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]

One of my favorite things to make on a circular knitting machine is scarves, because they’re a great way to use leftover yarn and certainly faster than knitting by hand.

But if you pay attention to the colors you’re using and how you are using them, you can make fun knitting machine scarves that look like something different when you roll them up.

One of the first versions of this I saw was the sushi scarf, are there are a lot of variations on this one. For example this one from Flower and Anchor that uses five colors of yarn, or this one from Three Threads NE that uses four. These generally are made to look like California rolls, but you could change up the colors to make them different things if you like. Just make sure the outside of the “roll” is black or green to indicate the nori. I found another version on Pinterest if you’re looking for a free pattern, but there’s no image of it rolled up.

Another popular variation is making a scarf that rolls up to look like a mug with coffee, tea or another fun beverage inside. This collection of three mug scarf circular knitting machine patterns from Idaho Cottage Creation includes green tea, a pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream and a candy cane colored confection (which honestly reminds me of the Grinch since it has a green mug!). Again you can change the colors of the mug part and the drink part. The little handle looks like it’s crocheted on these, and it doubles as a loop you can thread the scarf end through when you wear it.

Again there’s a version of the green tea scarf on Pinterest with crocheted elements. I also found a latte done with a striped yarn and a red mug that’s pretty cute and gives you an idea what a different beverage would look like.

I also love this pumpkin pie scarf designed by Jodi Favish Saunier. It has a bit of crocheted edging to give it a fancy crust but you can omit that if you don’t crochet. These are all on Facebook but she also has a watermelon and lemonade pattern that are super cute.

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