Category: Pumpkin-a-Long

Posted in Pumpkin-a-Long, yarnpond

Oh My Gourd!

Posted on by Carol

Oh My Gourd has been a long time in the making. In August 2021, a long-standing pumpkin sculpture by Yoyoi Kusama was swept off a pier on the island of Naoshima by a tropical storm (story here). I was struck by the sheer size of the sculpture as well as the use of dots and their repetition to create a stunning piece of art. Pumpkins are a recurring theme of Yoyoi Kusama’s, and hers were an ongoing influence on my knit pumpkin designs. Finally, this year, I realized that I could use beads to emulate, in a small way, her sculptures.

Oh My Gourd can be knit in fingering weight or worsted weight yarn.

I ordered a variety of beads from Amazon. For the white pumpkin: 2 packages of skull beads and a black pearl bead kit with 4-12 mm beads.  For the “bling” pumpkin: a 4mm bicone bead set and 2 packages of Rired 27 glass beads, one in purple and one in grey.

The “bling” pumpkin, made in fingering weight

I loaded the multi-colored bicone beads randomly and tried to coordiate the 8mm beads with the yarn color. I truly enjoyed working with the beads.

Beading was very zen and sort of addicting, so I’m happy that I now have a variety of beads on hand for future OMGs.

Speaking of beading, Vickie Howell has a great video tutorial showing how to load the beads onto your yarn.  It starts around the 8 minute mark on this video: Vickie Howell, How to Knit with Beads. I would like to create a video as well; we’ll see if I can make that happen!

I am looking for a few beta testers for Oh My Gourd on Yarnpond.  We have a quick turnaround for the beta testing, since it’s already fall.  Experience with beads is also a bonus.  If you are a Yarnpond member, this link will take you to the test: Oh My Gourd. If you are not yet a member, there is no charge to become one.  Please apply soon, as there are only three spots available.

For those of you who’d like to go ahead and get started on your beautiful beaded pumpkin, the pattern is available here on Payhip and here on Etsy. You may find that you’ll fall down the rabbit hole of beaded knitting like I did!

I hope that you will enjoy the 2023 pumpkin! As always, please tag me on Instagram (@knitequalsjoy) with your finished pumpkins to participate in the Pumpkin Along or just to share your work with me!

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 Pumpkin-a-Long

Pumpkin Mood (a picture-heavy post)

Posted on by Carol

Bring on the Fall!  I don’t know about you, but I just can’t seem to get enough of the saturated colors this Fall.  Pumpkins, of course, but also the leaves, the slanted sunlight, beams of light on grasses bent nearly horizontal in today’s stormy winds.  Add in costumes at work this week, apple cider, pumpkin lattes, birthday soon…truly my favorite time of the year.

Over the weekend I found this blogpost by Toot Sweet 4 Two, and the pumpkin photos are just fabulous.  You might enjoy it as much as I did.  42 Types of Pumpkins

All the Knit Equals Joy pumpkin patterns (so far) in their many iterations, from earliest design to most recent:

Mini Colorwork Pumpkin
Mini Colorwork Pumpkin
Colorwork Pumpkin
Colorwork Pumpkin (with duplicate stitch added)
Large Colorwork Pumpkin
Large Colorwork Pumpkin
Large Colorwork Pumpkin
Autumn Spice Pumpkin
Autumn Spice Pumpkin
Wee Pumpkin (It’s knit flat)
Wee Pumpkin (Amber’s Garland)
Plaid Pumpkin
Plaid Pumpkin
Plaid Pumpkin (by Dee)

Black Light Plaid Pumpkin
It’s Fall, Y’all (short)
It’s Fall, Y’all (tall)
Spidey (pinkish fall colors)
Spidey (mountainish fall colors)

Thanks for taking a moment to see things through my eyes and for letting me share my joy for Fall with you.

xoxo

Carol

Posted in Knit-a-Long, knitting pattern, Pumpkin-a-Long

Spidey!

Posted on by Carol

Greetings, everyone!  I’m pleased to announce that Spidey is now live!  You can find him in my Payhip and Etsy shops, and soon on LoveCrafts.  Use the coupon code SPIDEY on Payhip, Etsy, or here on the website for 20% off until Halloween.

