knit equals joy

Colorwork Pumpkins: A New Pattern and a Collection

Posted on September 22, 2016July 29, 2025 by Carol

Just in time for your Fall/Halloween knitting, it’s the new Colorwork Pumpkins pattern!

Colorwork Pumpkins are perfect for fall, whether you want to decorate for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or all season long. Make several in different colors and yarn weights, and choose between three different chart designs. They also make GREAT gifts.

Pattern includes charts for spiders (two variations) and Art Nouveau calla lilies. These charts are some of my favorites so far. They were so much fun to design, and they’re fun to knit, too. I love how these beautifully knit pumpkins by PLC1, jenb69, and cascott (my friends and Ravelry users) turned out!

PLC1’s Colorwork Pumpkin, photo used by permission

jens-colorwork-pumpkin2-476x486 — jenb69’s Colorwork Pumpkin, photo used by permission

Mini Colorwork Pumpkins coordinate perfectly with the Colorwork Pumpkins. Both patterns are written with i-cord tendrils, but some knitters have modified their projects and have used another method for making tendrils. You can find the modifications by looking through the project pages on Ravelry (or message me and I can send you in the right direction).

Pumpkins (375x500) — cascott’s Mini Colorwork Pumpkin, used by permission

For a great deal, purchase both patterns together for $6.00. Follow this link: Colorwork Pumpkins Collection – no coupon code is necessary. Or, get each pattern separately for $4.00.

I hope you will check out these patterns ~ and have a great Fall!!!

knit equals joy

knitting, knitting patterns, pattern, Spa Cloth

The Folk Tales Spa Cloth Collection

Posted on September 13, 2016September 22, 2016 by Carol

The Folk Tales Spa Cloth Collection is here!

It all started with Fairy Godmother’s Spa Cloth in 2015, with the five remaining Fairy Tale and Folk Tale related spa cloths being released this year. Purchasing the collection offers substantial savings and gives you a wide variety of fun spa cloth patterns to make for your own home and for gift-giving.

castle-beach-spa-cloth-2-1024x975 — Castle Beach Spa Cloth

DSC_0214 (1024x858) — Cinderella’s Spa Cloth

Alex's - on Trunk (2) (1024x1024) — The Queen’s Spa Cloth, Photo by Alex (alexandknits), used by permission

melanies-framed-497x418 — Belle’s Spa Cloth, Photo by Melanie Arnold, used by permission

By WillowandTwist — Race Day Spa Cloth, photo by WillowandTwist, used by permission

Purchase all 6 patterns together for $4.00, no coupon code needed. This is a 47% savings over purchasing them separately at $1.25 each. Follow this link to purchase: Folk Tales Spa Cloth Collection .

I am not sure whether the link will work if you have previously purchased any of these patterns or received them for free. Give it a try and let me know how it works!

I hope you’ll take advantage of this special offer, and I hope you will enjoy the spa cloth collection!

P.S. Writing a Folk Tales Spa Cloth Collection e-book is in the works – but I wanted to go ahead and offer the special now.

Daily Prompt, Lighthouses, Oregon, Oregon Coast, Pacific Northwest, photography, The Coast

Sidewalk

Posted on September 3, 2016September 3, 2016 by Carol

I loved this giant compass built into the sidewalk at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. It adds to the charm and delight of the grounds, which we spent a lovely afternoon exploring.

I love, too, that the park/grounds is called the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. That sounded funny to me at first, but I later learned that “Outstanding Natural Area” is a designation for areas in the United States that have been little altered by human impact and that meet certain relevance and importance criteria in order to become protected lands. At any rate, we thought it was a beautiful and outstanding area, and we could happily spend many more hours exploring this lovely and delightful spot.

Sidewalk

Nature, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, photography, Weekly Photo Challenge

Weekly Photo Challenge: Mirror

Posted on September 2, 2016September 3, 2016 by Carol

This week’s challenge:

This week, show us a mirror. You can take this photo challenge literally, and find reflections in mirrors, or in the stillness of a natural body of water. Live in an urban area? Some skyscrapers are beautifully reflective of the cityscape around them. Or, use this challenge to take a photo of yourself in the mirror. Self-documentation is important, especially for those of us who are usually behind the lens. Enjoy! The Daily Post ~Jen H.

