September 23, 2024
By Nicki Byrnes
I stumbled upon the cutest pumpkin crochet pattern. Tiny round pumpkins with little green stems made of chains, strung into a charming garland that will warm your insides faster than a pumpkin spice latte. It perfectly captures the rustic, cozy essence of Fall.
That begs the question, what is it about this season that we all love so much? It’s my favorite, though I can’t pinpoint when that started. Is it the colorful, cozy aesthetic? The shift to warmer clothing? The symphonic sounds of leaves crunching under your feet? Or am I simply swept up in the pumpkin spice craze? (It’s not the latter.) Fall has certainly been romanticized on social media lately, and I can’t be the only one noticing it.
The Rise of Fall
Turns out, it’s not just me. The surge of fall-themed content on social media began in the early 2010s, as lifestyle influencers carved out a niche around seasonal aesthetics. Platforms like Pinterest exploded with images of fall foliage, cozy sweaters, and warm drinks, creating a visual culture that resonated with content consumers. TikTok further amplified this trend, with creators posting fall content as early as mid-July, building excitement long before the season officially began.
We can’t ignore the impact the pumpkin spice latte had in Fall’s rise to popularity, which ignited the nationwide passion for all things pumpkin spice when it debuted in 2003. This drink’s comforting aroma evokes nostalgia and warmth associated with autumn, leading consumers to eagerly await its return each year. The pumpkin spice phenomenon has solidified its place in American culture, generating billions in sales and inspiring countless products. Even though I don’t drink them, I still love to see them rolled out because I know that means Fall is coming. I even purchased pumpkin spice cheese the other day (to make my husband try, of course).
I’m a sucker for all the Fall content too. Have you watched any of the fall coffee house videos on YouTube? I love playing them while I work. My daughter and I are currently binge-watching season 1 of Gilmore Girls, which has come to epitomize Fall. I’ve already watched You’ve Got Mail this month, and I’m loving the comfy matching sweat sets trend. The memes celebrating the season are the cherry on top. Or, you could say, the whipped cream on top of the pumpkin pie.
Now Back to Crochet
Fall also inspires me to think of crochet in ways I forget about during the summer. That little crochet garland I saw got me dreaming up other cute creations I could make. Unfortunately, with work, school, and activities all ramping up, I regret to say I haven’t crocheted much lately – not since my 4th of July granny square tank top, in fact.
Years ago, I made a bunch of crochet pumpkins you can see in this video. I crocheted one for each of my kids’ teachers and heard they still put them on their desk every Fall. I look forward to getting mine out every year, too. There are tons of variations available now; you can find them made with granny stitches, faux cable knit, even leopard print.
I’d love to make something different this year, though, and the pumpkin garland has me thinking about pumpkin granny squares! I did a quick search and found several different styles online. I found a few appealing videos, and Yarnspirations has this fun pumpkin patch granny square blanket (I’d use an off-white instead of the green, personally). But how cute are the squares?! I’d love to use them on the sleeve of a sweater like this sweater I designed, as the final row at the base of an otherwise super simple sweater, or sewn together to comprise the whole sweater, like the image below. That would be so cute!
In Conclusion
The allure of fall content lies in its ability to evoke nostalgia and comfort. Many associate autumn with cherished childhood memories, like returning to school, family gatherings, and seasonal festivities, making these visuals especially resonant. Influencers tap into this sentiment by curating content that highlights warmth and coziness, from hot drinks to picturesque landscapes.
As audiences engage with fall-themed posts, social media algorithms promote this content, ensuring its prevalence across platforms. This cycle has solidified fall’s status as a beloved theme in online culture, reflecting our collective longing for comfort and joy during this transitional season. I don’t see this trend fading anytime soon.
What are your thoughts on the fall craze? Are you embracing the cozy aesthetic, and have you noticed its rise in popularity over the years?
nickibyrnescrochet.com 