Category: knitting

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 Equals Joy Designs, Knit-a-Long, knitting, knitting pattern, Pumpkin-a-Long

The 2022 Pumpkin and the Fifth Annual Pumpkin Along (PAL)

Posted on by Carol

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

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 Knit-a-Long, knitting

Spring knitting and a completely unrelated photo from our 2019 trip to Sedona

Posted on by Carol

Hello everyone and Happy May!  I hope this finds you well.

My daily work (non-knitting related) has been quite brain-consuming since October, so my creative output has been low.  This has been frustrating to me – I see many lovely designs being published, and not one of them is mine.

So…the Uplift Make Along (UMAL) has been a great boon.  Permission to knit someone else’s design!  Fun sharing things like pictures of yarn and swatches.  WIP progress reports.  I love that when someone “likes” my post or photo, I receive notification that they “cheered” my contribution.  It’s all very…cheerful!!

The good news is that it’s very low-key…if you’d like to join, you can join at any time – just click on the link in my link tree in the sidebar (or at the bottom of the post, if you are viewing on a phone).  More good news, the UMAL goes through the end of June, so there is plenty of time to join in the fun.  We are continually adding to a UMAL Pinterest board, categorized by project type.  Here’s the Pinterest board:  UMAL Pinterest board

Here’s the progress I’m making on my Arkenstone Sweater, pattern by Ruth Brasch.

I’m making it in Malabrigo Washted in the colorway Aguas.  It’s working up into a lofty and squishy fabric, and I’m enjoying the lace/cables combo.  Now I want to attempt designing a sweater with a similar yoke construction.

Other than working on this sweater, I’ve swatched some fabulous yarn by Denise Voie de Vie. I’m seeing a Spring/Summer top in these colors.  They look like a garden party!  The colorways are Day Lilies and Greenfest.

More swatching to happen soon with yarn just ordered from Amanda Hope Yarn – the same bases used in last year’s pumpkin design, It’s Fall, Y’all. The fabric created by holding together the Aussie Extra Fine Merino and the Superkid Mohair/Silk is wonderfully soft and shimmery – very chic, elegant, and divine.  I’m seeing a summer top in this yarn as well.  The best things are the colorways: the main color is called Gauguin’s Joyousness, with Pumpkin as the contrasting color. I just couldn’t pass by that beautiful exuberance of color in Gauguin’s Joyousness!  Plus, joy! – always catches my eye when someone else uses it in naming something.  I can’t wait to start swatching with this beautiful yarn!

So…if you want to jump in and enjoy some low-pressure knitting fun, come join us at the UMAL.  I wish you a fabulous Friday and a great weekend.

xoxo

Carol

Posted in KAL, Knit-a-Long, knitting, Make Along

The Uplift Make Along (happy dance)

Posted on by Carol

Woo hoo! Doing a happy dance over here!  “Why??” you may ask.  Because there’s a new and fun make along called the Uplift Make Along (UMAL), and I’ve found it and it’s fun!  It’s welcoming and supportive, and it’s a way to meet new friends and find new designers.

The purpose of the UMAL is to support the work of less-known independent knitting, crochet, and Tunisian crochet designers. Like all MALs, it’s a place to share WIPs and finished projects and to cheer each other on. There will be prizes. The UMAL began April 1 and goes through June 30, so there’s plenty of time to finish a project. It’s hosted on a user-friendly platform, but you can also participate simply by making something by a less-known designer and tagging #UpliftMakeAlong on Instagram. If you’d like to join the UMAL, here is your invitation!  If you’d like to read up on the UMAL, here’s an informative blog post written by founder Ruth Brasch.

Today is Support Sunday in the Uplift Make Along, and here are four designers I’ve met whose designs I’m loving.

I recently tested Ruth Brasch‘s Arkenstone Hat.  The cable was enticing, and the finished design was terrific, so I cast on her Arkenstone Sweater.  I think I will have to rethink the yarn I’m using, but I’m so excited to be working on someone else’s sweater!  I love the top part of the back (and the cables, of course).

Ruth’s Arkenstone Sweater

New to me is designer Liz Corke.  I found these fingerless mitts, and I think they are so delicate and elegant.  I’m looking for just the right fingering weight in my stash.  These are the Dromanach Mitts.

Liz Corke’s Dromanach Mitts

I’ve also gotten to chat a bit with the lovely Mona Z, also known as bunnymuff.  Her colorwork designs are fun and fabulous.  I’ve loved this one since it first came out:

Such is the Quality of Bees Blanket by Mona Z

I think this sheep toy of hers is just about perfect:

Gladys Sheep Toy by Mona Z

And I purchased this hat pattern.  The colors are so happy, and I really want to try the Roosimine (or Roositud) technique.  It’s a type of Estonian inlay and sort of looks like embroidery.

