Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Fall Themed Knitting Patterns

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There are all sorts of great things you can knit in the fall, from pumpkins to fun fall-themed hats (which we’ll get to), to home accessories and even sweaters with a fall twist. Here are a few fall-themed knitting patterns for you to make while you anticipate cooler days ahead.

The Pumpkin Chevron Knit Blanket from The Knitting Hour on Etsy of course wouldn’t have to be knit in orange, but it is pretty in that color. It uses worsted weight yarn and the chevron pattern is made with knit and purl stitches. The blanket has a simple seed stitch border and comes out to 48 inches square, perfect for a throw for the back of the couch.

Have a Halloween or fall baby in the family? Stitch up the Pumpkin Baby Blanket, from Not Just Nanas Knit on Ravelry. This colorwork blanket uses DK weight yarn and is about 23.5 by 27.5 inches (60 by 70 cm) but the pumpkin takes up most of that space so you could easily make it bigger if you want by adding more white space around the design.

If you need a fall-themed pillow to go with your fall-themed blanket, check out the autumn leaf pillow, a free pattern from Love and Crochet. It uses worsted weight yarn and is worked flat in two pieces, with the vein stitching added before sewing up into a pillow.

How about a pumpkin cowl to wear for all your fall activities? This one is from My Comforting Crafts on Etsy and uses worsted weight yarn. It comes in four sizes, from toddler to adult, and the designer also has a hat pattern using the same colorwork design if you’d like a matched set.

This vintage-look pumpkin sweater is the perfect thing to wear to any fall gathering. Designed by Knitting Glitter and available on Ravelry, it uses three colors of DK weight yarn (or two if you don’t want to stitch green stems on the pumpkins) and is made to measure so you can make sure that it will fit you perfectly.

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Michaels Acquires Joann Intellectual Property; Joann Website Now Forwards to Michaels

Craft retailer Michaels has acquired the intellectual property and private label brands of now-defunct retailer Joann, according to a media release, and the Joann website now forwards to Michaels. 

The releases states that Michaels will be developing the “beloved Big Twist® brands as part of the Michaels portfolio.” It also notes plans to expand its offerings in the fabric, sewing and yarn categories, with more than 600 new products being added. 

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to welcome JOANN customers into our creative community and are committed to delivering the selection, value, and inspiration they are looking for at Michaels,” David Boone, CEO of Michaels, said in the release. 

Specific to yarn, the company notes it has plans to expand its yarn selection by 25 percent this year, including releasing more than 60 new private-label Loops & Threads products beginning this month, expanding offerings of Lion Brand and the Yarnspirations family of brands, and welcoming Big Twist yarns. 

The release specifically mentions Big Twist Value Plus, Big Twist Twinkle, Big Twist Posh and Big Twist Baby Bear, and notes that the offerings are “now being developed as part of Michaels portfolio of brands and will be available in-stores and online later this year.”

No word on what this means for Herrschners, which previously announced it would carry Big Twist. Its page announcing the news still says “at this time we are not able to release details on specific Big Twist varieties or colors, or the exact date the yarn will be available to order” and encourages signing up for email updates.

This news comes just days after the final closing of the last Joann locations and the appearance of a message on their website talking about “stitching up something new.” The Joann website now forwards to a landing page for craft retailer Michaels. 

“Welcome Joann customers,” it says at the top. “We’ve got your go-to essentials and so much more.” The page also notes “everyone is welcome at our craft table” and says the website is a source for “fabrics, yarn, notions & more.”

Further down the page it says “With JOANN stores closing, Michaels is excited to welcome new makers, crafters, and sewing enthusiasts into our community” and has a string of links to product categories these shoppers might be looking for. It says Michaels carries “many of the favorites that Joann customers love” including patterned fabric, yarn, ribbons and notions. 

The release calls this a “dedicated landing page” with a “curated assortment of products” they think are relevant to the Joann shopper. 

If you go directly to Micheaels.com, you see their regular website but there is a link at the top of the page for Joann customers that leads to the same page linked above. 

The release doesn’t mention opening any new stores in towns left without a craft store thanks to the Joann closure. It does note they have 1,300 stores in 49 states and in Canada, and they have both US and Canada-facing websites. 

What do you think of this news? It’s not the exciting future I’d hoped for with Joanns cryptic announcement, but I know legions of knitters and crocheters will be happy to know Big Twist will live on, and other crafters will probably be happy about expanded selection at Michaels.