
So cute!!! I think I’m going to stop knitting scarves for chilly chinamen and start knitting baby yoda sweaters 🙂 I need a change of pace!
Posted by: Liz
Oh, Yak Yoda, and in green too! Adorable baby, really and truly. (Have you ordered some of their yarn yet? Why do I suspect you might have?)
Posted by: Cassie
Love it. Perfect.
Posted by: Michelle
If this hadn’t already been on my must-knit-for-Fricklet list (due to Beth’s over at Numerical Knitting), this photo would have clinched the deal!
Posted by: JulieFrick
All the cuteness is getting me very emotional this morning. I love that they’re using your pattern, i love that color, and yes, Thumper absolutely needs a yak down sweater. The baby in the photo is just darling.
Posted by: regina
What darling photos, and what a great reason to buy some yak! Mmmm, fluffy goodness.
The picture of Thumper with his teething biscuit is adorable. I think those biscuits in particular were the beginning of my downfall, food-mess-wise. 🙂
Posted by: Amy
that’s wonderful! what a great pattern for a great cause. congrats on doing something useful and good! 🙂
Posted by: connie
Wow, that is so cool. I would love to try making one of those cute little sweaters in yak fiber. Yak! That reminds me of when my husband and I were in college. He had to give a presentation in his German class about an animal. His animal was the yak. I stayed up most of the night drawing/painting a picture of a yak for him so he would have a visual aid. It was a beautiful yak and coming out of his mouth there was a cartoon bubble which said “milk me, I’m a yak” in German. I still believe it was the yak picture that got him a good grade on the project.
Posted by: Knittripps
It’s a gorgeous sweater! And since you’re giving it away free anyway, why not get more publicity with it, offer it to more babies out there?! That said, I wonder if maybe you’re giving Shokay the wrong message. There are a lot of freelance knitwear designers in the USA who are working very hard and not earning much money. Part of the reason why is that many yarn companies think it is A-OK to expect that they’ll find pattern support for their yarns for nothing. Zilch. For free. So, it creates a system in which professionals will be paid very little for a lot of work. Professionals can’t live on that.
Since I also do freelance writing/editing, I’d compare it to that. What if a company approached you, saw that you’d edited a friend’s work for free, and asked if you’d do that for them, just because it’s a good cause? Never mind that it undercuts those who edit for a living?
Now, Shokay is doing something good for the world, absolutely, but those Harvard grads who started it up? Are they also working for free?
I love the sweater. Really. I do, and I enjoy reading your blog. This is just the other side to the Shokay design proposition. I think it’s worth thinking about.
Posted by: Joanne
It’s a gorgeous sweater! And since you’re giving it away free anyway, why not get more publicity with it, offer it to more babies out there?! That said, I wonder if maybe you’re giving Shokay the wrong message. There are a lot of freelance knitwear designers in the USA who are working very hard and not earning much money. Part of the reason why is that many yarn companies think it is A-OK to expect that they’ll find pattern support for their yarns for nothing. Zilch. For free. So, it creates a system in which professionals will be paid very little for a lot of work. Professionals can’t live on that.
Since I also do freelance writing/editing, I’d compare it to that. What if a company approached you, saw that you’d edited a friend’s work for free, and asked if you’d do that for them, just because it’s a good cause? Never mind that it undercuts those who edit for a living?
Now, Shokay is doing something good for the world, absolutely, but those Harvard grads who started it up? Are they also working for free?
I love the sweater. Really. I do, and I enjoy reading your blog. This is just the other side to the Shokay design proposition. I think it’s worth thinking about.
Posted by: Joanne
How cool! I think I’ll get in touch with them and try to order one of those babies…
Posted by: alison
That is one damn cute sweater/baby combo. Must keep reminding myself that I do NOT need yak fiber. Or another baby.
Posted by: mindy
What a lovely product and worthy cause for your Baby Yoda Jacket.
Posted by: Cate
Baby Yoda went viral!!! http://www.craftzine.com/blog/archive/2007/04/knit_baby_yoda_sweater.html#comments
Posted by: Patti
Absolutely brilliant! I didn;t see this the first time around so thanks for reposting it. I have a colleague who is a Star Wars fan and about to have a baby. She will love this!!!
Posted by: Billy Blogger
Look at that fantastic sweater! And good on you for the pattern/yak hook up! That kid is cute but doesn’t have the same effect on me as Thumper. Here, let me scroll down a bit….awwww….Thump *Thunk*
Posted by: Ande
Adorable! Both baby and sweater. 🙂
Posted by: Romi
That sweater is adorable!! Good luck with the Open House tomorrow. I’m sure it’s been very difficult to get ready for with a baby in tow and two iggys.