Spidey is an enjoyable, spooky knit.  He’s created through the use of two-color twisted stitches, along with some unusual stitches like cluster stitches and a k5tog (instructions included) that emphasize the three-dimensional qualities of the motif.  You can actually stuff the spider’s abdomen!  Fun and creepy, this pumpkin will be a great addition to your fall décor.  (I did actually have a dream about spiders while designing this pumpkin!)

While it is written for two colors, this pumpkin can also be knit in a single color, since the spider is 3-D.  Be sure to allow for enough yardage if making this option.  I think the design would be great knit in natural to create a “ghost” pumpkin.

This pattern provides a chart for the spider section of the pumpkin.  The instructions for that section are also written out line-by-line.  These instructions are provided at the end of the pattern and need not be printed if one is using the chart.

Skills Needed: Working in the round, reading colorwork charts (line-by-line instructions for the charted sections are also included), knitting through the back loop, yarnovers, kfb, m1 and m1p increases, k2tog, ssk, p2tog and p2tog tbl decreases, twisted stitches, and i-cord (instructions included).

Measurements, approximate (These will vary depending on amount of fiberfill used):
Circumference:  33 in [84 cm]; diameter:  10.5 in [27 cm]; height:  7 in [18 cm].

Yarn: 
MC:  300 yds [275 m] Manos Del Uruguay Alegria (Fingering; 75% Merino Superwash/25% Polyamide; 445yds/100 g) in Cusco.

CC:  125 yds [115 m] Malabrigo Sock (Fingering; 100% Superwash Merino Wool; 440 yds/100 g) in Black.

Stem:  30 yds [27m] Yama Yarn Merino Linen Singles (Fingering; 90% South African Merino/10% Linen; 394 yds/100 g) in Terre Verte BG.

Needles:
Base of Pumpkin, Crown, and Stem:  US size 2 (2.75 mm) double pointed needles and 16 in. (40 cm) circular needle.

Colorwork Section of Pumpkin:  US size 3 (3.25 mm) 24 in. (60 cm) circular needle.

Gauge:   33.5 sts and 32 rnds = 4″ [10 cm] in charted pattern st on larger needles.  This pattern is worked at a tighter gauge than normal so the fiberfill does not show through fabric.

Other Materials:  Stitch markers if desired, small tapestry needle, tape measure, 1 bag (16 oz.) polyester fiberfill (you will not need the entire bag).

Spidey is, of course, Pumpkin-a-Long eligible.  As a reminder, there are weekly pattern prizes for participation and a drawing for some great prizes at the end (US Thanksgiving) to be chosen from among finished pumpkin projects.  The deets are here: The 2021 Pumpkin-A-Long (PAL).

Thank you all, and I hope you have as much fun knitting Spidey as I did designing him!

Pumpkins forever!

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

 

Posted in design, Knit-a-Long, Pumpkin-a-Long

Design Plans, Pumpkins, etc.

Posted on by Carol

Good Saturday morning to you.  Again it’s a gray Oregon morning – not at all surprising for this time of year.  Hubby is watching an episode of The Great Courses on Shakespeare.  He loves his subscription to The Great Courses Plus so he can learn about anything that catches his imagination, whenever he wants!

We’ve finished our coffee…and I don’t have a design on the needles right now, but I do have ideas flitting around my brain.

I’ve ordered the sampler set of all 150 colors of Knit Picks fingering weight yarn, Palette.   One Hundred and Fifty colors of fingering weight yarn!  Squee!!!  Quite truthfully, I’ve always had it in mind to redesign the Willamette Valley Tee (which is now out of print) as a round yoked sweater in multiple sizes.  It takes lots of colors, and I spent a lot of time and money trying to determine the right colors for the first pattern, so having these 150 colors to choose from should make that aspect of designing go more smoothly.

Willamette Valley Tee (out of print)

The one aspect of the design that I anticipate will be a challenge is how to make the single flower motif fit into a round yoke correctly, taking into account its size and the increases needed for the yoke to fit well.  I’m looking forward to having the time during my upcoming vacation to really sit down to crunch the numbers, make some drawings, and work on the charting.  Yay for vacation!!

