Use Your Stash to Knit a Blanket That’s Full of Charm

I have been working (if you use the term working incredibly generously because I haven’t touched it in a couple of years) for many, many years on what I hope will one day be a giant (6 foot by 6 foot) garter stitch blanket worked in strips that are joined as I knit.

It’s a great winter project because it’s big enough to sit under while I knit, and it’s a good place to put all the random odd balls I’m not using in all my other projects.

I was reminded of that giant stash buster when I came across the pattern for the Charm Blanket from Purl Soho.

Like the classic yo-yo quilts that use little bits of fabric left over from other projects, this blanket is designed to look like it was assembled from random bits of leftover (though in reality it calls for 40 mini skeins of fingering weight yarn in a wool, alpaca and linen blend).

The yarn is held double in this project, made of individual garter stitch octagons that are joined as you work.

Of course if you have tons of leftover solid colored (or even multicolored) sock yarn or want to buy the kit you can absolutely do that, but I noticed that the pattern calls for size 8 US/5 mm knitting needles, which would be perfect for making this blanket with single strands of worsted weight yarn instead.

And I, for one, have a lot more bits of worsted weight yarn lying around than I do fingering weight.

Whichever way you choose to make it, this blanket as shown measures 36 by 48 inches, or 91.4 by 122 cm. You could of course continue in the same manner and make it as big as you like. Maybe it can be your never-ending project like my giant garter stitch strip blanket.

You can grab the free pattern at Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

Bust Your Stash and Keep Warm at the Same Time [Knitting]

I love the look of mesh tops for summer, but I don’t know that I would ever actually wear one that’s full of giant holes, even though I admit they look cool (in both senses of the word) on other people.

What I would wear, though, is something that’s still lacy but maybe a little bit more subdued, like this chevron lace knit top from Yarnspirations.

This easy to knit T-shirt style top is worked flat in two pieces from the bottom up, using and easy lace pattern that’s a repeat of 10 stitches and four rows (though the wrong side rows are just purled, so there’s only two rows you need to learn the pattern on).

It has little cap sleeves that are worked as part of the top by casting on stitches where you need them.

If you’re new to lace knitting this is a good one to try because the pattern includes both written and charted instructions, and the only skills you need are yarn over, knit two together, slip slip knit and slip 1 knit 2 together pass the slipped stitch over (which makes a centered decrease).

There are four size options available (which they claim is enough to cover XS to 5XL), with finished chest measurements ranging from 38.5 inches (that’s 98 cm) to 59 inches, or 150 cm. The amount of ease would vary widely depending on your size and the size garment you choose. For example the largest size is said to fit a chest measurement from 5258 inches/132-147.4 cm, which gives you a range of ease from 1-7 inches, or 2.5 to 17.78 cm, depending on your size. Just something to be aware of when you think about how you want it to fit.

The project calls for Red Heart Cotton Breeze yarn, which isn’t a yarn I’ve tried yet, but it’s a DK weight acrylic and cotton blend, which should make a lightweight top that’s great for summer.

Grab the free pattern from Yarnspirations.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

Have you read?