Category: sweater pattern

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 pattern, sweater pattern

Little Ethereal Sweater Pattern Release and a Discount

Posted on by Carol

Hello dear friends,

I’m thrilled to announce the release of the Little Ethereal Sweater Pattern.  This children’s sweater is written for newborn through size 8-10 years.  This cute little sweater is so much fun to knit!  And of course, choosing your yarn and colors is half the fun.

I used Amanda Hope Yarn Aussie Extra Fine in the colorways Lisa’s Purple and Princess.  The colors worked together perfectly, and the yarn is a delight to work with.  I love the finished sweater!

My friend Marcela Chang from Chile translated the pattern into Spanish.  The purchase of the pattern includes two PDFs, one in English and one in Spanish.

I’m offering the pattern at a steep discount this weekend here on the website (click on “Patterns” above) and on Payhip.  Use the coupon code INTRO40 for 40% off– coupon expires 9/14/2020.  However, if you miss that discount, the pattern is still on sale with a 25% discount here and on Payhip with the coupon code HELLO25 through 9/30/2020.

The Pumpkin-a-Long (PAL) is starting shortly, and I will post again soon about it.  As usual, there will be prizes (!) and a new pattern for this year.  Stay tuned!!!

Plaid Pumpkin

I hope that you will stay well, and if you are here in the West, that you are staying safe from the wildfires.  Our kids were evacuated from their honeymoon because of the wildfires…they will have stories to tell, but they are safe and sound, and I am very grateful.

All the best,

Carol

Posted in knitting, knitting patterns, sweater knitting, sweater pattern, test knitters, test knitting

News!! News!! News!!

Posted on by Carol

Hi everyone!

I hope this finds you all safe and well!

I’m thrilled to announce that the Ethereal Sweater pattern is now available in Spanish.  Designer Marcela Chang, who hails from Chile, has added pattern translation to the services she offers, so I took her up on it.  Now when you purchase the pattern here on knitequalsjoy.com or on my Payhip or Etsy shops, you will receive two PDFs, one in English and one in Spanish.  I’m looking forward to offering more patterns in Spanish, as well.

Also news – my patterns are now available for purchase right here on knitequalsjoy.com.  I am so happy to offer this capability to you now – it’s at least one step easier than before.  Just go to the Patterns tab in the navigation bar and find the pattern(s) you want.  You can sort under tags and you can also search now.  And to celebrate, use the coupon code shopthewebsite2 from July 25th to August 16th for 25% off.  The coupon is good on all Knit Equals Joy patterns purchased through knitequalsjoy.com.

The last bit of news is that I’ve designed a Little Ethereal. It’s currently in tech editing, and when it is through that process, it will be ready for test knitting. I’ll be looking for a few test knitters who have a little one available who can try on the sweater and also maybe provide some great pictures – because I don’t have any little ones nearby and no grands yet. Additionally, I will be looking for testers who can knit this pretty quickly and who have previously completed test knits. If this sounds like you and sounds like something you would like to do, please email me at knitequalsjoy@gmail.com. I wanted to give my fabulous knitting friends first stab at this, and then will offer the test on Yarnpond.  The sizes are 0-6 mo, 6-12 mo, 1-2 yr, 2-4 yr, 4-6 yr, 6-8 yr, and 8-10 yr, and it is knit in fingering weight yarn.

I have a couple of vacation days coming up, so I’m hoping that I can start working on 2020’s pumpkin design. I have some great yarn for it, and I think it will be a cute but not too difficult addition to the pumpkin patch!  Now that Little Ethereal is written up and out of my head, I’m starting to get excited about pumpkins and the 2020 Pumpkin-A-Long!  I hope you will join in!!!

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 sweater knitting, sweater pattern, test knitters, test knitting, yarnpond

Join me on Yarnpond!

Posted on by Carol

Hi everyone!  Happy 2020!!

The Ethereal Sweater is finally ready for test-knitting.  Ethereal is knit top-down, it’s seamless, and it has fun and lovely details like a vertically striped collar, a slipped stitch yoke in two colors, and a split hem.  The cuffs and the hem share one of my favorite textured stitches, the rice stitch – in a single color on the hem and two colors on the cuffs.  It is written for sizes 28-62 in. (bust).

This pattern is one in which choosing your colors is half the fun.  It works equally well in a monochromatic scheme as it does in a complementary scheme.  Speckles are great fun in either the main color of the contrasting color – or both.

