Keep it Simple with a Knit Sampler Afghan

Sometimes you want to knit an afghan without being trapped under an afghan the whole time you’re knitting it.

I mean, I guess that might be true for some people. It is not true for me. I think I mostly knit blankets just for the special joy of the part in the knitting where you’re under your knitting as you knit it.

But if you for some reason might not want to have to deal with the whole blanket while you’re knitting it, a patchwork blanket is a great way to go.

They’re great travel projects because you’re only working on piece at a time, and of course they’re fantastic for using up stash because you can make each square a different color if you want, or use a few different colors to make it coordinate with whatever room you plan to use it in. (You do have different blankets for different rooms, right?)

The Caron Knit Sampler Afghan is a free knitting pattern from Yarnspirations that not only gives you the patchwork look in color, but also in pattern. As written the pattern uses three colors, and three different pattern blocks.

The patterns are basketweave, trinity stitch and mock cable. The pattern shows all of each block worked in the same color, which makes it so that the patterns and colors mix in diagonal rows across the blanket. But you could work the stitches in different colors whether you are working with three colors or more than three.

Using more colors will change up the layout pattern, of course, but you could do eight different colors and change colors for each diagonal row shown in the assembly chart. Or use 20 colors and then you can stitch them together however you want because there will be no pattern at all! Totally up to you.

You can get the free pattern from Yarnspirations.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

Next Pattern:

Why should the fireplace get all the fun? Instead of knitting stockings this year, why not whip up a pair of Christmas themed socks? These Christmas sock knitting patterns are lots of fun to make and you can wear them to holiday gatherings for years to come.

For our friends in the southern part of the world, there are the Christmas in July socks from the Kiwi Lodge – Kylie (Ravelry link). These shorty socks are covered in Christmas trees and have bright pink heels and toes for a tropical feel. There’s also an option to make a longer sock if you celebrate somewhere it’s colder.

Twin Stitches Designs (Ravelry) has a fun pattern with mix and match colorwork motifs you can use to build your own cozy Christmas socks. From the sample socks I see Christmas puddings, trucks hauling trees, Santa belts, ornaments and a couple of different borders. There may be more patterns included but the listing doesn’t say. Make a pair that matches or use different motifs on each foot for extra holiday cheer.

If you want to stick to Christmas puddings on your holiday socks, check out this cute pattern from Stone Knits. These lovely socks feature a band of puddings around the leg and a bit of holly by the toes.

These vintage holiday light socks from Grey Owl Knits by Sarah are classic looking and lots of fun at the same time. I love this color combination but of course you can make your lights and stripes whatever colors you like or have on hand. They’re worked using stranded knitting.

And if you’d like even more of a mix of patterns for your socks, try Barbara Ceglédi’s Christmas Chaos socks, a free pattern on Ravelry. The pattern includes 25 little motifs you can choose from, ranging from snowflakes and Christmas trees to elf hats, reindeer and hearts.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Leave a Reply