Category: knitters

Posted in Knit Equals Joy Designs, knitters, knitting, test knitters, test knitting

Hollywood and Vine Ready for Testing!

Posted on by Carol

July greetings!  Hollywood and Vine is ready for testing! Hollywood and Vine is created through cables, twisted stitches, leaves, and a lifted yarnover knot stitch.  It is elegant, light, and warm, and it is large enough to use as a wrap or even as a lap blanket.  I would say that it is likely my most advanced pattern to date.  The knitted-on border is what bumps it up to advanced, and it definitely can be made without that border.

Ha!  If you are still interested in testing it, please go to the Hollywood and Vine test on Yarnpond to learn more or to sign up.  Thank you!!

Hollywood and Vine will be available as part of the Technicolor: Main Event  indie designer collection later this year.  As with our other collaborations, individual patterns will be available sometime after the entire collection has been published.

Shearwater Sweater will be finished with test knitting soon.  I can’t wait to announce its publishing!

This hem makes me very happy.

While I have been struggling with the 2023 pumpkin design, although I think I’m gaining on it, I found this gorgeous yarn yesterday at our local yarn shop, Wild Knits Salem.  I believe it wants to become a cowl that can be made in either of these weights of yarn – using some of the stitches from Hollywood and Vine.

The super bulky is Malabrigo Noventa in Flor de Jade and the DK/Sport is their Susurro in Cian.  I’m very tempted to cast on even though I know I should be working on the pumpkin that is eluding me!!

If you are interested in test knitting Hollywood and Vine, please do let me know or please sign up for the Hollywood and Vine Test on Yarnpond.  Thank you for reading, for encouraging me on my designing journey, and for spending part of your day with me here.

xoxo

Carol

Posted in knitters, knitting, test knitters, test knitting

Shearwater Sweater Ready for Testing!

Posted on by Carol

The design I have been working on since February has been tech edited and it now has a name: Shearwater.   A shearwater is a seabird; it is also the name of a lake and a resort.  It makes me think of the sea – the smell of saltwater and the sound of seagulls.  Who knows, perhaps even a selkie is sunning in a cove nearby.

I mentioned before the similarites to the Ethereal Sweater, with the major difference being that it has no stranded colorwork.  Only one color is ever worked at a time, and the colorwork is created through the use of slipped stitches.

The sweater uses a main color (Dragonfly Fibers Pixie in Captain Nemo) and 10 solid/ semi-solid contrasting colors, along with one variegated colorway.  The variegated colorway magically ties the rest of the colors together and adds an extra something special.  It really makes the sweater sing!

Fading is the technique used to blend the colors one into another.  It’s really quite fun to do, and instructions are included, of course.

The hem and sleeve cuff are worked in another slipped stitch pattern that almost looks woven.  This hem makes me very happy.

If you are interested in testing, please go to Shearwater Test on Yarnpond to get the details and to sign up if you wish.

A very different type of test knit will be coming soon, the Hollywood and Vine Shawl.  This design is part of a designer collaboration, so it will be top secret until the collection is published.  We will test it over on Yarnpond as well.  It has cables and some wonderful Japanese stitches, as well as a picked-up border.  I can share a glimpse of it here.

And finally, the 2023 pumpkin design has revealed itself to me.  (It really is a thing…it’s like with authors whose characters have conversations with them….)

…Anyway, the yarn is purchased, and as soon as Hollywood and Vine is sent for tech editing, it will be on the needles.  It will have two or three colors, but they’ll be treated more like color blocks than any kind of colorwork, and this will be the color at the base – I really can’t wait to get started!:

Ahh, happy to be dreaming of pumpkins!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo
Carol

 

Posted in KAL, Knit-a-Long, knitters, knitting, knitting pattern, knitting patterns

The 2021 Pumpkin-A-Long (PAL)

Posted on by Carol

Pumpkin-A-Long

This year’s Pumpkin-A-Long has begun!  It’s easy to play along, and I hope you will.

Right now there are seven eligible pumpkin patterns, and soon this year’s pumpkin design will be added to the pumpkin patch!