Ice Ribbons Hat by Mona Z

Now, I was very happy when a couple of people commented on My Sense of Direction Mitts.  It’s always fun when something you’ve designed calls to someone else.  Designer You-Shan Feng is making these mitts, yay!  This morning she posted on Instagram:

My Sense of Direction Mitts by You-Shan Feng (yarncontortions on IG)

This picture she edited was so diverting that it led to another episode of what I like to call “Why Carol is a bad cook.”  When the post notification popped up on my phone, I had to write a response right that moment.  I completely forgot that I had pancakes cooking on the stove.  Needless to say, the pancakes were pretty decimated .  End of story:  burnt crusts removed, pancakes consumed – despite a slight burnt taste.

You-shan’s designs (currently available on Ravelry) are jaw-droppingly amazing to me, so I wanted to share a couple here.

New sweater ready for testing by You-Shan Feng

And this one, which she is making according to a friend’s design preferences:

New design by You-Shan Feng

If you join the Uplift Make Along on the platform, you’ll be able to find all of these lovely designers, and more.  My thanks to them for allowing me to share these photos here.

I’ve added some new linky things to the blog’s sidebar.  Especially check out the Link Tree.  Now you’ll easily be able to find links to whatever’s going on in Knit Equals Joy land.

I hope you all have a great week.  Maybe you’ll even join me for future episodes of “Why Carol is a bad cook.”  😉

And I hope to share more about the UMAL over the next few months.

xoxo

Carol

Posted in colorwork knitting, knitting, knitting pattern

Garden Cowl Now Available as an Individual Pattern (and with an introductory discount)

Posted on by Carol

Hello, everyone! I’m pleased to announce that the Garden Cowl is now available as an individual pattern on the Knit Equals Joy website and in my Payhip and Etsy shops!

I had so much fun designing this cowl!  The elements really wanted to play together – stripes, abstract diamonds, a flower, a big color block section – and each side of the fabric is the reverse of the other (using positive/negative space to create the design).  Bold colors wanted to play along, too.  And it’s really fun to me how Bridget’s test knit worked beautifully with just two colors – a solid and a beautiful variegated.  The colors in that variegated yarn (Malabrigo Rios in Liquidambar) just shimmer and sing!

Use the coupon code LOVESPRING for 20% off through April 10th.  The discount is good on the website as well as on Payhip and Etsy.   Pattern purchase includes the pattern in both English and Spanish.

Pattern details, including yarn requirements for either a 6-color cowl or a 2-color cowl, are here.

Colorwork is so much fun!  This cowl is just the thing to keep you entertained and to provide you with a lovely accessory when done.

Enjoy!!

xoxo

Carol

 

 

 

Posted in knitting

The Rise Up Collection, Beginning to End

Posted on by Carol

Hello, everyone!  It’s the last day of February, and it’s a beautiful sunny day here in Oregon!

I wanted to wrap up the Rise Up Collection, now that all of the patterns have been added.  The entire collection is available as one e-book, including each designer’s inspiration, on Ravelry and on Payhip.  Each design is now also available as a stand-alone pattern through each of the designer’s various shops.

Before I add in the pictures, here is the story of my inspiration for my design:

The Rise Up Collection began with a challenge.  This group of designers would draw from the same inspiration: a set of Pantone colors titled “Rise Up” and a group of stitches voted upon by us.  The challenge appealed to me in a couple of ways.  Personally, what would I come up with?  And it would be really fun to see how everyone would interpret the same inspiration differently.

The Pantone Rise Up colors were delineated into four color stories:  Makeshift, Vibrant Rebellion, Eclectic Folk, and Raw Craft.  The two that spoke to me most were Vibrant Rebellion and Eclectic Folk.  Vibrant Rebellion mainly in the use of bold color and “a license for self-expression.”  Eclectic Folk in its emphasis on “crafted and eclectic” and in its revisiting of the Peace and Love Movement.

I was very little during the Peace and Love Movement.  Most of it went right over my head, although I do retain vague images from the news.  What I do remember much more clearly is the fashion – and some favorite pieces of clothing.  There was a skirt with miles and miles of gathers made from the most gorgeous, bright shades of orange.  And a maxi dress in purple and white.  And the happiest color of all was a bright, hot pink.

These bright colors, along with the stitch pattern Abstract Diamonds, drove the inspiration for me.  I added an original colorwork design, the large flower motif – my “license for self-expression” – and the Garden Cowl emerged.

Here are the seven designs comprising the Rise Up Collection:

Mountain View from Knit Eco Chic

Mountain View by Knit Eco Chic

Alcyone from Christine Guest Designs

Alcyone by Christine Guest

Emergence from Fiber Dreams

Emergence by Fiber Dreams

Shooting Star on Ravelry from Marcela Chang Knits on Ravelry

Shooting Star by Marcela Chang

Garden Cowl  by me

Garden Cowl by Knit Equals Joy Designs

Vacillate from Ruth Brasch Design

Vacillate by Ruth Brasch

Phoenix Cosy from Jill Wolcott Knits

Phoenix Cosy by Jill Wolcott

The collection comes in both English and Spanish, and it was translated by Marcela Chang.  The hard work behind the scenes of compiling the collection and making it available for sale were done by Laura Patterson (Fiber Dreams) and Jill Wolcott. My thanks to all of them and to all of the designers for their participation in creating these lovely designs!  Thanks to all of you for your support for the collection and for our design work.

Thank you for reading, and I hope that you all have a lovely week!!

xoxo

Carol

Posted in cowl pattern, designer collaboration, inspiration, knitting, knitting patterns, Rise Up 2021 Collection, sweater pattern

Rise Up Collection, First Two Patterns: Alcyone, Mountain View

Posted on by Carol

Greetings from Oregon on a foggy Sunday afternoon!  The beautiful, saturated color of the Alcyone Sweater cheers me every time I see it, and Knit Eco Chic’s love for the North Carolina mountains surrounding her brings a smile to my lips in recognition of my own similar love for the beauty of nature here in Oregon.

These two are the first two patterns released in the Rise Up Collection, sold as an e-book on Ravelry and as a collection on Payhip.  On January 5 (through January 11) the entire collection is $15. The price increases as patterns are added, ending with a selling price of $28.  No matter when you purchase the collection, you will own the whole thing as each new pattern is added.  Release dates (and price increase dates) are listed below.

January 5
Mountain View from Knit Eco Chic
Alcyone from Christine Guest Designs

January 12
Fiber Dreams

January 19
Marcela Chang Knits

January 26
Garden Cowl from Knit Equals Joy

February 2
Ruth Brasch Design
Jill Wolcott Knits

Individual patterns may be purchased from the independent designers on February 15, 2021.

Jill Wolcott (Jill Wolcott Knits) has interviewed each designer, and the interviews will go up on her website the same week as each designer’s pattern is added to the collection.  I’ve really loved learning about these designers and what drives their inspiration.

Lindsay (Knit Eco Chic) 

Lindsay and her Great Dane Puddles are inseparable.  Here he is assisting her in choosing which one to use in a photo shoot!

Lindsay’s Rise Up pattern is Mountain View.  Lindsay uses ecologically-friendly yarns in her designs; this yarn is AppleOak FibreWorks LinCot, shown in the color Mayfly.  I love the rustic look created by the blend of linen and cotton!  It would also be really lovely in a smooth yarn, like this Amanda Hope Yarn Luxe DK in Chartreuse (80% Superwash Extra Fine Merino/10% Cashmere/10% Nylon, approximately 100 grams/246 yards).  All of her colors are fab but I’m also really drawn to this Oil Rubbed Bronze.  No matter what yarn you choose, you’ll have a winner in the Mountain View Cowl.

Here Jill Interviews Lindsay  🙂

Christine Guest’s Alcyone Sweater is the second pattern in Rise Up.  Christine’s background is chemistry with a minor in math.  The structural influence of elemental building blocks really comes through in her designs.  Here’s another photo of Alcyone, where you can see that the lovely stitch motif is carried on at the base of the sweater.

I think this sweater design is just gorgeous!  You can read more about the pattern here: Alcyone.

And here, Jill Interviews Christine. 🙂

Alcyone photos by Avi Dascaloff.

Purchase the entire collection today or tomorrow, 1/11/2021, for $15 at Payhip or Ravelry.  The collection will be a great deal all the way through (even at the final price of $28, it’s just $4 per pattern) – but it’s a super deal right now!

My pattern will be available separately on February 15, at $7.  So grabbing the entire collection is still the best way to go.

Tuesday (1/12), Laura of Fiber Dreams will be adding her pattern to the collection.  I believe she and I used the same stitch pattern, but while I used the original colorwork pattern, she morphed it into a lovely lace stitch pattern.  It’s another winner!

Hoping that you will enjoy this collection and the fun insight into the creative process in each of the interviews.

All the best,

xoxo

Carol

Posted in knitting, Pumpkin-a-Long

The Great Pumpkin-a-Long!

Posted on by Carol

Hi everyone!!  I hope everyone is staying safe and well.  It’s getting dark quite early here now, and I’m very grateful that DH put up some lights outside and our lighted Christmas tree inside.  That will help me get through the first three weeks of December, when it’s dark when I leave for work, and dark when I get home.  Once we get past the Winter Solstice, I will take hope from the fact that the days are getting longer again.

The Third Annual Pumpkin-a-Long is now complete.  It was so wonderful to see the 21 pumpkins that folks knitted and sent photos to me via email or messenger or posted on Facebook or Instagram.  There were 3 It’s Fall, Y’all pumpkins, 4 Plaid Pumpkins, 1 Large Colorwork Pumpkin, 1 Colorwork Pumpkin, 2 Mini Colorwork Pumpkins, 2 Autumn Spice Pumpkins, and 8 Wee Pumpkins in our community pumpkin patch this year!  From all of the entries, Hubby and I randomly drew winners for these two prizes:

@ogrebite on Instagram won this sweet little hand-needle-felted pumpkin, made by local crafter Wee Woollies.

And Sarah from Instagram won the fabulous yarn prize:

I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who participated, whether you made a pumpkin (or several), purchased a pattern, shared posts, made encouraging comments, or shared in the general atmosphere of Fall joy.  I also want to thank Wild Knits Salem for wholeheartedly jumping into the Pumpkin-a-Long spirit.  I think we might still have a wrap-up to do for any Wild Knits participants!

I hope the next few weeks into the Advent season are good ones for you.  Please stay safe and well.

xoxo

Carol