Last week’s yarn along post, I mentioned that I was debating about how many squares I wanted to make for my knitted patchwork blanket. As I started this blanket to discover new knitting stitches, I had no particular size for the finished blanket in mind. I just wasn’t sure how many stitches would catch my eye.
Roll on one year. I have squares. Just how many, at this size, do I need for the blanket? Only way to tell was to lay them out. I don’t want it too big. The bigger the blanket the more awkward it is to wash and the more likely it is to be trailed along the floor when wrapped around a child, because that will happen! At the same time, I want it to be a useful blanket.
I roughly laid out the squares, using pins to anchor the ones that wanted to roll up and hide. (They all need blocking!) 16 squares looks good. About the right size. Especially as it will grow when blocked and joined together. I have a great idea about how I’m going to join it. It should look less like a donkey blanket, I hope.
The beauty of this blanket is that I can always add another line of squares if I change my mind. I shall have to spend time deciding on the order. I’m tempted to knit a border. Maybe next winter. Maybe smaller squares around the edge. What do you think?
I’m doing so much knitting and sewing this week that I have only time for a light read. Squeezed in while waiting in the car for music lessons to finish and just before bedtime. Last week’s Diana Wynne Jones is finished and I’ve started the next one.
So much inspiration at the Yarn-Along that I think I’ll have no trouble choosing my next knitting project. I need a change. I’m seeing squares!
What a lovely variety you have in your blanket! It’s going to look great once put together. Will you do the border as strips and sew it on, or graft onto the sewed together blanket? Hope that makes sense lol 🙂 x
I’m planning to graft and a bit of sewing. Fingers crossed.
You have such a lovely variety of patterns in your squares- definitely not a donkey blanket!
My daughter knitted squares for a blanket for her baby as a first knitting project, she asked me if they all needed to be the same size, very blase I said ‘no’- bad mistake as sewing it all together was quite a task! But she backed it with fleece fabric and it looks very sweet now snuggling her baby boy!
I hope the borders will rule it out as a donkey blanket candidate. Your daughter’s blanket sounds lovely. I hadn’t thought of backing it.
Patchwork blankets are always fun. Definitely go for a border- it’s a “frame” around your artwork!
Love the idea of it framing my blanket. Thanks!
Looks lovely, whatever you make you manage to make look unique and pretty. Can’t wait to see the finished project.
Ha! Unique! An adjective often used with my creations. 😀 I have a very clear picture in my mind of how this blanket will look. Just need to find the right colour wool.
I’m loving all of the wonderful stitch patterns. And a border of smaller squares? Maybe I just don’t get out much but I’ve never seen that. I think it’s a wonderful idea. I’m certainly watching the progress of this little blanket… my fingers are getting that itchy feeling…
Blessings, Debbie
I think it could look quite effective….and probably different. This blanket is going to be on my needles a little bit longer.
love it!!! agreat homey blanket ..
That’s what I’m after. Proof is in the pudding as they say!
Love Diana Wynne Jones- have ever since I was a child 🙂 And your blanket looks like it has been fun!
Easy reading, at the moment. I’ve only just discovered her in the last couple of years. She writes a good yarn.
hee hee, i think a donkey blanket sounds lovely, and i think your blanket is charming. i love it. a border would be really pretty and serve as a kind of frame, tying it all together. your making me want to make one too!
A border is on the cards, for sure. It does need a frame. 🙂
That looks like it took a lot of time. Looks great with the squares – yes, 16 looks just right! Will it really block well?
Fingers crossed with the blocking. It will have to block, but I’m aware that not all the patterns and types of wool will behave the same. We’ll see. It is meant to be a journey.
Hi thanks for stopping by our blog -, I’ve just popped in to meet you and oh wow loved your hexi quilt! All finifhesd too – a good thing.
Love Leanne
I’m still enjoying seeing my finished hexi quilt. I can’t help smiling every time I see it. A good thing, for sure. 😀
Love the textural variety in this blanket and the fact that you can add a border later if you want or not.
Good colour combo too.
Enjoy
Its a bit of a hotch potch but I think I can pull it together. We’ll see.
Hi, is there a pattern available for these squares? i knitted a cabled square blanket last year for my dad, planning more this year for myself n my sister..looking for different squares, don’t want them to be similar, hence wondering if the pattern is readily available.. I didn’t back my last blanket, since the pattern called for all squares to be 10″ once blocked, i simply sewed them together and gave a garter stitch border along the 4 sides..
That sounds like a wonderful project. I started my blanket as a way to discover different knitting stitches. I’ve shared my notes for each of the squares on previous blog posts. If you click on the tag “knitted patchwork blanket” you should find them. Good luck with your blanket.