The premise of the PAL is very easy: knit one of the Knit Equals Joy pumpkins, post progress pictures of your pumpkin on Instagram with the tags #pumpkinalong2021, #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 either of the above photos on Instagram (or Facebook), they will count as progress pictures.  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 #pumpkinalong2021FO (for finished object).

At the conclusion of the PAL (Thanksgiving), I’ll randomly choose from the finished pumpkins and will award prizes.  Wendy at Amanda Hope Yarn is graciously sponsoring the PAL with a $30 gift card from her shop.  She has a great eye for color, and her yarns are scrumptious!

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.

Spidey

I’m thrilled that this year’s design, Spidey, is almost ready for publishing!  Spidey creates a creepy spider through the use of two-color twisted stitches and some other fun textury stitches.  I am looking for some knitters who’d like to test out the pattern for me.  If that’s you, please let me know via email.

Pumpkins forever!!

Carol

Posted in KAL, Knit-a-Long, knitters, knitting, Pumpkin-a-Long

More Pumpkin Fun

Posted on by Carol

Just for fun – and so that you can see the comparative sizes of the pumpkin patterns – I made this short little video:

 

Here are prizes for the Pumpkin-A-Long:

Prizes for completed pumpkins, to be chosen randomly after we finish the PAL on Thanksgiving, include a skein of fabulous Amanda Hope Yarn Aussie Extra Fine and an adorable felted pumpkin by Wee Woolies.  Throughout the PAL, pattern winners (your choice from amongst all of my patterns) will be chosen randomly from those who post on Instagram or submit via email (knitequalsjoy@gmail.com) progress pictures of their pumpkins, post in response to PAL questions, or even post their PAL badge.  Here is the PAL badge (feel free to copy it):

Questions about how to PAL?  Interested in the discount (through October 15, 2020)?  Read here:  Pumpkin-A-Long (PAL)

And if you’re looking for the PAL patterns, here they are:

Happy Fall, Y’all!!!

xoxo

Carol

Posted in KAL, Knit-a-Long, knitters, knitting, knitting pattern, knitting patterns

Pumpkin-A-Long (PAL)

Posted on by Carol

This year’s Pumpkin-A-Long has begun!  It’s easy to play along, and I hope you will.

There are seven eligible patterns, see below.

The premise of the PAL is very easy: knit one of the Knit Equals Joy pumpkins, post a picture of your pumpkin on Instagram with the tags #pumpkinalong2020 and #knitequalsjoy.  Follow those tags to see everyone else’s pumpkin progress and anything related to Fall that we post (because we love Fall!!!).  If you’re not on Instagram, email your pumpkins to me at knitequalsjoy@gmail.com.

At the conclusion of the PAL (Thanksgiving), I’ll randomly choose from the finished pumpkins and will award prizes.  I have an adorable felted pumpkin (not made by me) and yarn, of course, to offer as prizes.

Use the coupon code PALpumpkins for 15% off any of these patterns through October 15, 2020.  Discount available only on patterns purchased through knitequalsjoy.com or my Payhip store.

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.

Enjoy!!!

Carol

Posted in knitters, knitting, test knitters, test knitting

Little Ethereal Test Knit and Improved Pattern Store

Posted on by Carol

Hello dear friends,

The test-knit for Little Ethereal is open on Yarnpond.  I could still use a couple of testers, if anyone is interested.  Sizes 4-6 yrs and 8-10 yrs are still available.  You can find the test here.

I really love how this little sweater turned out.  It’s just so tiny in this little 0-6 mo size.  As it approaches the larger sizes, the proportions become more like those in Ethereal.

Also, I have improved the pattern shop here on Knit Equals Joy.  I realized after the previous post that you would need to know what you were looking for in order for the previous shop to be very useful, and even so, the drop-down boxes were a pain to use.

