Although knitting patterns almost always include a recommended yarn, you should feel free to make substitutions. From that day each time I started a new project , I bought the corresponding circular needle and eventually I had all the sizes I could ever use. Then you could cut a piece of fabric and sew it to the back which should keep your blanket at that size. When all that weight is held on a straight needle, the weight of the entire blanket will be hanging out to your sides as you work, meaning you have to move a lot of weight each time you knit a stitch.

But, once you have a couple inches of knitting on the needles it’s easy to get used to having plenty of room for all of the stitches! This yarn is a little thinner and has a different texture than the couture jazz that I mentioned above.If you’re not working from a pattern, then you should choose the size you want to knit, make a gauge swatch, and use that to determine the correct number of stitches to cast on for knitting the right size blanket. In other words, if you’re knitting a blanket that’s 48″ wide, you’ll probably choose a set of 40″ circular needles. Using this simple technique, all you need is yarn(we will go over the best yarns to use next), a flat surface like a table and your hands. I’ll save you from making the same mistakes as I did and give you all the details on the best yarns to use for making DIY chunky knit blankets. This pastime has also been highly recommended to help with improved memory and hand-eye coordination.

Anything is possible, but if you try knitting a lacy 4 ply baby blanket pattern in big chunky yarn, it’s not going to work well. Each square or piece has a relatively small number of stitches, so both straight and circular knitting needles work just as well. I will talk about some of the hints, tips, tricks, and techniques I’ve found most helpful in my blanket knitting journey. You will still knit back and forth in rows, but the weight of the numerous stitches and growing fabric will rest on your lap as you work, rather than your wrists having to bear the strain. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average.If blanket size is important for your project, or you are concerned your blanket size differs too much from your pattern, you can adjust the pattern size. Skipping the first stitch near the end of your chain, stick your thumb and index finger through the top of the stitch and pull a loop of yarn through the loop. If you’re following a pattern, check to see which type of needle is required and find the perfect pins for your project – and don't forget our knitting needle sets have you covered if more than one size is required. Come join the discussion about collections, displays, how-tos, patterns, tutorials, styles, scales, reviews, swaps, accessories, classifieds, and more!

If it’s a different size than expected post washing, your finished blanket will be bigger or smaller than the pattern dimensions.These 4 or 5-star reviews represent the opinions of the individuals who posted them and do not reflect the views of Etsy. Discover free knitting patterns to download for jumpers, accessories, clothes and free blanket knitting patterns too! These warm, thick wooden knitting needles make ideal tools for arthritic hands and people who have lost mobility.