Pickle-pocalypse 2009

Have you seen the new Tidings of Joy kit yet? When we had the first staff meeting about Nina's holiday ornament kit, I was surprised to see a knitted pickle included as one of the patterns. Tina explained that it's a tradition for some families to hide a pickle ornament on their Christmas trees, and the first person to find the pickle is supposed to have good luck for a year. I'm not sure about the luck-pickle connection, but I do know that I laughed out loud when I first saw the knitted sample.

We're offering the pickle pattern as a free download as a little holiday treat, a sort of early Christmas present for knitters who think squishy pickles are hilarious. It's the only one we're releasing for free from the Tidings of Joy ornament kit, but we'll have some other exclusive freebie patterns coming up over the next few weeks for you to enjoy. If you're interested in the other Tidings of Joy patterns, though, be sure to check out our online catalog for October when it comes out for a fun pickle-related contest and a chance to win the full Tidings of Joy kit.

My family always had a big Christmas celebration each year while I was growing up - tree, party, eggnog, the whole enchilada. My husband Dan is Jewish, though, so he and I have a little 13" "compromise tree" each year that's covered in blue and white ornaments. I think adding a pickle to our mix-and-match holiday tradition will really add to the tree's class and fanciness.

Especially if it looks like this little guy:

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Comment by cherylbwaters on October 4, 2009 at 2:47pm: I thought I'd already posted a comment here! Guess I got side-tracked as always. I have a garland that is over my kitchen sink year round. Throughout the year I have fruit and veggie ornaments on it. Then at Christmas additional Christmas ornaments are added. I'm so excited that I will be able to add some more pickles to it.

Comment by Sheila Kiefer on October 1, 2009 at 5:36am: I have my own christmas tree for the first time this year! I'm definitely going to make a pickle ornament :-D I might attempt it in a darker shade of green though...

Comment by SarSar on September 27, 2009 at 9:49pm: I LOOOOOVVVVE this pickle. I have over 30 pickle ornaments so I am very excited about this pattern. I can't wait to try it. Mine will need a face as well I'm sure.

Comment by gardengnome on September 14, 2009 at 4:46pm: awesome. here is more on the pickle myth... http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth11.htm

Comment by parisribbons on September 10, 2009 at 11:35am: I too have had a glass pickle on my tree for years. Is he ill? That is the palest
pickle (real, glas or otherwise) I have ever seen. I don't want to hurt his feelings. --J

Comment by Susan the Blue Lake Knitter on September 9, 2009 at 8:42pm: This tradition MUST come from some where! The pickle is adorable... the eyes and mustache and mouth MAKE it. -S

Comment by Araignee on September 9, 2009 at 6:30pm: I have gone through lots of pickle ornaments through the years as they are usually made of very delicate glass. What a great idea to have an unbreakable version!

Comment by Alicia on September 9, 2009 at 5:28pm: We have a pickle ornament (very fancy, one of the most expensive). My stepson always
so much fun looking for it. I haven't introduced it to the babies yet. I'm
sure they'll have as much fun. I'll have to make two of these so they
don't fight over it or break my expensive one!!!!

Comment by Sock Girl on September 9, 2009 at 3:45pm: What a crack up! I Love it, I will be sure to get that

Comment by SarahD on September 9, 2009 at 2:46pm: Well that explains something. I received as a gift several years ago a set of six blown glass ornaments--5 hearts and a pickle. I thought it was the weirdest thing, but now I understand.