The new and improved shop is now found by using the Pattern tab in the navigation bar.  You’ll now see all the patterns at once.  Hovering over each thumbnail provides the pattern name.  There is now a search bar, and you can also filter by tags if you’d like to see all the pumpkin patterns, for instance, or all the lace patterns.  Clicking on the photo will take you to the pattern page with the description of the pattern and the capability to buy now or add to a cart.  Since this is so much easier to use than the previous shop, I’d like to offer 25% off all my patterns purchased through this website through mid-August.  Just use the coupon code shopthewebsite2 at checkout between now and August 15th for that 25% discount.

Thank you, as always, for your support.  Please stay safe and well.

xoxo

Carol

 

Posted in Knit Equals Joy Designs, knitters, knitting, knitting pattern, pattern, sweater knitting, sweater pattern

Ethereal Sweater Pattern is Here!

Posted on by Carol

Hi everyone!

The Ethereal Sweater pattern is live!

Ethereal Sweater is light as air, soft as breath, and a joy to knit and wear. The design features a rolled neckline, stranded stripes and a slipped stitch pattern in the two-color yoke, a split hem, and textured two-color cuffs. It is knit top-down and seamless in fingering weight yarn, and can be tried on as you go along.

The pattern is written for 9 sizes ranging from 28-62 inches (71-157 cm), with several inches of positive ease added so that the finished sweater measures 31.5-68.5 inches (80-174 cm).

Skills Needed: Working with two colors, stretchy/flexible cast on, backward loop cast on, working in the round, slipping stitches, m1 and kfb increases, ssk and k2tog decreases, knitting through the back loop.

Get the pattern here:

Ethereal Sweater PDF Pattern on Etsy

Ethereal Sweater PDF Pattern on Payhip

Yardage requirements, from the pattern:
Main Color (MC): 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7) skeins Yama Fibre Arts Merino Linen Singles (Fingering; 90% South African Merino, 10% Linen, Superwash; 394 yds/100 g) in Gray Sage. If substituting yarn, 920 (1105, 1300, 1500, 1705, 1995, 2205, 2360, 2595) yds [840 (1010, 1190, 1370, 1560, 1825, 2015, 2160, 2375) m] fingering weight yarn.

Contrasting Color (CC): 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins Yama Fibre Arts Merino Linen Singles (Fingering; 90% South African Merino, 10% Linen, Superwash; 394 yds/100 g) in Nomad. If substituting yarn, 245 (280, 350, 390, 420, 495, 560, 595, 610) yds [225 (260, 320, 360, 385, 450, 515, 545, 560) m] fingering weight yarn.

Like all of my patterns, Ethereal has been test knit and tech edited.

My second Ethereal in progress, knit in Dragonfly Fibers Pixie in Captain Nemo and Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

I love that this sweater lends itself to each knitter’s own creativity with yarn and color!  Some knitters have used stash yarn in more than one color for the contrasting color.  Some have modified the pattern by making short sleeves.  Each time I see a new Ethereal, I think:  “This is my favorite!”  (shh…just don’t tell the others.)

Here are some lovely sweaters by some lovely knitters.  At the bottom of the page are some swatches I’ve made of the pattern stitch so that you can see how it looks in different yarns.

by Annette
by Katrin
by Dee, photo by Lindsay Newton Photography
by Claudia

We are having a knit-a-long, but this post is getting pretty wordy, so more about that in a future post.  However, if you want to find out about it sooner, search for and follow #etherealkal on Instagram.  Pictures of the beautiful yarny prizes to come, as well.

Thank you…stay safe and well.

xoxo

Car

Posted in cable knitting, colorwork knitting, KAL, knit equals joy, Knit Equals Joy Designs, Knit-a-Long, knitters, knitting patterns, Pumpkin-a-Long

The Second Annual Pumpkin-A-Long (PAL)

Posted on by Carol

As you know, we love Fall around here, and we love pumpkins!!  And to celebrate, we are having the Second Annual Pumpkin-A-Long.

There are two ways to participate: on Instagram and/or on Facebook.

