Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Knitting Podcasts

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[tag]Podcasting[/tag] is not an old internet capability, but relatively new. In 2003 regular podcasts started showing up on well-known Web sites and software support for podcasting spread throughout the internet. Wikipedia describes podcast as a media file that is distributed by subscription (paid or unpaid) over the Internet using syndication feeds, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The term “podcast” is derived from Apple’s portable music player, the iPod. Though podcasters’ web sites may also offer direct download or streaming of their content, a podcast is distinguished from other digital audio formats by its ability to be downloaded automatically, using software capable of reading feed formats such as RSS or Atom.

Now, what does that mean to me as a knitter? Many [tag]knitting podcasts[/tag] are appearing all over the net. Your favorite author or yarn shop may be uploading to the internet a podcast. [tag]Knitty[/tag] has a very good article by [tag]Rhonda Bell[/tag] listing many sites to download your favorite designer’s words about their craft. [tag]Unwound[/tag] offers podcasts on her site and also lists the content and pertinent links to the information so you know before you download what her podcast contains.

What do you need to listen to a podcast? Your PC will do just fine with Windows Media Player downloading and playing the podcast for you. If you have an mp3 player, you can transfer the podcasts to it and listen anywhere. Itunes has knitting podcasts at their site, but I personally have a Zen mp3 player. I use juice to find my podcasts or the website for the company that manufactured my player.

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.