Posted by: Shelley (Pink House)
Anything to do with yaks has got to be good. And plus, there is something elfin about that sweater in green. The cute! The cute!
Thumper needs one, Lucy needs one, and I need one!!!
Posted by: pippy
If this hadn’t already been on my must-knit-for-Fricklet list (due to Beth’s over at Numerical Knitting), this photo would have clinched the deal!
Posted by: JulieFrick
All the cuteness is getting me very emotional this morning. I love that they’re using your pattern, i love that color, and yes, Thumper absolutely needs a yak down sweater. The baby in the photo is just darling.
Posted by: regina
What darling photos, and what a great reason to buy some yak! Mmmm, fluffy goodness.
The picture of Thumper with his teething biscuit is adorable. I think those biscuits in particular were the beginning of my downfall, food-mess-wise. 🙂
Posted by: Amy
that’s wonderful! what a great pattern for a great cause. congrats on doing something useful and good! 🙂
Posted by: connie
Wow, that is so cool. I would love to try making one of those cute little sweaters in yak fiber. Yak! That reminds me of when my husband and I were in college. He had to give a presentation in his German class about an animal. His animal was the yak. I stayed up most of the night drawing/painting a picture of a yak for him so he would have a visual aid. It was a beautiful yak and coming out of his mouth there was a cartoon bubble which said “milk me, I’m a yak” in German. I still believe it was the yak picture that got him a good grade on the project.
Posted by: Knittripps
It’s a gorgeous sweater! And since you’re giving it away free anyway, why not get more publicity with it, offer it to more babies out there?! That said, I wonder if maybe you’re giving Shokay the wrong message. There are a lot of freelance knitwear designers in the USA who are working very hard and not earning much money. Part of the reason why is that many yarn companies think it is A-OK to expect that they’ll find pattern support for their yarns for nothing. Zilch. For free. So, it creates a system in which professionals will be paid very little for a lot of work. Professionals can’t live on that.
Since I also do freelance writing/editing, I’d compare it to that. What if a company approached you, saw that you’d edited a friend’s work for free, and asked if you’d do that for them, just because it’s a good cause? Never mind that it undercuts those who edit for a living?
Now, Shokay is doing something good for the world, absolutely, but those Harvard grads who started it up? Are they also working for free?
I love the sweater. Really. I do, and I enjoy reading your blog. This is just the other side to the Shokay design proposition. I think it’s worth thinking about.
Posted by: Joanne
It’s a gorgeous sweater! And since you’re giving it away free anyway, why not get more publicity with it, offer it to more babies out there?! That said, I wonder if maybe you’re giving Shokay the wrong message. There are a lot of freelance knitwear designers in the USA who are working very hard and not earning much money. Part of the reason why is that many yarn companies think it is A-OK to expect that they’ll find pattern support for their yarns for nothing. Zilch. For free. So, it creates a system in which professionals will be paid very little for a lot of work. Professionals can’t live on that.
Since I also do freelance writing/editing, I’d compare it to that. What if a company approached you, saw that you’d edited a friend’s work for free, and asked if you’d do that for them, just because it’s a good cause? Never mind that it undercuts those who edit for a living?
Now, Shokay is doing something good for the world, absolutely, but those Harvard grads who started it up? Are they also working for free?
I love the sweater. Really. I do, and I enjoy reading your blog. This is just the other side to the Shokay design proposition. I think it’s worth thinking about.
Posted by: Joanne
How cool! I think I’ll get in touch with them and try to order one of those babies…
Posted by: alison
That is one damn cute sweater/baby combo. Must keep reminding myself that I do NOT need yak fiber. Or another baby.
Posted by: mindy
What a lovely product and worthy cause for your Baby Yoda Jacket.
Posted by: Cate
Baby Yoda went viral!!! http://www.craftzine.com/blog/archive/2007/04/knit_baby_yoda_sweater.html#comments
Posted by: Patti
Absolutely brilliant! I didn;t see this the first time around so thanks for reposting it. I have a colleague who is a Star Wars fan and about to have a baby. She will love this!!!
Posted by: Billy Blogger
Look at that fantastic sweater! And good on you for the pattern/yak hook up! That kid is cute but doesn’t have the same effect on me as Thumper. Here, let me scroll down a bit….awwww….Thump *Thunk*
Posted by: Ande
Adorable! Both baby and sweater. 🙂
Posted by: Romi
That sweater is adorable!! Good luck with the Open House tomorrow. I’m sure it’s been very difficult to get ready for with a baby in tow and two iggys.
Posted by: Shelley (Pink House)
Anything to do with yaks has got to be good. And plus, there is something elfin about that sweater in green. The cute! The cute!
Thumper needs one, Lucy needs one, and I need one!!!
Posted by: pippy