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[sunnysewingdoll]

Hi, all! I wanted to share some things I’ve knit with you! (Please excuse the lint on my knitting bag, it’s felt and collects the stuff like crazy)

One of my favorite projects (top), and one of my current ones (bottom center). I actually really like knitting blankets, which is surprising, given my attention span and the full scale of a decent blanket. Stripes and simple lace patterns help, though- they’re just interesting enough to keep me going! 

I’m really fond of the chevron pattern in the finished blanket, in particular- it gives you a nice, shaped edge, and is visually interesting without being too difficult!

The gray blanket is horeshoe lace, which I honestly think looks more like scales- it’s great with the gray yarn, it’s got a bit of sheen that makes it look fantastic!

With summer approaching, I’m not sure if I’m going to be working on blankets much, which is a bit concerning, since I have a second one that’s been on the needles for ages (3-2-3 rib, in stripes), and recently got into making a baby blanket (though no one in my family is having a baby). I may have a problem.

Well, at least it’s just yarn! Do any of you have a particular thing you can’t stop making? Do you have three different scarves or hats going at once? Oh, and please recommend pattern stitches, I’m always looking for something new!

[sunnysewingdoll]

Five things you’ll learn about knitting

When you first learn to knit, you look up how to cast on, how to bind off, how to knit and purl and how to stop stitches from dropping, but there are some things you learn through experience.

Gauge is actually important

If you’re making a scarf, gauge isn’t as important, but once you have a hat that’s too big for your head, the time you spent on that pretty cable pattern feels a bit wasted since it’s too slouchy to show off well.

Chenille isn’t worth it

Chenille sheds. A lot. You might just end up with the twisted threads of the center core, and that’s no fun. Read reviews if you’re looking for anything fuzzy and want it to last. Resist the siren call of the dollar-store chenille. You’ll thank me in the end.

Math is also important

This goes along with gauge, in a way. If a blanket seems too narrow, knit a swatch and measure it before trying to multiply the stitch panels. Otherwise you’re going to end up with a monster that is too wide, not long enough for that width, and has to be turned sideways to fit on your bed. (Still love it though) 

Multiplying everything by two isn’t going to work out if you have specific stitch patterns, too- you’ll be short stitches or trying to figure out where you can make sneaky decreases in your first row.

Novelty yarn is best avoided

Eyelash yarn, stuff that’s all fluffy, metallic glitter yarn... look, but don’t touch. If you buy it just because it’s pretty without a specific project in mind, you’ll never use it. If you want to buy yarn because it’s pretty, stick with a pretty color of cotton yarn or a really soft acrylic that’s medium-weight; those are a lot easier to make something out of after an impulse buy.

When doing Fair Isle, do NOT pull the yarn too tight

Fair Isle is gorgeous. So pretty. And in only two colors, it looks easy enough, right? Well, it is relatively easy, but tension is something you should really pay attention to. I did a white-on-gray snowflake pattern on a Christmas stocking for my first Fair Isle project, and I did NOT know that. I’d also recommend watching some tutorials; I really wish I had before I started out!

Of course, all of this is based on my personal knitting experience. If you want to work with chenille or novelty yarn, go for it! If you don’t mind an oversized blanket or extra slouchy hat, feel free to throw gauge and exact math out the window! 

The most important thing about knitting is the making; the process is as important as the result, and as long as you’re happy, that’s what matters. You do you, fellow knitters, and enjoy the fact that whatever you make is one-of-a-kind.

[sunnysewingdoll]

Project number one- patch-block doll blanket

So, this is my first project for this blog! I had this bamboo/silk mix yarn left over from a project I dropped, and, since rose pink isn’t really ~my~ color, I decided that this would be a great use for it!

To make this blanket, I cast on 64 stitches on size 6 needles and worked in blocks of eight stitches by eight rows, alternating stockinette (k right side, p wrong side) and seed stitch (k1, p1, rep on right side, p1, k1, rep wrong side) blocks, with a 4-stitch row of garter stitch on each edge.

Pattern:

CO 64 sts

Knit 4 rows

Start with four knit stitches, then place a stitch marker. Knit eight to start a stockinette block, place a marker, k1, p1 for eight stitches to create seed stitch block- place marker, repeat, alternating stitch pattern.

Work eight rows in pattern, then knit 4, carry marker, k1, p1, to second marker- k to third, continue to end of row, working a seed stitch square over the previous stockinette square/vice versa.

Knit to desired length (in full blocks- I did 11, so blanket ended up being 11x7 blocks), then knit four rows, then cast off knitwise. Weave in ends, block according to instructions, and you’re done!

This was a really quick project, and reminds me of a blanket my grandma knit for my sister and I’s Barbies. Since it’s currently the only item I have, you’re only going to see the progress pic- I still have a lot more to do! This pattern would also work really well for a baby blanket- just alter the number/scale of the blocks to get your desired result.

Stay tuned for the next post, and let me know if I need to clarify the pattern at all!