September 2026 - Jessie Mae Martinson aka Jessie Maed Designs
Welcome to September Beanie Brigaders! This months Beanie Brigade is a celebration of crisp mornings, golden light, and the simple joy of welcoming a new season. September's featured pattern is the GR8 Gingham Hat by Jessie Maed Designs, paired with a beautiful sparkly stellina fingering-weight yarn that brings a touch of shimmer to every stitch. You will receive two coordinating skeins, giving you everything needed to create this playful, modern take on a classic gingham design if you feel moved to make it. The blend of 75% Superwash Merino Wool, 20% Nylon, and 5% Silver Stellina creates a soft yet durable fabric with just the right amount of sparkle, while the crisp stitch definition makes the gingham pattern pop beautifully.
The featured color-way, Dust on the Dashboard, captures the feeling of late-summer road trips drifting into autumn. Creamy ivory and warm mustard gold come together in a palette inspired by sun-faded gingham blankets, wild roadside daisies, vintage cars, and the golden haze of September afternoons. Delicate silver stellina catches the light like dust dancing through an open car window, adding a subtle sparkle that feels both nostalgic and magical.
Known for her approachable designs and modern aesthetic, Jessie Mae brings her signature blend of fun and wearability to the GR8 Gingham Hat. The graphic colorwork motif is engaging without feeling overwhelming, making this project a satisfying knit for both experienced colorwork enthusiasts and adventurous beginners. Paired with the warm, vintage-inspired tones of Dust on the Dashboard and the gentle shimmer of some solver stellina sparkle, this month's project is the perfect way to welcome the cozy season ahead, one stitch at a time.
Jessie Mae ~ Beanie Brigade Blog Interview Q's
Q 1. Hi Jessie! Many knitters know you for your gorgeous sweaters and garment patterns. What was it like designing the GR8 Gingham Hat, and what drew you to this playful accessory project?
A 1. I love gingham, and wanted a cute gingham hat! Chicago winters can be cold and dark, so I always like to wear bright colors to bring light into those days when I leave the house. I had previously released the Gr8 Gingham Raglan in the same color combo, and used my leftover yarn from that project for this design.
Q 2. Accessibility is woven into every aspect of your business, from size inclusivity to your choose-what-you-pay model. What inspired you to build your brand this way?
A 2. I am a person from humble means who has been fat my whole life, so I know what it feels like to not have access to cool, fun fashion, and I don’t want anyone to have to feel that way. How we dress is such an important part of our self-expression, and everyone deserves access to the means to make things that make them feel more like themselves.
Q 3. If the GR8 Gingham Hat had a personality, how would you describe it?
A 3. Cute, classic, & cool.
Q 4. Your patterns are known for being approachable and beginner-friendly without sacrificing style. What does your pattern design journey look like?
A 4. I started designing out of necessity pretty soon after I began knitting when I couldn’t find patterns that fit my style available in my size. A lot of my earlier patterns are written through the eyes of an early knitter, explaining potentially confusing steps that might be intuitive to more advanced knitters in explicit detail. I really wanted my early patterns to work as teaching tools in a way, empowering knitters to take ownership of their knitting and skills, in the same way I was.
Q 5. Your designs have introduced so many people to garment knitting. Was there a particular moment when you realized your work was resonating with knitters in such a meaningful way?
A 5. I don’t know if there was a particular moment, or if I understand it even now.. There are sales, of course, but I’d say the way my patterns picked up traction combined with the community that coalesced around me online during Covid come to mind specifically. Few things feel better as an artist than receiving affirming messages about how my work has helped people feel more like themselves in some way. That people even want to do that will always feel very profound to me.
Q 6. The knitting world has changed a lot over the last decade. What is one positive shift you've witnessed that gives you hope for the future of the craft?
A 7. There are so many more young people designing, and so many more size inclusive designers now. It’s very inspiring.
Q 7. If you could spend a day teaching a room full of brand-new knitters, what is the first thing you would want them to know about themselves as makers?
A 7. That as humans, we are all inherently creative, driven by the urge to make things, and that they should trust their intuition during their process. Every idea is good and worth exploring, and if you’re curious about a new method or technique, you don’t have to wait to try it. Even if something turns out to be too difficult for your current skill level, you can always unravel and start again, and you’re still leveling up even when making mistakes. Nothing in knitting is permanent.
Q 8. Your patterns have been translated into multiple languages, reaching knitters around the world. What does it feel like knowing your designs are being made in so many different places and communities?
A 8. Humbling, surreal, and sooo cozy!
Q 9. Your apartment / design space is perfection (and those sunsets), what is your inspiration for curating and designing it the way you have?
A 9. I’m an anxious person who is easily overwhelmed, so I need my space to be a calm, soft place to nest. I like soft colors and textures that make me feel cozy and calm. I love living in a beautiful space surrounded by beautiful little objects, because it inspires me to make more beautiful things. And I love the beautiful Chicago sunsets, the lake, and the colors they make together. I see all of it in the colors I’m drawn to when I design.
Q 10. Every designer has projects that become wardrobe staples. What is the knit item you reach for most often, whether it's something you designed or something made by another maker?
A 10. I love my Choux Sweater in The Lamb & Kid Birdie, in white. I love lightweight clothing. It goes with everything and makes me feel elegant and pretty!
Q 11. Community is such a big part of your brand. What has the knitting community taught you over the years?
A 11. I’ve made some of my best friends through knitting. One of the great joys of life is building relationships with people who share your creative passion.
Q 12. As we head into a new season, what is something you're hoping to make more room for in your life, whether that's creativity, rest, adventure, family time, or something else entirely?
A 12. I really want to make time for more crafts. I want to sew more. I want to bead more. I want to finish my moccasins and my quilt. I want to jump in the lake. I want to learn a thousand other fiber crafts. I want to get out of my own head more.
Q 13. Your designs encourage knitters to take up space, embrace their bodies, and create garments they genuinely love to wear. What does confidence mean to you these days?
A 13. Confidence to me has always been about taking up space. I come from a unique background, and have always felt different from most of the people around me. My mom is a Filipino immigrant. My dad is Ojibwe. I grew up on a reservation in northern Wisconsin. In most of the spaces I’ve been throughout my life, there haven’t been many other people who looked like me or shared my experiences. I’ve had to both make and take up space in order to get footing anywhere, and I will always have to do that.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jessie's Socials