Blanket #1 of 2011

My most well-known projects are blankets.  This is probably because I take them pretty much everywhere I go, and probably because I've made a number of them.  I love giving them as wedding gifts. (I've actually never knit myself a blanket!)

I've been putting together simple patterns for these for a while, now - this is just the first of the year.  My friends Joel & Beth are getting married on May 20th, and this one is for them.  I'm hoping to be done far sooner than May, though, since next up will be Josh & Arden, who I think are getting married in August.

The pattern is based off of a stitch called "Basket & garter stitch" in Maria Parry-Jones' book "The Knitting Stitch Bible" and is really best read off a chart - but I'll type it up anyway since I'm not quite sure how to draw a chart on the computer.

I'm using Caron's "Simply Soft" yarn for this project - and it's actually my favorite yarn for blankets, since it's so soft and it's a great price when you need a lot of yarn.

So, without further ado:

Joel & Beth's blanket:

Materials: 3 Skeins Caron Simply Soft in Pagoda
                 3 Skeins Caron Simply Soft in Off White
                 Size 9 straight or circular needles

Gauge (approximately): 7sts by 11 rows = 2"  [but really, it doesn't matter for this project]

Make 5 (3 in Pagoda, 2 in Off White)
CO 42 sts.
Row 1: *k7, p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1*, rep from * to end
Row 2: *k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p7*, rep from * to end
Row 3: *p7, p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1*, rep from * to end
Row 4: repeat row 2
Row 5: repeat row 1
Row 6: *k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, k7*, rep from * to end
Row 7: repeat row 1
Row 8: repeat row 2
Row 9: repeat row 3
Row 10: repeat row 2
Row 11: repeat row 1

Row 12: *p7, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1*, rep from * to end
Row 13: *p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1, k7*, rep from * to end
Row 14: *k7, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1*, rep from * to end
Row 15: repeat row 13
Row 16: repeat row 12
Row 17: *p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1, p7*, rep from * to end
Row 18: repeat row 12
Row 19: repeat row 13
Row 20: repeat row 14
Row 21: repeat row 13
Row 22: repeat row 12

Repeat this pattern of 22 rows until the piece measures 60".  BO.

Finishing: Sew the five panels together, alternating colors.  [Possibly: add border?]  Weave in ends.



Here's my work so far!

I've got a long way to go!  But it's moving right along - I started this on Sunday.

First post... and a hat.

So I decided to start a new blog... for knitting patterns!  (Probably crochet patterns, too, if I design any.)

I want to start trying to design my own knitwear in 2011 and I wanted to have a place to record/edit my patterns.  Hopefully this is the beginning of a beautiful new relationship.

My boyfriend asked me to make him a scarf, and went through my stash to find something he liked.  One of the yarns was handed-down from an old friend, and I had no idea how much was left in the skein.  I figured out what the yarn was, and found another skein in the same color (hoping the dye lots weren't *too* different).  I ended up only needing a few yards of the second skein so... I decided to make myself a hat to match.

So... the first pattern is a hat with those little flaps to cover your ears!  This one is inspired by this hearts hat and by this pattern I asked Google to translate from the French. (Try it... you can only add the earflaps on Sundays!  Teehee.)  I didn't want to have to buy size 13 DPNs, so this is worked flat and seamed.

Materials: Jiffy Thick & Quick yarn, 1 skein in "Berkshires"
          Size 13 straight or circular needles

Gauge: 7 sts and 9 rows in 3"

Ear flaps (make 2) CO 5 sts
Row 1: purl
Row 2: K1, m1, k3, m1, k1 (7 sts)
Row 3: purl
Row 4: k1, m1, k5, m1, k1 (9sts)
Work in stockinette st until flap measures 3 inches.  Do not bind off - cut a long tail and put it on a stitch holder for later.

Hat:
Cast on 6 stitches, knit on one ear flap, cast on 18 sts, knit on other ear flap, cast on 6 sts. (48 sts)
Row 1: p2, k2, p13, (k2, p2) 3 times, k2, p13, k2, p2
Row 2: k2, p2, k13, (p2, k2) 3 times, p2, k13, p2, k2
Row 3: purl
Row 4: knit
Continue in St st until hat (not including ear flaps) measures 3".
Row 1: *k4, k2tog*, rep from * to end
Row 2: purl
Row 3: knit
Row 4: *p3, p2tog*, rep from * to end
Row 5: knit
Row 6: purl
Row 7: *k2, k2tog*, rep from * to end
Row 8: purl
Row 9: *k1, k2tog*, rep from * to end
Row 10: purl
Row 11: k2tog around
Break yarn, leaving a long tail.  Draw through remaining 8 sts, and sew the back seam.  Weave in ends.

Cut 4 long pieces of yarn.  Attatch 2 to each ear flap at the middle of the yarn, and then braid the 4 strands on each side together to form the ties.

Ta-da!!  It's not very tight against my head, but the ties should keep the ears warm!  :)

**edit** a note on sizing:  I love the short length of the hat because my ponytail fits at the back of the hat.  If you want a longer hat, shorten the ear-flaps a bit and lengthen the main part of the hat before you start the decreases.  For instance: try 2" ear-flaps and 4" of hat before decreasing.