Here’s a sneak peak of Ethereal:

Join me over in Yarnpond if you are interested in test knitting Ethereal.  Yarnpond is a website that was created specifically to provide an online platform for test knits.  Not only will I list my testing calls there, but members will have access to lots of designers looking for testers.  It’s the perfect match!  <3

The test for Ethereal is here: Ethereal test.  You have to be registered as a member to access the test, but it’s easy and free to register.  You can sign up to be notified when I have tests by going here: Knit Equals Joy on Yarnpond.  I hope you will sign up if you’re interested in test knitting in the future…the 2020 pumpkin will make its debut there first!

Have a wonderful week!

xoxo

Carol

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

Bold Sweater Now Available

Posted on by Carol

Good Monday evening to you all!   I am so thrilled to let you know that the Bold Sweater is now available.

Bold is a comfy cropped sweater with fun texture detail on the extra-long cuffs, knit top-down with the stockinette side out. The jumbo cables are reversible, which means that if you weave the ends in carefully, you will have a completely reversible garment.  It knits up quickly on large needles in Aran weight yarn, making this sweater a joy to make and to wear.

The sweater is written with a couple of inches of positive ease. Actual measurements are 34.25, 38.25, 42.25, 48.25, and 52.25 inches (87, 97, 107, 123, and 133 cm) at bust.

The cable is a 24 round repeat and the sweater ends with a round 24 of the cable, so plan on extra yarn if you want to make a longer sweater.

This pattern is currently free – through the end of July 2019.

You can find Bold here: Bold Sweater at LoveCrafts.

Lindsay Newton Photography
Lindsay Newton Photography
Lindsay Newton Photography

The original name of this pattern was Bold…with undertones of chocolate…because that’s how I like my coffee (and the cables remind me of the swirls in my coffee).  But it works for beer, too.  Coffee or beer…you decide.

Thank you for your support and I wish you a most excellent week!

xoxo

Carol

Lindsay Newton Photography
Posted in knitting, knitting pattern, poncho, sweater pattern

Willow, Bold, and the next thing

Posted on by Carol

This weekend, our weather app predicts 100% chance of rain.  Usually they’re not so certain and like to hedge their bets a bit, but rain must be a pretty sure thing around these parts today and tomorrow.  (And, actually, it’s pretty much been raining non-stop since I started the first draft of this post earlier this morning).

This changes my plans somewhat, but it’s always a pretty safe bet that my weekend forecast includes chance of knitting: 100%.

You may have seen that I recently published Willow.

The name Willow evokes all things graceful: willows are strong and elegant, and, well, willowy.  I find myself wearing my Willow often.  It’s great to throw on when I get home from work in the evenings; I often get chilled, but if I can get my shoulders warm, the rest of me is warm, and Willow does that for me.

Willow is worked flat using bulky/chunky weight yarn, then seamed together with two quick seams.  There’s even a tutorial for the seaming, here: Cabled Poncho Seam. This would be a great pattern for someone just starting out with cables.

Beth made this beautiful purple Willow.

I love what she says about her Willow:

I finished my Cabled Poncho test knit for @knitequalsjoy and I LOVE it! I thought I wasn’t a poncho person…turns out I just hadn’t found the right one. I knit mine in @blueskyfibers Extra, (alpaca and merino blend) which has beautiful drape and will keep me warm! And of course, it’s purple.

Such beautiful knitting!  Thank you, Beth!

Currently in testing is Bold…with undertones of chocolate.  Now, whether you interpret that as referring to coffee or to beer is up to you!

Bold is an oversized sweater knit top down, seamless, and stockinette-side-out. It took a bit of engineering to get the sweater to be reversible and to include a giant cable, so I was thrilled when I was able to make it work.  If the ends are worked in carefully, the sweater truly is reversible, and can be worn with either the stockinette or the reverse stockinette side out, depending on your whim.

The pattern will be available for 5 sizes ranging from 32-50 in. (bust measurement).  If in between sizes, one can choose from the actual finished sizes for the best fit. It’s worked on size 8 and 9 needles, so it’s a pretty quick knit.

I’ve worn my Bold to work a couple of times and have felt like a million bucks in it each time.

The pattern should be released sometime in the summer or early fall.

Finally, I’m working on a new sweater design.  I recently found this yarn by Yama Fibre Arts and was smitten by its colors and textures. This is the YAMA Merino Linen Singles in Grey Sage and Nomad B3.

I’m using the two colors together.  It’s a subtle contrast, and I love it, but I can see this sweater in so many different color combinations.

