Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Knitting classes on line

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If you have ever wanted to learn new techniques but couldn’t find a class at your LYS, and you are comfortable taking classes on line, maybe the [tag]Needlecraft University[/tag] is for you. Students with no experience as well as those with Basic or higher skill level may benefit from these classes.

At the University, a beginners class is free and the project is a purse. [tag]Nazanin S. Fard[/tag] (Nazee) shows you the shortcuts. She shows you all the details, from holding needles, casting on to decreasing and binding off, with all the diagrams, all in plain English, no knitting lingo. However, as a knitter, you do need to become familiar with knitting lingo, as it is the standard way of writing instructions in almost every project. That is why after she explains every instruction in plain English, she shows its equivalent in knitting lingo, so you become familiar with it for your next endeavor in knitting world.

Many advanced classes are available, a few of the knitting techniques covered in the classes are Double Knitting, Kitchener Stitch or Bind Off and Circular Short Rows.

Additional classes teach cables, easy ways of working with color and socks that are worked from cuff to toe on two circular needles.

The classes are moderately priced and most are two lessons. The Needlecraft University site also offers a newsletter and a discussion board where you can your questions, and as you visit, respond to those you know the answer.

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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.