Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Search for the Big Needle Blankets

I will have a ton of left over Lion Brand Wool-Ease Yarn (from my sampler afghan), and I thought it would be fun to use up my stash in a remnant blanket. I would love to use 4-6 strands at once so this project would go quickly, and give me something warm to cuddle with and to remember various gifts that I've made over the years. So let the search begin!

At first glance, many of the projects that came up were only stockinette (Lion Brand has about a dozen on their website), but further searches revealed more interesting projects.

  • Hot Damn Afghan - There are no pictures, and it is sloppily written, but the three patterns listed here are simple enough. One has a drop stitch (which would make the project go even faster), and the other two have some combination that would be really simple to swatch and see if you like the results.
  • 6-Hour Afghan - You will need to create a log-in, but the pattern is free, simple, stockinette. They have "multiple" big needle patterns, but they are stockinette with different colored yarns held together.
  • Evergreen Speed Stix Afghan - You will need to create a log-in, but the pattern is free. The picture is not the best at displaying the pattern, but from the name I'd gather that it will look like there are leaves of some kind going across it(?)
  • Textured Treasure Speed Stix Afghan - You will need to create a log-in, but the pattern is free. This textured afghan looks tiny, if not for it laying on a chair. This could be easily completed in an afternoon!
  • Champaign by Night Speed Stix - You will need to create a log-in, but the pattern is free. I do not know how to discribe this really, but it is like an offset rib.
  • Super Quick Afghan - You will need to create a log-in, but the pattern is free. This garter stitch afghan is used by holding strands of different colors together at different times. Use it for inspiration to consume your remnants!
  • 4-hour Bias Baby Blanket - Get ready to knit and slip! (This is another Lion Brand pattern, but this one does not require a log-in.)
  • Update 2/25/10 - 10 Hour Remnant Afghan by ChemKnits. I did it!

Books that came up through my search:
  • Big-Needle Knit Afghans (Hardcover) - Reviews complain of many pattern mistakes, but with 175 pages there are bound to be some good patterns in here. Not sure if they would be conducive to my 6 strand at a time, but it could be worth checking the library.
  • Five Big-Needle Afghans - You can see pictures for all 5 projects on the amazon website, they are pretty cute, but again, I think I'd rather design my own before purchasing a book.
I suppose that it makes sense for most of the patterns to be manufacturer driven since these projects are based on needles that are only made by some companies.