Knit Up a Colorful Patchwork Blanket

The Checkin’ It Twice (see what they did there, it’s a checkerboard!) knit blanket pattern from Yarnspirations is meant to be a holiday knitting project, but it wouldn’t have to be. Instead of making the one big patch that in their version says “Season’s Greetings,” you could make more small patches or add a different sentiment to the big patch.

However you choose to make it, this pattern calls for seven colors of worsted weight yarn (it specifically uses Red Heart Super Saver, but you can use whatever you like). The small patches are knit in garter stitch on the bias, while the large square is stockinette stitch. The squares are all worked separately so this is great TV knitting. Christmas movie knitting? Probably.

Of course that also means there’s a lot of sewing up to do when it’s done, but it’s a pretty easy project even with all of that.

And I’m sure you can guess what I’m about to say next, which is that if you don’t want to go out and buy seven different colors of worsted weight yarn or you don’t already have them in your stash, you can absolutely use more colors to use up odd balls from other projects to make a super colorful blanket.

As it is done now, every other block is white, which really helps it keep a harmonious look even as the other colors are kind of randomly placed. So you can do the same thing and it will still look great even if all your blocks that aren’t the main color end up being different colors.

The blanket is about 56 by 70 inches, or 142 by 178 cm, which makes it a great size for throwing on the back of the couch and using while you’re watching TV or snuggled up with a book. And if you get really excited about stash busting you can just keep making squares and make it as big as you like!

This free pattern is available from Yarnspirations.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

Fall will be here before we know it, and that means there are holidays coming right behind where we might be entertaining at home. It’s always fun to have a hand knit touch in your home for other people to see, and if you’re going to be in the kitchen all day you might as well have some nice knit dish cloths to use.

I love this little plaid hand towel from Darling Jadore. Use a little bit of leftover cotton yarn from another project for the plaid portion. It looks like the horizontal stripes are worked as you knit and the vertical stripes are done with duplicate stitch, making this a quick and easy project even newer knitters can make.

Combine garter stitch and an easy eyelet pattern worked sideways to make the Annette Dish Towel from Cluck Cluck Boots, which is meant to be reminiscent of flour sack towels. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can work it in one color or two (or even three!).

Add a little more texture with this set of kitchen towels from Whileberry Creative. They’re mostly worked in garter stitch with borders in easy knit/purl patterns, and you can work them in sport or worsted weight yarn.

Two of Wands Shop has another cute allover knit and purl pattern they call the Seersucker Textured Tea Towel. It’s an easy repeating pattern worked in worsted weight yarn, and there’s a chart in the pattern you can use, but don’t have to, if you want to practice knitting from a chart.

The Classic Cloth dish towel from Handmade Home by Connie is another one that can use a little leftover yarn in a contrasting color, or you could color block it our use stripes throughout the pattern. This one uses worsted weight yarn and another easy repeating knit purl stitch pattern.

If you like to hang your towel on the oven handle or elsewhere but it’s always falling off, try the Stay Put kitchen towel from Fancy Step Knits. This project is worked in garter stitch and includes a hole partway through so you can pull the towel through itself over a rod or handle. Stripes are optional but a nice addition.

Have you read?