Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Hey Knitters, What Do You Want to Learn?

by

It’s been a long time since I was a beginning knitter. And while there is always more to learn I feel pretty comfortable offering advice and knitting tips for people.

I’ve decided I want to start (probably restart, if I’m being honest) doing a technique Tuesday post, where I talk about something related to the actual how of knitting.

I could write about all sorts of things, of course, but I’d really love to know what you want to know more about.

Need help deciphering stitch patterns, reading a pattern, choosing a size? Want advice on using different kinds of needles and why you’d want to use different kinds? Something else I haven’t thought of?

I really want to know. Drop a comment below to let me know what you want to learn (anything from different cast ons to how to knit a sock to whatever’s on your mind) and I will make every effort to address all your questions on upcoming Tuesdays.

As usual, thank you all for your support, for reading and for your feedback!

Comments

  5. I need to go back to the beginning! I’ve been asked to crochet or knit hats for NICU and nursery babes and although I adore crochet, I think knit might be more appropriate for fit and warmth.

  7. I like to see how you do the knit in the front and back/ and purl in the front and back. I’m not sure if i’m doing those increases correctly.

  8. I would love to learn brioche knitting. I need to understand the how’s and why’s of it, not just the mechanics.

  10. What is the correct way to change the color of yarn when knitting. It would be extremely helpful if the technique is also easy.?

  12. I’ve been knitting for decades and always make my own patterns, but have never learned how to do raglan sleeves. Also, would love tips on buying yarn that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

  13. Adjusting a pattern to increase or reduce the size. I am currently knitting gift bags and want to make some quite a bit larger

Have you read?

Patchwork Blanket Knitting Patterns

Any time of year is a good time for stash busting, but if you can combine it with knitting a blanket that will keep you warm when it (finally!) gets cooler that’s even better. Let’s take a look at some fun patchwork blanket knitting patterns. 

If you want to keep it super simple, you can just make blocks of garter stitch and sew them together, like the beginner’s patchwork baby blanket from Mini Baa Baa or the color block blanket from Make and Do Crew. Both projects are worked in strips and sew together, with the baby version calling for two strands of DK or light worsted weight yarn held together and the larger one using bulky yarn. 

Add a little more texture with the mixed blocks of the cottage quilt throw from Mama in a Stitch. This one combines garter stitch and seed stitch and uses worsted weight yarn. She used a crochet join to make the chains on top of the blocks, but you can join them however you like. It calls for eight colors but you can use what you have, and there are three size options. 

Get a real sampler style patchwork blanket with this design from Knit Sew Make. It calls for worsted weight yarn and has four size options. All of the patterns just use knit and purl stitches so this one is still pretty easy for beginners. 

If you want a more complex colorwork project that will keep you entertained all season, try the Peace by Piece blanket pattern from Needle and Feather. This one is made up of two color colorwork blocks and calls for worsted weight yarn. You can choose to use just a few of the blocks and repeat them more often, or make multiples of the whole set. 

The knitted patchwork recipe from Martine Ellis (free on Ravelry) uses mitered squares in fingering weight yarn, so it’s perfect for using up all your leftover sock yarn and mini skeins. This one is a tutorial more than a pattern so you can make your blanket as big as you like or keep going until you run out of yarn. 

Susan B. Anderson’s 100 Squares blanket (find it on Ravelry) has a lot of mitered squares, too, but they’re arranged in fun ways and includes some quilt inspired designs as well. This one also is a bit of method more than pattern but it sure looks like a lot of fun for using all the leftovers. 

Of course you can totally improvise a patchwork blanket using the yarn and stitches you like, but I hope these patterns inspire you to look at your leftover yarn in a new way.