Finally, A Knitting Post

It has been a while since I shared a pattern, so here is a stash buster for Christmas, with three options.

Stash Buster Throw, Baby Blanket or Prayer Shawl.

modified garter block stitch
stitch multiple of 6+3 sts

Easy version (easy to knit, harder to keep track of pattern, but I prefer this one).
row 1 and all right side rows: knit all stitches
row 2, 4, 6: *k3, p3* end k3
row 8, 10, 12: *p3, k3* end p3.
End pattern at row 6 to create garter stitch blocks at all corners.

Harder version (easier to keep track of pattern, lots of purl stitches!)
row 1, and all wrong side rows: purl all stitches
row 2, 4, 6: *p3, k3* end p3
row 8, 10, 12: *k3, p3* end K3.
End pattern at row 6 to create garter stitch blocks at all corners.

What you actually need:
32" long (or longer) circular needle, 8-11mm--guage is not important for this project, but mine was roughly 2 sts to the inch using four strands of wool and 9mm needles.
Lots of ends, small balls or single balls of worsted weight or sports weight wool, in a similar colour family (ie--all reds, all blues, blues and greens, tans/whites/browns). This throw works best if the yarns include at least 2 fancier yarns like eyelash or metalics, but, to be honest, anything goes.

For a prayer shawl
(roughly 20x60")
Cast on 99 stitches, using 3 strands of worsted weight or four strands of sports weight (or 2 worsted and two sports weight). Knit rows 1-12 four times, and then rows 1-6 once. You should end up with four and a half repeats of pattern (as in 5 garter stitch blocks across the short end of the shawl). As you finish with one yarn, tie on a new ball and knit in the ends as you go on the wrong side of the shawl. Since the balls rarely finish all together at one spot, this creates a lovely gradient of pattern across the shawl end to end.

Integrated Fringe:
If you wish to also have a fringe on both ends, as you come to an end, create a long loop (about 9 to 10 inches long) of all four strands of wool, and knot the loop close to the needle. Continue knitting. This is an ideal point to introduce any new wools if you care about too many ends.




Afgan:
roughly 45 by 68"
Cast on 111 stitches with four strands of sports weight yarn (or two worsted and two sports weight). Knit rows 1-12 nine times, and rows 1-6 once (10 garter stitch blocks across shorter end), creating an integrated fringe on each end as you knit.

Baby Blanket:
Cast on 63 sts using 4 strands of sports weight yarn and 8mm needles. Knit in pattern until desired length (square), or 10 and a half repeats of pattern. Make and attach long wool tassels on each corner of blanket. I like to use four strands of variagated baby wool, of the stuff with the silky thread through it to make this blanket. It is really soft and cushy, and a relatively quick knit. 4 jumbo balls will make one afghan.