 

A few designs seem to write themselves (like last year’s Autumn Spice Pumpkin ) – and this one seems to be doing that as well. I think the color, fiber content, and spin of the yarn must suggest what will work for the yarn.  It doesn’t always happen; sometimes the yarn puts up a stubborn and dogged fight against my ideas for it, but that’s another story…

This is worked in fingering weight and small(ish) needles, so it will be in the works for awhile before it’s ready for testing.  I’ll probably be posting lots of progress pictures on Instagram, so you can catch those in either the Instagram feed or the Knit Equals Joy Facebook page.

I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend and that the chance of rain wherever you are isn’t 100%!  Maybe your chance of knitting is.

xoxo

Carol

Posted in colorwork, colorwork knitting, inspiration, Knit Equals Joy Designs, knitting pattern, sweater pattern, The Creative Process, The Design Process

Finally. The Willamette Valley Tee.

Posted on by Carol

It’s quite interesting to me, designing knitting patterns. Not only in the ways you might expect: the conception of an idea, the swatching and trying out the different possibilities, even working out the most logical way to lay out the instructions. But also in this unexpected way: my sense of responsibility to my audience – the knitters who will be following my instructions and expecting beautiful results.

This sense of responsibility can and does cause anxiety.  It is the reason that it’s taken more than 3 years to go from conception to publication for the Willamette Valley Tee.

The very first post about this sweater was published on August 9, 2015 (What I Learned from the Swatch).

Then followed Colorwork Tee Progress (Aug 23, 2015), Yes, I am still working on the Colorwork Tee! (Oct 23, 2015), …and we have color! (Jan 20, 2016), Colorwork Tee Update  (Feb 4, 2016), Winter Ramblings  (Feb 19, 2016), and Sweater Surgery, or How I Cut Into my Sweater and Lived to Tell About It (May 5, 2016).

Finally, I threw in the towel with The Creative Project from H-E-Double Toothpicks (Sept 26, 2016). Well, maybe I didn’t throw in the towel, but I put the sweater away for a bit (a year plus!), hoping that the ideas might ruminate for a while and finally coalesce into a pleasing organic whole.

You just don’t know which events will give you the confidence to give something a try. Last year, our local yarn shop, Tangled Purls, hosted a series of customer trunk shows. It was a lovely way to create community and to allow us to appreciate the talent of our fellow local knitters. Toward the end of the series, they graciously invited me to participate. I included the old version of the Colorwork Tee in the tubs with my other knits, not really thinking it would be displayed since I didn’t use a yarn that the shop carries. However, they did display it, and people responded very positively (thanks, guys!), causing me to reconsider and to think that it might be time to give it the old college try once again.

During this year’s February week of vacation, I reconstructed the neck, shoulders, and sleeves, changed the palette slightly, and loved the result. Finally, I had the sweater I had dreamed of.  In the writing of it, though, I was not able to make it work in many sizes, as I had the Color Bliss Sweater.  So, this pattern is currently available for Ladies Small (32-34 in.) and Medium (36-38 in.) at bust.  If there is interest, I will continue to work to come up with a different construction that will work for more sizes.

Here are the pattern deets:

This wearable piece of art is a delight to make and wear. Using ten colors to create a beautiful interplay of pattern and light, this sweater would also look lovely in just two or three colors. Or experiment with stashbusting to create your own unique work of art.

This sweater is designed to be worn with 1 1/2 to 5 3/4 inches positive ease at the bust. It is knit top-down, with no seaming necessary.

In_front_of_tree_medium

Yarn:
The sweater shown was knit using Sunday Knits Yarn in 3-ply (light sport weight) (50 grams/approx. 246 yards), (20 grams/approx. 98 yards), in three interchangeable bases, Angelic, Eden, and Nirvana in the following colorways:
A. Bronze (Eden) 2 50g skeins.
B. Teal (Angelic) 2 50g skeins.
C. Lagoon (Eden) 1 50g skein.
D. Aqua (Angelic) 2 50g skeins.
E. Rain (Nirvana) 1 20g skein.
F. Ocean (Nirvana) 2 50g skeins.
G. Espresso (Nirvana) 1 20g skein.
H. Pickle (Nirvana) 1 50g skein.
I. Celery (Eden) 1 50 g skein.
J. Khaki (Angelic) 1 20g skein.

Back_Detail__2__medium2

Needles:
Body: US size 4 (3.5 mm) 24 in. (60 cm) and 36 in. (90 cm) circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Sleeve: US size 4 (3.5 mm) DPNs (set of 5) or appropriate needles for small-circumference knitting.
Neckband: US size 3 (3.25 mm) 24 in. (60 cm) circular needles.
Optional, for single-color sections: US size 3 (3.25 mm) 36 in. (90 cm) circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.

