Newbie needs help with lap blanket!

#1

My aunt was diagnosed with terminal cancer and is in a nursing home. I want to make her a lap blanket to brighten up her room. The problem: I am a total beginner and a SLOW knitter.

I can cast on, knit, purl and bind off. That’s it. I want to make this FAST, so don’t want to take the time to learn anything new right now. When I say FAST, I mean… like in a few hours. I was hoping to find a simple pattern that I could just make with big needles and maybe double or triple yarn.

Would that work? Is it even possible for me to make a lap blanket that fast? Anyone know a pattern that might work for someone like me? How big are lap blankets anyway?

Thanks so much for all your help! I am really a total beginner, but I think a personal, colorful blanket might help brighten up her drab nursing home room.

#2

One other question… sorry… I’m really new to this. When I finish a skein of yarn and need to add in another, do I tie together the two ends? I’ve heard you leave some excess hanging and then weave it in, but when I’ve tried that in the past, seems like the ends are always sticking out somewhere.

#3

Ok… I’ve been looking at easy to knit patterns. I’ve seen baby blankets done corner to corner. They look just like the “classic” dishcloths I’ve made in the past, with a garter stitch where you “yarn over” at the beginning and then “stitch two together” and “yarn over” at the end of each row to make the border. Would this work on a lap blanket?

#4

I don’t see why not. You can judge the size as you knit and decide when to start decreasing, just the way you would with a dishcloth.
As far as starting a new ball of yarn, just leave a tail to weave in as you may have in the past. Weave it in over 6-8sts and then come back a few sts. At that point you can cut the end that sticks out.

#5

Hi,
A lapghan can be any size you need/are comfortable with, they usually fall into the 34" x 50" range (since they need some hang room across the waist and drape comfortably over the legs). I have knitted and or purled in with both the new and old strand of yarn held together for a few stitches and trim when done if I am using the same color yarn to “weave in” ends.

Have you seen this pattern: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/60681B.html?noImages=

It is from Lion Brand and is made with Lion Brand Jiffy yarn. The title of the pattern is: Fast Finish Throw (60681B). It seems to have gotten positive reviews; although, you might want to use circular needles if you make something similar.

~Katrina

#6

Yes, I’m VERY sure you can make a lap blanket FAST!!! I’m working on one now with size 13 circular needles with 2 strands of yarn together.

Here’s what I’m doing:
Cast on 90 stitches (using 2 strands together)
Knit 11 rows
Row 12: Knit 5, Purl 80, Knit 5
Row 13: Knit across

Repeat Rows 12 and 13 until it’s almost as long as you want it. Then Knit 10 rows again for the end. Bind off and TA DA – it’s DONE!!! :woot:

Hope this helps!
knitcindy

#7

The dishcloth pattern with double or triple yarn on huge circulars (working flat, I mean, just using the circular to hold the stitches when it gets big) is the fastest one I can think of. Garter stitch takes a lot of yarn, but it’s warm and fluffy and your aunt will know she’s loved, which is the important thing!