Cone & Fiber
Sweater Challenge 2026
One month. One sweater. Let's knit together!
We're joining the NaKniSweMo tradition this November, and you're invited to our very first sweater challenge. First sweater or twenty-first, everyone is welcome!
100 finishing gifts + $300, $200 and $100 grand prizes
Mark your calendar
Finish your sweater whenever you like after the challenge begins. The only finished-project deadline is publishing your Instagram post by December 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
What can you make?
A handmade adult sweater, pullover or cardigan, knitted or crocheted.
- Adult size, long sleeves and full length (no cropped styles)
- Needles or hook no larger than 4 mm (US 6 needles / US G/6 hook)
- Handmade only, no knitting machines
Any yarn, any pattern or your own design. Credit the designer if using someone else's pattern. Make as many sweaters as you wish!
No need to buy yarn from us. If you use Cone & Fiber yarn, we'd love #MadeWithConeAndFiber. It's optional and doesn't affect judging.
How to enter
Show your first rows
Starting October 30, you can begin your sweater whenever you're ready. Share a photo of your first knitted or crocheted rows on Instagram. The photo must show actual work in progress, not just yarn or a pattern.
Show the whole sweater
Publish the finished garment by December 1, 11:59 PM PT. Model it or use a mannequin. Showing your face isn't required.
In both posts: tag @coneandfiber, add #ConeFiberSweaterChallenge, and disclose the prize contest, for example: Entry for the Cone & Fiber Sweater Challenge, a contest with prizes.
100 gifts for finished sweaters
Finishing a sweater deserves a celebration, not just the top three places.
For single-color sweaters
The first 50 eligible participants who finish and post a single-color sweater each receive an Emma Ball stitch marker set.
Retail value: $10
For multicolor sweaters
The first 50 eligible participants who finish and post a multicolor sweater each receive an Emma Ball Drawstring Bag.
Retail value: from $20
Order is determined by the Instagram publication time of the finished sweater. Ties are broken by the time both links arrive in Direct. One finishing gift per person, regardless of sweater count.
Every grand-prize winner also receives a finishing gift. If all 100 regular gifts have already been claimed, we will provide additional gifts for the grand-prize winners.
Recipients get a one-use code via Instagram Direct for a free gift and free US shipping, with no purchase or minimum order. Portland store pickup is also available. Codes expire March 31, 2027.
Three grand prizes
$300Gift card
$200Gift card
$100Gift card
The Cone & Fiber team will choose three favorite eligible projects based on creativity, craftsmanship, the overall garment, the story behind the project and support for the challenge. It's a creative judgment, not a random drawing or points competition. Finishing faster doesn't help you win a grand prize.
One grand prize per participant. Every grand-prize winner also receives a finishing gift. Winners will be selected and announced on December 7, 2026, at @coneandfiber.
Let's knit together!
Join our WhatsApp group to share progress, patterns, advice and encouragement, especially when that second sleeve feels endless.
Join the WhatsApp challenge groupThe Cone & Fiber team is knitting along, too! Employees participate outside the competition and cannot win prizes. Employees who finish by the publication deadline receive the yarn used for their sweater free under our internal program.
Invite your friends and share this challenge! Knitting together is more fun, and spreading the word supports our small independent yarn store.
Official Rules
Eligibility
Open to residents of all 50 United States aged 18 or older. No purchase necessary. Buying Cone & Fiber products does not affect judging. Employees and people directly involved in organizing or judging are not eligible for prizes or finishing gifts.
Entries and verification
Projects must be made by the participant after the challenge starts on October 30, 2026, and meet the garment, posting and timing requirements above. Cone & Fiber may request additional photos or information to verify eligibility and may disqualify entries that violate the rules or contain false information. Finishing gifts are awarded by eligible finished-post publication time, with Instagram Direct receipt time as the tiebreaker.
Winner selection and notification
Grand-prize winners are selected on December 7, 2026, by the Cone & Fiber team using the creative criteria stated above, announced on Instagram and contacted via Instagram Direct. Grand-prize winners must reply within 14 calendar days; if they don't reply, decline or are ineligible, an alternate may be chosen using the same criteria.
Prizes and value
50 Emma Ball stitch marker sets at $10 each, 50 Emma Ball Drawstring Bags valued from $20 each, and gift cards of $300, $200 and $100. Initial approximate retail value: at least $2,100, excluding shipping. Up to three additional finishing gifts may be supplied to grand-prize winners outside the first 50 of their category. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash or other merchandise at the recipient's request unless required by law. Recipients are responsible for applicable taxes.
Photos and videos
By entering, participants grant Cone & Fiber a nonexclusive, royalty-free permission to repost photos and videos of challenge projects on its website and social media with attribution. Copyright remains with the owners. Participants confirm they have the necessary rights and permissions for submitted materials.
Personal information
Participant information is used to administer the contest, verify entries, contact winners and deliver gifts in accordance with applicable law and the Cone & Fiber privacy policy.
This challenge is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram or Meta. Participants release Instagram from responsibility for administration of this challenge to the extent permitted by law.
Organizer
Cone and Fiber Inc.
1420 NW 17th Avenue #588, Portland, OR 97209, USA
info@coneandfiber.com · +1 (503) 422-2203
coneandfiber.com · @coneandfiber
Void where prohibited by law. Oregon law applies, subject to mandatory legal protections in participants' states of residence.
Share your finished sweater by December 1!
