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Your Chance to Grab these Blanket Knitting Books

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New afghan knitting books from Leisure Arts.

Karey is the winner!

Last month I shared a couple of little booklets from Leisure Arts all about knitting quick afghans and blankets, and this week I’m giving you the change to get them for yourself.

The booklets are:

Make in a Weekend Afghans to Knit by Rita Weiss

Quick Throws to Knit by Rena V. Stevens

In all these books have 14 patterns for quick-knit warmers to throw on the back of your couch or give as housewarming gifts.

If you’d like a chance to win these, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, April 16. I’d love to hear about your favorite knit blanket, whether you made it or someone made it for you. My super simple Bulky Stockinette Throw is the blanket I use the most, and I love it.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  2. My favorite knit blanket is one that my daughter received as a family hand me down. It’s nice to have things that were made by a grandparent for someone else that has survived the test of time.

  3. I participated in the BERNAT Blanket Stitch Along knit version last year. At first I wasn’t crazy about the design but then when the applied cable border was added, oh my word I’m in love with that design!! I’m planning to make another using just one of the stitch patterns and all in one color or solid blanket with contrasting border.

  5. I would love an opportunity at winning these booklets. I haven’t knitted in years and would like to get back in to knitting. I crochet and do counted cross stitch. Needlework has become a passion.

  7. Blankets and afghans are the perfect project for evening quiet time in front of the TV or listening to the radio. My favorite pattern was a broomstick lace blanket I made to go in our new family room – it went very quickly and is very warm to snuggle under on snowy nights. These new booklets are bound to entice me to create another for my daughter’s new family room!

  9. I love knitting blankets for gifts. My favorite is one I knit from all the leftovers from previous year’s projects

  10. I would love to win these. It would be so wonderful take a pattern book with me instead of having to print them.

  12. I would love to win these books. I’m a beginner knitter. The afghans would make lovely gifts for everyone!

  13. I haven’t made a knit blanket yet! I’ve made plenty of crochet ones . I would love to try knitting one though!

  14. What a great couple of booklets to add to my library. Thanks for offering them. I’ve only knitted a couple of throws on size 50 needles. Anxious to try some others.

Have you read?

Knit a Garter Stitch Blanket with a Twist

When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]