Knitting

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Checking out the New Knit Simple

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knit simple fall 13I spent a little time this hot weekend perusing the fall issue of Knit Simple, which got me dreaming of bulky knits, vivid colors and simple but striking designs.

There are so many cute things in this issue, so I’ll bet you’ll want to spend some time imagining with it, too.

I’m inexplicably drawn to Mari Lynn Patrick’s cable yoke pullover, with its turtleneck, woven-cable yoke and twisted stockinette body worked in a contrasting color.

There’s a collection of 10 hats you can knit for less than $20 each (great for getting a jump on your holiday gift knitting); I particularly love the slouchy diagonal striped hat designed by Brenda Castiel in stripy Noro Kureyon.

The knitted striped afghan is a classic worked in unexpected purple, orange and pink, and the fun striped garter stitch scarf and mitts (shown on the cover and designed by Holli Yeoh) are a great choice for beginners.

Are you thinking about fall knitting yet? Or knitting something warm because it’s winter where you live? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo via Knit Simple.]

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

Comments

  1. The title alone of this magazine fascinates me. I am always pleased to knit something that doesn’t cause headaches or tantrums.

  2. I’m working on a dorm blanket for my son right now. When that is completed, I’m looking forward to some fall knitting. Right now I’m in the mood for socks, hats, and cowls. I love the idea of simple but striking.

Have you read?

Beyond Basic Pumpkin Knitting Patterns

Over the years I have shared a lot of pumpkin knitting patterns, and I’ve knit and crocheted a lot of pumpkins myself. But it feels like there are always more fun things to try with knit pumpkins, so this year I wanted to look a little more beyond basic stockinette or ribbed pumpkins and share some pumpkin patterns with cables, bobbles and colorwork. 

In the cable collection we’ve got these cute little basic cable and ribbed pumpkins from Elly Bear Knits. There are two sizes that make a wide, flat pumpkin and a taller round pumpkin. Both are worked in the round as a tube that’s cinched top and bottom when you’re done, and they use bulky weight yarn. 

Another cute cable pumpkin knitting pattern comes from Gray Bear Akswokrat. This one is knit flat and it looks like a chunky yarn but you could use other weights to make pumpkins of different sizes. This one also has an I-cord stem and uses yarn to cinch up the sections of the pumpkin, giving it a more natural look. 

Add some bobbles to your pumpkins with this design from Autumn Shelter Makes. Also worked in the round in a tube, it features a repeating pattern of bobbles and uses yarn wrapped around the outside to make segments. This one looks like worsted weight yarn to me. 

Of course there’s nothing that says your pumpkin has to be a single color, so let’s throw in some colorwork. I love the look of the Cozy Fall Pumpkin knitting pattern from South Stitch Girls. The little leather loop adds a rustic touch but you could also just add a stick. These pumpkins have five colorwork options and are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round. 

There’s also the Autumn Fair Isle Trio pumpkins pattern from Equestriann Style, which has three different sizes of pumpkins with four colorwork designs. They are worked in super bulky yarn in the round and look good with high contrast or more muted color combinations.