Thank you for this great description of the construction of this fancy garter blanket.
I’m currently binding off a MKAL designed by Kristin in Stitches and inspired by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Instead of picking up and knitting a garter border as suggested, I picked up 200 stitches on one side and knit a stockinette hem. I am right now deciding to either stitch the folded hem loosely or crochet it to the back. Hoping for a not tight edge.
You didn't ask for my opinion, but here it is anyway 😉
For maximum stretchiness along that edge, don't bind off your hem. Sew each stitch down to the wrong side, covering the selvedge edge along the pick up line. For best results, don't whip stitch those live stitches in place - think of your stitches as similar to Kitchener stitch grafting. You'll basically be forming one more row of knit stitches as you sew, with the tops of those stitches connected to the body of the blanket and the bottom of the stitches catching the live stitches from the hem. Yes, it's time consuming, but if done with care it looks incredibly polished and doesn't constrict the stretchiness of the edge at all.
Thank you! I try to pay attention to the wrong side of blankets, scarves, shawls, and the like. You know they are going to be seen. They should at least be neat and tidy, if not attractive.
Lots of good info here! The photos are very helpful in seeing how you pick up stitches. Your blanket is coming along so nicely. You’ve reminded me that I have a bag full of granny squares that I need to put together. I used stash yarn, wool that I had bought years ago and just really wanted to use up. The project was perfect for working with my hands while watching TV but … putting all the squares together will be daunting. About seven colors circulate through the squares so I can’t just randomly piece them together. Yikes! The finished product will be 100% wool and large enough for a lap blanket. I’ll probably keep it. 😉
Do you know the continuous join-as-you go method for crocheted granny squares? You add 1 more round to each square as you join them, which is a great opportunity to add a single color to unify all the squares. There are lots of tutorials on YouTube - here's one: https://youtu.be/kKsb_1YTV4I?si=H2K174PucGcouF-h
Thanks! I’ll check out the video. A long time ago I made a “shawl” by joining granny squares as I finished them. It was so funky. It wound up T-shaped so I crocheted a wide border to make the “thing” more shawl-like. 🤦🏼♀️ Still, I miss the days when I would just “wing in” with my knitting. Now it’s hard for me to do anything unless I have a pattern.
Love how you have detailed the steps to making this 'easy garter stitch blanket' into a prize winner! Will look forward to the next post. Such a good tip on using the tubing as a stitch holder. The more I see of this yarn and the colors, the more I like it!
This yarn (Purl Soho Daily Wool) is a real winner. I generally avoid superwash wools, but this yarn has none of the slickness I usually associate with superwash yarns.
Thank you! Block 4 is being joined to Block 1 as I go (no seams!). And I've debated doing a sawtooth border, but I think what this blanket wants is a simple straight garter stitch border.
Thank you for this great description of the construction of this fancy garter blanket.
I’m currently binding off a MKAL designed by Kristin in Stitches and inspired by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Instead of picking up and knitting a garter border as suggested, I picked up 200 stitches on one side and knit a stockinette hem. I am right now deciding to either stitch the folded hem loosely or crochet it to the back. Hoping for a not tight edge.
It’s a fluffy cotton yarn- Cumulus.
You didn't ask for my opinion, but here it is anyway 😉
For maximum stretchiness along that edge, don't bind off your hem. Sew each stitch down to the wrong side, covering the selvedge edge along the pick up line. For best results, don't whip stitch those live stitches in place - think of your stitches as similar to Kitchener stitch grafting. You'll basically be forming one more row of knit stitches as you sew, with the tops of those stitches connected to the body of the blanket and the bottom of the stitches catching the live stitches from the hem. Yes, it's time consuming, but if done with care it looks incredibly polished and doesn't constrict the stretchiness of the edge at all.
I so love that wrong side!!
Thank you! I try to pay attention to the wrong side of blankets, scarves, shawls, and the like. You know they are going to be seen. They should at least be neat and tidy, if not attractive.
Lots of good info here! The photos are very helpful in seeing how you pick up stitches. Your blanket is coming along so nicely. You’ve reminded me that I have a bag full of granny squares that I need to put together. I used stash yarn, wool that I had bought years ago and just really wanted to use up. The project was perfect for working with my hands while watching TV but … putting all the squares together will be daunting. About seven colors circulate through the squares so I can’t just randomly piece them together. Yikes! The finished product will be 100% wool and large enough for a lap blanket. I’ll probably keep it. 😉
Do you know the continuous join-as-you go method for crocheted granny squares? You add 1 more round to each square as you join them, which is a great opportunity to add a single color to unify all the squares. There are lots of tutorials on YouTube - here's one: https://youtu.be/kKsb_1YTV4I?si=H2K174PucGcouF-h
Thanks! I’ll check out the video. A long time ago I made a “shawl” by joining granny squares as I finished them. It was so funky. It wound up T-shaped so I crocheted a wide border to make the “thing” more shawl-like. 🤦🏼♀️ Still, I miss the days when I would just “wing in” with my knitting. Now it’s hard for me to do anything unless I have a pattern.
Love how you have detailed the steps to making this 'easy garter stitch blanket' into a prize winner! Will look forward to the next post. Such a good tip on using the tubing as a stitch holder. The more I see of this yarn and the colors, the more I like it!
This yarn (Purl Soho Daily Wool) is a real winner. I generally avoid superwash wools, but this yarn has none of the slickness I usually associate with superwash yarns.
Love the blanket! Are you going to join the 4th block to the 1st as you go, or afterwards? What are you thinking for the edge?
Thank you! Block 4 is being joined to Block 1 as I go (no seams!). And I've debated doing a sawtooth border, but I think what this blanket wants is a simple straight garter stitch border.
This is beautiful!! I love how tidy it is :) I frequently pick up stitches a bit looser than I’d like haha
Thank you!
It's worthwhile to spend a little focused attention on picking up stitches. It makes such a difference in the end result!
For the blanket are you alternating one knit row then one purl row? Thank you.
It is garter stitch knit flat, so every row is knit. The easiest possible sort of knitting!
Thank you