Hi everyone, it’s been a very long time since I’ve written a blogpost. Much behind-the-scenes design work has been going on, including 2022’s pumpkin design, the Jack-Be-Little. More about the other designs a little later.
Jack-Be-Little is a variety of tiny pumpkin readily available each Fall. This Jack-Be-Little knits up quickly and is made with slipped stitches. It’s a small pumpkin, 5 inches in diameter and about 2.5 inches tall without the stem. The pattern also includes Jill-Be-Little (another variety) and Ghost-Be-Little (slight poetic license taken here). The options vary only in the height of the central slipped stitch section of the pumpkins.
Create your own pumpkin patch by mixing and matching the various Be-Littles, changing up your main colors and contrasting colors, and using either a premade or knitted-on stem.
Hand and glove with the 2022 pumpkin design is the Fifth Annual Pumpkin Along. Edited to add: Starting NOW!!
The premise of the PAL is very easy: knit one of the Knit Equals Joy pumpkins (there are now 10!), post progress pictures of your pumpkin on Instagram with the tags #pumpkinalong2022, #knitequalsjoy, and @knitequalsjoy. I will be giving away Knit Equals Joy patterns (digital) periodically during the PAL chosen randomly from amongst progress pictures posted and tagged on Instagram. If you’d like to use the above photo on Instagram (or Facebook), it will count as a progress picture. Follow those tags to see everyone else’s pumpkin progress and anything related to Fall that we post (because we love Fall!!!).
When you finish a pumpkin, also use the tag #pumpkinalong2022FO (for finished object).
At the conclusion of the PAL (Halloween, although I reserve the right to extend it if the mood strikes), I’ll randomly choose from the finished pumpkins and will award prizes. We currently have an adorable pumpkin teapot stitch marker donated by Carla and a skein of Blu Fiber Company DK yarn in the colorway Wild Holly (I used it for a couple of my Jack-Be-Littles, and it is a GREAT colorway and a fabulous yarn to work with) donated by Wild Knits Yarn Shop. Thank you so very much, Carla and Wild Knits! I will also donate a $30 gift certificate for Amanda Hope Yarn. I used Amanda Hope Yarn Extra Fine Merino and Superkid Mohair/Silk in the Jack-Be-Little pattern, and it is divine!
If you’re not on Instagram, email your pumpkins to me at knitequalsjoy@gmail.com.
Come join us and get in on some Autumn-knitting joy!!!
Pumpkin-A-Long Patterns – hover over photo for pattern name, click to read about the pattern or to purchase.
Now, for the other designing going on behind the scenes:
I’m excited to be releasing this pattern within the next week or so for more fall fun:
It’s a quick and easy knit, and you can make the garland as long as you like. The pattern describes the easiest way to connect the pie pieces, but they can also be connected with twine or baker’s twine, using sewn-on or glued-on buttons, or by using i-cord.
On October 15th, we will be having a relaxed Pumpkin Pie Garland KAL/party/class at Wild Knits. I’ll be demonstrating some of those construction techniques and we’ll have pompom makers in various sizes. Lots of crafting fun! Grandma’s and Mom’s button tins will be there, too.
Also behind the scenes, I’m working with a group of designers on a pattern collection built around three stitches and a theme. Currently the plan is for two releases, one with smaller accessories and the other with larger items. I can’t tell you too much about the collection except that my designs are a shawl and a shawlette. They both feature the same stitch as the centerpiece of the design, but they differ in both complexity and size. I will be using yarn from LL Yarn Co. for both – the shawlette in their Worsted and the shawl in their MSC DK. I can’t wait to share the designs with you! Pictured is a swatch of the stitch I’m using.
Once these designs are written and tested (the shawlette has already been tech edited and tested), I hope to get back to the Warp Nine Sweater. I got pretty far on it, then changed my mind on how I wanted to treat the bodice and the sleeves. I absolutely love the yarn by Blu Fiber Company (a local company, BTW), the colors, and the colorwork design, so I look forward to getting back to it.
Come check out the Pumpkin Palooza at Wild Knits on September 17th. My pumpkins will be hanging out there and I’ll be there for at least part of the day.
Thanks for spending some time here checking out the blog. I appreciate your support for my design work. Check out the website and the links in the sidebar to find out the rest of what’s happening with Knit Equals Joy.
xoxo
Carol
I love your new pumpkin. When does the PAL begin?
Thank you, Ginny! I guess, since I posted about it today, the PAL is officially starting today! But my rule has always been that if anyone has made a Knit Equals Joy pumpkin since last year’s PAL ended, they can tag those pumpkins in this year’s PAL, too.