I'm a super nooby

#1

I’m hoping somebody can help me. I’m currently in the hospital on bedrest due to a complicated pregnancy. I’ve already been here a whole month and will be here for at least another 3 months or until my baby is born…due on April 7th.

Anyhow, I’m trying to learn how to knit. A volunteer stopped by my room and got me started. I’ve mastered casting on, the knit stitch and the purl stick. I still need to learn to bind off. The videos on this site have been extremely helpful.

I’d like to try to make a blanket. But I have a few questions. I need to know how to knit with more than one color. Any online tutorials on this?

Also, can anyone point me in the direction of a very simple, 2 color pattern?

And now this question may be completely ridiculous, but please remember I just started knitting on Thursday. In order to start a project, I need to cast on a certain amount of stitches right? Well, wouldn’t I need a really long needle to cast on enough stitches to make a baby blanket? I’d like it to be about 2.5x2.5ft.

#2

Welcome to what will be one of your new obsessions, besides baby of course! LOL… that is EXACTLY when I learned to knit… Being confined to a hospital bed is BORING so perfect time to learn to knit.

Knitting with two colors is explained here on KnittingHelp.com. Go to the videos section and to Advanced techniques. If you scroll down the page you will see how to join colors.

Regarding CO for a small blanket, no you don’t need really long needles as you can just squish the stitches on what you have (as long as they are not tiny). I WOULD, however, suggest getting a circular needle to help take some of the weight off (most of the stitches hang on the cable needle and make it lighter to knit). This isn’t, of course, necessary.

You don’t need a pattern for a blanket if you don’t want to. You can do a plain garter stitch (knit all stitches) or any type of stitch you want. Just figure out how many stitches you have to do in order to get a 4" width and then do the math to determine how many stitches you would need to have to make the blanket the width you want. CO (cast on) that many stitches and knit until you want to change color. Change color, knit and then change back and forth on the color(s) as you desire! Simple but beautiful.

Happy knitting and take care!

#3

Welcome to our wonderful addiction and good luck with your baby manufacturing!

I agree with astonh. Knitting with the circular needles is less space consuming, easier on your wrists and the weight of the blanket, when it gets bigger, will rest in your lap instead of on your wrists. Also, because of space issues in a hospital it will take up less room for you to be using circular needles. They are not expensive and your hubby can pick up what you need at any local yarn shop or craft store.

You knit the same way with circulars as you do with straights. There is no difference in method.

I hope you are feeling better today and that each day gets easier as April 7th draws nearer for you.

You could knit a simple dishcloth baby blanket. There is no need to keep track of your rows because each row is the same. Here is the pattern:

[B]Dishcloth Baby Blanket:

If you are using baby yarn you can use a US #7 circular needle. If you are using a thicker yarn, such as Baby Clouds (which is very soft and nice and thick and fluffy when knit), you can use a US #10 circular needle. OR you could even use Bernat Soft Boucle yarn and a US #9 circular needle. The boucle is sort of bumpy so it gives a nice texture to the blanket.

Cast on 4 stitches. Knit one row. Next and every row: Knit two, yarn over (see the videos here for instructions, it’s easy), knit to end of row. When you hit the length of blanket you want (measuring from tip of knitting to edge of knitting needles) start the new row: Knit one, knit two together, yarn over, knit to end of row. Do this row until there are only 4 stitches on the blanket. Knit one row. Bind off. This makes a square blanket.

You can do it in two colours by changing the colour after perhaps 2" (always when starting a new row of knitting) and then changing back to the original colour 2" later (again, always when starting a new row of knitting). Keep doing this until the blanket is finished.

This blanket is easy, looks nice and you can dress it up by putting a 1/4" satin ribbon through the little holes that the yarn over creates (yes this hole is made on purpose) and tie a bow at each corner.

Also, if knit in acrylic yarn instead of real wool, this blanket is machine washable and machine dryable and is very easy care. [/B]

I’ve made several of these and they work up nicely.

#4

The.Knitter: Do you have a pic of a finished blanket using this pattern? Sounds so cute! I love the thoughts of the ribbon going through the yarn over holes.

#5

Congratulations on the coming baby as well as the good sense to learn to knit while you wait! You could do a basket stitch blanket and use only one color having a beautiful blanket in the end.

It has (any variation of) 5k, 5p,(repeat till end of row) for 5 rows followed by 5 rows of 5p, 5k(repeat till end of row) etc

Looks lovely when finished, and knits pretty quickly too…

#6

:woot: Congrats on the baby!!

Welcome to KH! The dishrag blanket is very simple…you might also want to check out KPC and go through their baby patterns…

I can’t find a good photo of the dishcloth blanket… I made one when I first started knitting but it had some holes and prolly wouldn’t sell you on making it :teehee: … It basically looks like thisdishcloth just larger and then they put ribbon through the eyelets…

#7

[B] the length of blanket you want… start the new row: Knit one, knit two together, yarn over, knit to end of row.[/B]

Just a little correction to The.Knitter’s instructions - what she posted above would keep your stitch count the same so there’s no way you can get back to 4 sts. You would do the decrease rows as - k1, k2tog, YO, k2tog, knit the rest of the row. You need 2 dec sts to both offset the YO and decrease the stitch count.

#8

these are all great suggestions. Thank you all so much.

To follow-up on sweetgirl’s question, the.knitter, do you have a sample pic?