I can admit I have a pumpkin problem.
I like just about everything about pumpkins. I like their colors, I like the shape of them, I like the way they taste either baked into a sweet or savory dish. Heck, I like the way they feel when you hold them, the smooth skin and hefty weight just giving a satisfying armful. And considering the fact that Pumpkins are more or less the poster fruit of fall I think I’m not alone in that feeling.
Of course, this does lead to one major pitfall: pumpkin themed décor. Now I know I probably sound a little crazy but hear me out: you walk into a store like Target or Walmart to get something you need, let’s say toothpaste. And what do you see on display? Glass pumpkins, ceramic pumpkin candle holders, pumpkin colored blankets, pumpkin printed pillows. Am I, a pumpkin loving gal, just supposed to walk past something like that and not stop to stare at décor I do not need?
The answer is no. I have fallen into the trap time and time again of veering off course to take a look at the pumpkin offerings. Sometimes I stand strong and get out with my budget intact. Sometimes, as the two pumpkin themed pillows on my couch will attest, I make my way to the checkout with something extra in my arms.
One thing that I’ve found unexpectedly helpful is the fact that a lot of fall themed items also fall under the “knitted” category as well. Maybe it’s the fact it’s getting colder but I have saved myself from one unnecessary purchase after another by holding up an adorable knitted pumpkin and going: “this is great, but if I find a pattern I can knit this myself for free”.
Of course it’s not really free. I may love yarn but I know it’s not cheep. But, with a little knitting knowhow and an online search engine (or a helpfully themed knitting pattern book) you can find all sorts of things to decorate you’re home for a festive fall season! Even better, making it yourself gives you a level of control that a store bought item doesn’t give. Any color is available, any size, heck depending on how fancy you want to get any pattern or texture. Pictured are a few of the pumpkins I’ve made for myself.
So this fall get crafty! Pull out your yarn stash and dig up those little balls of scrap yarn that have just been sitting around, waiting for a project. Maybe grab that one funky ball of yarn that you picked up because it looked cool or (my own Achilles heel) it was on sale for a couple of bucks at the store. Make something fun that makes you happy, or make a gift for a fall enthusiast friend or family member. You’ll be surprised what options are out there.