Discount:

Introductory Special: Use the coupon code WVT25 for 25% off through September 30, 2018 (Pacific Time).

Akimbo_medium2

NOW, finally, I am so thrilled to be able to offer this pattern to you.  It truly was a labor of love, and I am grateful and pleased that it has, at last, become the design it was meant to be.

Knit Equals Joy

xoxox

Posted in colorwork knitting, Knit Equals Joy Designs, knitting patterns, sweater pattern, test knitters

Test Knitters Wanted!

Posted on by Carol

Hi Dear Knitters!

I hope this finds you well and enjoying the time of year when school is over or nearing its end, the flowers are blooming, and the temperatures are warming!

The Willamette Valley Tee is finally completed and photographed.  I love how it looks on my friend Hydie.  She’s so adorable and she’s an artistic soul herself.  I think that shows in these pictures.

It has also gone through its first set of tech edits and is currently awaiting the final okay. Before the pattern can be published, however, it also needs to be test-knitted.  A few lovely friends are testing it for me.  These friends are wonderful test knitters, and their sweaters will be knit lovingly and well.  However, I am looking for 2 more colorwork knitters to knit the size small (32-34 inch bust measurement).

The size small has about 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches positive ease built into the pattern.

The sweater is knit in the round, top-down, on size 4 circular needles using fingering weight yarn.  The pattern calls for 10 colors, but fewer colors may be used.  It also would be great for stash-busting.

If you are interested in testing the pattern or would like further information about test knitting, please contact me.  You can leave me a message here on the blog or I can be reached at knitequalsjoy@gmail.com.

More pics from the photoshoot:

Hydie 13 resized

Hydie 8 resized

I just love colorwork!!!

With sincere gratitude,

Carol

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

Color Bliss Sweater – Pattern Now Available!

Posted on by Carol

Dear knitters, I’m thrilled to introduce the Color Bliss Sweater! The pattern is on special for my blog readers and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram followers through the end of June:  25% off the regular price of $5.50. Follow this link; no coupon code is necessary:  Color Bliss Introductory Sale.

This pattern was a joy to write – because it’s all about color!

Scott Webb – Waterloo Region Museum, Kitchener, Canada, via Unsplash

Color is its defining element: beautiful, happy, joyful color. You can go bright, muted, multi-color, monochromatic, just a few colors or lots of colors! The pattern includes suggestions and worksheets for creating your own palette and stripe sequence.  Here you will find a Pinterest board with lots of different palettes I’ve collected over the years. Use them as a springboard for your own imagination.

The pattern is written for 10 sizes: 36 (38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54) in. /91.4, (96.5, 101.6, 106.7, 111.8, 116.8, 121.9, 127, 132.1, 137.2) cm Bust. Sample shown in the pattern has zero ease at bust and 4 1/2 inches positive ease at waist.

It’s worked in the round, top-down and seamless.

When my youngest son was in high school, I found a sweater for him that I absolutely loved. It was your basic seamed, striped sweater, but the colors and order of the stripes made me happy every time I saw that sweater. I mimicked that stripe sequence in the gray/orange/blue/red version of this sweater.

I like to design things that I want to wear myself, so this sweater was designed with a round yoke. I like the way that the round yoke hangs on my frame and I feel like a million bucks every time I wear either of my Color Bliss Sweaters.

Here are a few of the finished sweaters. You can see all of the Color Bliss Sweaters, finished or in progress, here.

WillowandTwist made this lovely for her daughter. Beautifully made, and a wonderfully cool palette!

I love the modification MsMEdge made to her sweater, which was to make the striped section mimic short sleeves rather than 3/4 sleeves. It’s perfect on her!

Melanie modified her sweater by lengthening it. This is easy to do if you get some extra yarn. Just keep on knitting until you reach the length you like. I am thinking of doing this with one of own my Color Bliss Sweaters. If I do, I’ll add an addendum to the pattern, and if you have purchased the pattern through Ravelry or through the links on the blog, you’ll receive an update at that time. Here’s Melanie’s gorgeous sweater!

I think Patricia may have lengthened her sweater as well. But, these colors! This sweater makes me smile every time I see it. Must be the happiest color palette ever!

The pattern also includes a hand-drawn schematic (the measurements are computer-typed, however, for easier reading). This is just a little gift from me to you.

I hope you’ll come join the fun and make your own Color Bliss Sweater. Playing with color really is tremendous fun and is another way that Knit Equals Joy!

And just for fun, a couple of photo shoot outtakes…

Typical Herman Photography
Superhero Pose