On Instagram, hashtags make our job easier.  You can tag your photos with our specific hashtags, and you can also follow our hashtags, so that you will see any posts that anyone makes with those specific tags.  The tags we will be using are #knitequalsjoy2019PAL and #knitequalsjoy for any photos posted relating to the PAL.  If you follow those tags, you will see any announcement-type posts I make about the PAL on Instagram, too.  The tag for finished pumpkins is #knitequalsjoy2019PALFO (the FO is for finished object).  That tag will be important, because those finished object posts are the ones that are eligible for the random prize drawings.  I have some great prizes on deck and will be sharing about those in later posts. Please also tag me @knitequalsjoy so that I will see your post –  just in case the hashtags don’t work correctly.

Of course, some folks may not use Instagram, so we also will be posting photos in the Knit Equals Joy Facebook group.  You can find the group here: Knit Equals Joy Facebook Group.  I have set up an album there for progress photos and one for finished objects.

If this works well, my hope is that we can use the same format for upcoming KALs and for knitting along with next year’s Olympics.

How to Pumpkin-A-Long

  1.   To play along, knit any Knit Equals Joy pumpkin pattern (see below).
  2.   To be eligible for prizes, complete 1 or more Knit Equals Joy pumpkin by October 31, 2019.  Each completed and properly posted finished pumpkin counts as an entry for prizes.     You may enter as many times as you like.  No more than one prize per person.
  3.   Have fun!  Share your beautiful pumpkin pictures on Instagram or in the Facebook group (see above)!  We want to see what you are making and cheer you on.  If you have any questions, ask in the PAL.  We can share and learn new things from each other.

I think that’s it!  See the eligible patterns below…

Plaid Pumpkin, with a plaid colorwork design, a great basketweave design, and a fun graphic design a bit reminiscent of a spider web. Also includes instructions for non-stranded stripes or plain knitting.  Just published.

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Plaid Pumpkin PDF Pattern at LoveCrafts.

Autumn Spice Pumpkin is knit in super-bulky and is nearly 40″ in circumference!  The jumbo cables are a joy to knit.  This is a statement piece knit in the recommended yarn, but it looks great in any weight yarn. Published 2018.

 

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Autumn Spice Pumpkin PDF Pattern at LoveCrafts

 

Wee Pumpkin is knit flat, and it is reaaalllly tiny, about an inch tall and an inch-and-a-half in diameter.  It would be fun to make a wee pumpkin garland!  Published 2018.

Wee Pumpkin PDF at LoveCrafts.

Large Colorwork Pumpkin has four fun colorwork designs.  Knit in worsted weight yarn and pretty much life-sized: about 12 inches in diameter and 12 inches tall.  Published in 2017.

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Large Colorwork Pumpkins PDF Pattern at LoveCrafts.

Colorwork Pumpkin, with charts for Art Nouveau lilies and 2 versions of spiders.  Published 2016.

Colorwork Pumpkin PDF Pattern at LoveCrafts.

 

Mini Colorwork Pumpkin, a tiny pumpkin pattern with 6 different colorwork charts.  Published 2015.

Mini Colorwork Pumpkin PDF Pattern at LoveCrafts.

 

Prizes

The four wonderful items in the corner frames of the photo below are PAL prizes.

Clockwise, starting from top left, the prizes are
1. Amanda Hope Yarn Yankee Doodle Sock (Fingering Weight; 80% Merino Wool, 20% Nylon; 410 yards/100g) in Burnt Orange.
2. Amanda Hope Yarn Aussie Extra Fine Single (Fingering Weight; 100% 19.5 Micron Extra Fine Merino Wool; 437 yards/100g) in Nocturne II.
3. Awesome Pumpkin Scissors donated by Carla (thank you Carla!).
4. Fabulous Cookie Stamps featuring a sheep design and two knit stitch designs. Set shown is mine; winner’s set is sealed.

Winners will be chosen randomly from all completed and properly posted finished projects. We reserve the right to replace these prizes with items of equal or greater value.

I hope you will join us for our joyful Pumpkin-A-Long!  Questions?  Send me a message or ask on IG or Facebook.

xoxo

Carol