Other good news is that I have used that single flower motif in an upcoming cowl pattern!  I’m very happy with the cowl – it’s a bright and colorful graphic design.  It’s planned to be released in Jan/Feb as part of a collection with several other designers.  We all had the same 6 stitch patterns from which to choose and then expand upon, so it will be fun to see how each person was inspired by something different and how our imaginations ran in different directions.  For now, I have to keep that design under wraps…

Thank you to everyone who has joined the pumpkin fun in our third annual Pumpkin-a-Long!  The PAL continues through Thanksgiving (November 25).  I know many of you are now thinking of Christmas gift knitting, but if you are wanting to add to your Thanksgiving/Fall décor before then, our pumpkin designs knit up pretty quickly.  To enter the PAL and be eligible for prizes, please email a picture of your finished pumpkin to knitequalsjoy@gmail.com or post it on Instagram with #pumpkinalong2020 and @knitequalsjoy.

Here are the PAL patterns:

And just for fun, Green Pumpkins…a montage.  Two minutes of green pumpkin zen:

I’ve had two of my patterns, Ethereal Sweater and Little Ethereal Sweater translated into Spanish.  The new upcoming cowl pattern will also be translated into Spanish.  I’m looking into having Willow Poncho translated into French.  If having any of my patterns translated would make a difference for you, please let me know.  Thank you!

I’ll leave you with a picture of the new sample of the Colorwork Pumpkin I finished right before Halloween.  It’s modified from the pattern in two ways:  I made the base of this one striped, by making alternating 2-row stripes, and I used duplicate stitching on the hourglass shape on the spiders.  These modifications were a big hit.

Thank you, everyone.  Until next time…

xoxo

Carol

Posted in Christmas, colorwork knitting, Knit-a-Long, knitting, Pumpkin-a-Long

Newsy News Post (as opposed to a newsy newsletter)

Posted on by Carol

It’s not a newsletter, exactly…I tried that earlier this year, and it just wasn’t a fit.  I really didn’t enjoy the newsletter format.  For me, it felt like putting together an advertisement. Well, yes, I want people to buy my patterns…but the blog’s purpose is broader than that.  The blog is a place where I can write about stuff that, hopefully, brings a little beauty, whimsy, and maybe useful information from my world to yours.  It’s where I can write about things that caught my eye, that bring me joy, or that I thought were interesting.

I’m a nerd (or is it geek?).  I posted a picture on my personal Facebook page about one of my patterns, and one of my high school friends commented with something to the effect of “you’re so talented.”  My response was that I have always loved beautiful things, crafting, writing, and math…and in my older years I’ve discovered that I like problem-solving, so it all came together in this fun pastime.  So, yeah, basically I’m a nerd.  🙂

Independent Knitting and Crochet Designers.

If you like supporting independent designers, Barbara Benson has created the Indie Pattern Portal.  The purpose of the portal is “…to help you find stores where you purchase patterns directly from the designer, no middle-man. Each designer may use a different service (Payhip, Shopify, etc …) but the stores are entirely under their control.”  It’s a great place to find professional designers.

It’s two months till Christmas today!  I get pretend-annoyed by folks who announce how many days remain until Christmas, but I don’t really mind.  I promise not to be one of them after today, however.

There are two Knit Equals Joy Christmas patterns, Whimsy Tree and Gnome Spa Cloth.  When you start thinking about Christmas, you might enjoy making them.

Whimsy Tree
Gnome Spa Cloth

Finally, pumpkins!  This year I added shaping to 2016’s Colorwork Pumpkin pattern, so I’ve been reknitting samples of that pattern.  It’s been really fun!

We have this volunteer pumpkin plant in our back yard, and it makes the perfect foil for knit pumpkins.

Colorwork Pumpkin

I made the pumpkin using Alexandra’s Crafts Dark Side of the Moon in Saffron Spice and Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Saffron.  They were lovely yarns to work with!

I made a short (30 second) video showing how I hold the yarn in two hands for colorwork.

Here’s another lovely pumpkin made this week by Ginny.  It’s the Wee Pumpkin.

Wee Pumpkin by Ginny

I’ll leave you with that lovely picture by Ginny.  It captures the warmth and beauty of Fall for me, and it makes my heart smile.