This mirrored shot, taken in Sisters, Oregon, takes me to autumn, with its shirt-sleeve days and crisp, cool evenings, apple cider, pumpkin patches, crunchy leaves, football, and beautiful, warm, golden light. Ah, Autumn, I do love you!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Mirror

knitting swaps

It’s Another Mini Swap!

Posted on August 31, 2016August 31, 2016 by Carol

I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Colorwork Mini Pumpkin with Fall Leaves — Mini Colorwork Pumpkin

Dear knitters, it’s time for the Autumn Mini Swap over in the Carol E Herman Designs group on Ravelry!

For this swap, participants will knit, crochet or sew a handmade autumn-themed item for their swap partner and will send a small (under $5) gift with it.

To quote my friend Jen, who is the amazing organizer of all things swap, and who says it better than I ever could (and who also provided the Anne of Green Gables quote):

Autumn…..sigh…..I have so much love for this season. Pumpkins, candy corn , crisp air, apples, apple pie, maple candy, glorious color, fall migration….. My list could go on FOREVER.

This mini swap celebrates friendship and the beauty of the Fall season. In this swap you will send your secret swap partner a lovely knitted, crocheted or sewn gift reminiscent of Autumn.

You can read all about it here. The important things to know are that sign-ups end September 5th and our mailing deadline is October 3rd.

Crafted possibilities include softees, mug rugs, fall garlands, spa cloths…

Jen's Patch and Candy (281x378) — Jen’s Patch and Candy Corn – Aren’t they adorable?

Our swaps are so much fun: such a great way to get to know other knitters, to create a lovely gift, and to look forward to receiving a surprise in the mail. Here is the post I wrote after the end of our last swap. I hope you will consider joining us!

knit equals joy

Color, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday: Ashland – Color, Drama

Posted on August 30, 2016August 30, 2016 by Carol

Ashland, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. You’re not allowed to take pictures during the performances, so these are pictures of the color and drama found around town.

flowers, Nature, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday: Dahlias

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Carol

Taken at Swan Island Dahlias.

flowers, metallic green bee, Nature, photography, Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday: Sunflowers

Posted on August 16, 2016August 16, 2016 by Carol

Hawaii, Maui, photography, Weekly Photo Challenge

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fun!

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Carol

This was a fun day! When we went to Maui for our 30th anniversary, my favorite activity was an outrigger canoe trip. It was a leisurely paddle around the bay…we saw sea turtles, my husband dived in and swam around with them…and this cute little surfing dog and his owner came up to us on their board. An amazingly fun day, fun trip, fun moment – and treasured memory.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fun!

knitting, Ravellenic Games, Ravelry, Team Knit Equals Joy

The Ravellenic Games!

Posted on August 9, 2016May 8, 2020 by Carol

The Ravellenic Games are going strong on Ravelry. Team Knit Equals Joy is going strong at the Ravellenic Games.

Our team is small but mighty with 23 members currently showing up on the team rosters. Members can join our team at any time throughout the games.

The mass cast-on occurred last Friday in tandem with the Opening Ceremonies of the Rio Olympics. Since then, 12 projects have been completed by our team. Many more are in the works.

I’m working on this pair of socks for the Ravellenic Games:

These are my Smooth Operator Socks, pattern by Susan B. Anderson. The yarn is awesome; it’s Knitted Wit Victory Sock in the PDX Carpet colorway. I cannot wait to finish these!!! I don’t currently have any handknit socks to wear. I’m also taking part in the Smooth Operator Sock KAL in Susan’s Ravelry Group, Itty Bitty Knits. So much fun!

We’re all knitting away through the end of the Games. We’ve got a great collection of prizes; winners will be chosen randomly at the end from all the finished projects by our teammates. I’ve put together a lovely prize package and will choose a winner randomly from among those team members who make one of my patterns. All the details are in this thread in my Ravelry group (I haven’t posted a picture of the prize package yet, though).

I’ll leave you with some of the fun graphics that were made for our team: