DIY & Crafts

Fall knitting: 5 toasty blankets to make

Canadian Living
DIY & Crafts

Fall knitting: 5 toasty blankets to make

Fall is in full force around here. We raked up six bags of leaves last weekend (we don't even have a tree in our yard!) and are heading to and from work in the dark now. Looks like it's time to settle in for quiet nights and plenty of cosy knitting. Remember the scene in "Like Water for Chocolate" where Tita begins knitting a blanket? She knits it in an attempt to banish the cold in her bones that comes from the realization that she can never be with the man she loves. But no matter how many miles of blanket she knits, it's never warm enough to replace that lost love. (Sigh. I'm a hopeless romantic.) Screencap, "Like Water for Chocolate" Luckily, my life isn't anywhere near that melodramatic (I hope yours isn't, either). But I do like a good knitted blanket. Whether it's made of squares or stripes, multicoloured or monochromatic, fancy or plain, there's nothing that feels more like a hug than wrapping yourself in a blanket someone knit with love. This fall, my blanket project is a gift for someone else. I'm doing a grown-up version of the Constant Baby Blanket by Tina Laiho. It's a simple striped square with four sets of yarn-over increases that create tidy 90-degree angles. And, man, is this a stash buster. I've gone through several of the many skeins of worsted I've been hoarding over the years. If you're looking for something similar to keep you occupied this fall, here are some patterns you might want to consider. 5 Blankets to Keep You Warm This Fall
  1. Best for Beginners: The Easy-Knit Afghan from Patons and Canadian Living. Straight-up squares and simple stitching make this a no-tears first project.
  2. Best for Stash Busting: Sock Yarn Squares from Knit Me a River. It's time to use up all those little bits of leftover sock yarn in a simple, creative way.
  3. Best for Babies: The Hoodie Baby Blanket from The Thrifty Knitter. With a built-in hood, this simple knit is great for post-bath snuggling.
  4. Best for Trying New Techniques: The Keepsake Blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting. Each contrasting rectangle gives you a chance to practise a different pattern and show off your skills. Make sure to check out the Mason-Dixon Knitting blog when you have a chance.
  5. Best for Cartoon Lovers: The wee astronaut in your life may like an Outer Space Blanket from Melanie Fraser (a.k.a. Shoediva). Check out her Invaders from Outer Space pattern while you're at it. So cool!
Stay toasty!  

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DIY & Crafts

Fall knitting: 5 toasty blankets to make

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