May the rest of your Fall days be warm with a touch of chill in the air.  May you enjoy the rich Fall colors and the taste of apple cider.  May you enjoy the warmth of friendship and family (even if virtually).  Catch you next time!

xoxo

Carol

Posted in KAL, Knit-a-Long, Pumpkin-a-Long, yarn

October, Pumpkins, a Wedding

Posted on by Carol

Hey everyone!  It’s a chilly October morning here, gray and drab, but cozy inside.  We’re drinking coffee and trying to decide what to do with the day.

The Pumpkin-a-Long (PAL) continues!  I’m giving away free patterns weekly – randomly chosen from those who either email a photo of their pumpkin progress to knitequalsjoy@gmail.com or post their pictures on Instagram with the tag #pumpkinalong2020.  At the end (Thanksgiving) there will be a random drawing for some Amanda Hope yarn, a felted pumpkin, and other prizes, drawn from the pool of finished pumpkin projects that were emailed or posted as above during the PAL.

If this appeals to you, please join us, and invite your friends!

I love this pumpkin that Carla made:

Pattern: Because Pumpkins

And this one by Ginny:

Pattern: Plaid Pumpkin, using instructions for the one-color pumpkin

I made my original “Because…Pumpkins” pumpkins using Amanda Hope Yarns.  I used their Aussie Extra Fine Fingering (100% Merino – yummmmm!) held together with their Superkid Mohair/Silk (also yummmmm!).  Working with the two of them held together is heavenly!  They create an amazingly soft and halo-y fabric.  If you look closely, you can see that the colors are slightly tonal.  Tonals are my very favorite – the color changes stitch-to-stitch invariably keep my interest, even when working miles of stockinette.

Check out their website: Amanda Hope Yarn and see Because Pumpkins featured in their opening slides (thank you, Wendy)!!!

If you follow on Facebook or Instagram, you know that our younger son got married last month.  It was a joyous – outside, small, and socially distanced – occasion, and we are thrilled for them and so happy to welcome our new daughter-in-law to the family.  It was truly a sweet ceremony and represented them so well.  My pictures here were taken by cell phone, so I apologize that they’re not very clear.

This year I have truly missed my trips to the Oregon Coast.  I’m hoping to take a few days there around Thanksgiving and to have some pictures to share with you here.

I hope that you and yours are safe and well.  I hope that you can enjoy some fall festivities, fall knitting, or some fun fall decorating.  Pumpkins are always good!  😉

All the best,

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, knitting pattern, knitting patterns, Pumpkin-a-Long

New Pumpkin Pattern, PAL, Discount

Posted on by Carol

I’m thrilled to announce that this year’s pumpkin pattern is now live!  It’s called It’s Fall, Y’all.  

It’s Fall, Y’all features chevrons – made simply, through the use of increases and decreases.  The fabric is created by holding a fingering weight yarn together with a mohair yarn, which produces a shimmery fabric with a soft halo.  You can make two shapes/sizes with this pattern, a short pumpkin and a tall one.

You can purchase the pattern here Buy Now or find it in the Pattern tab or Pumpkin-A-Long Patterns tab at the top of the webpage.

I’m so happy with the way this pattern turned out.  I hope you will enjoy it!

Speaking of pumpkins. come knit some pumpkins with us during the third annual Pumpkin-A-Long (PAL)!

  1.  The PAL goes through Thanksgiving.
  2.  All of the Knit Equals Joy pumpkin patterns are eligible.  Pumpkin-A-Long Patterns
  3.  Discount through October 15, 2020 using coupon code PALpumpkins here on the website or my Payhip store.
  4.  If on Instagram, use the tags #pumpkinalong2020 and #knitequalsjoy.
  5.  If you’re not on Instagram, email your finished pumpkin pictures to me at knitequalsjoy@gmail.com.
  6.  Prizes.
  7.  Post this picture to your Instagram feed if you would like to announce your pumpkin love!

If you are local, join the PAL at Wild Knits Salem!  In collaboration with Holly, we are offering a special discount on the patterns to the LYS patrons.  I’m so excited that this is happening locally this year!

If you are an LYS owner or indie dyer, contact me at knitequalsjoy@gmail.com if you’re interested in joining the PAL and/or offering the pattern to your customers.

Have a wonderful weekend!  Please share your pumpkins on IG, and tag me @knitequalsjoy so I can see your wonderful Autumnal creations.  The happiest of Falls to all of you.

xoxo

Carol