If you’re looking to knit a large blanket with straight needles, you’ll want to knit your blanket in panels or strips and sew them together afterward. This will make it easier to handle your work and give you more control over the finished product. Be sure to choose a stitch pattern that you like and practice your seaming technique for the best results.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced knitter, this article will help you get started with your next project: knitting a large blanket with straight needles.
Knitting with straight needles can be challenging, but it’s also very rewarding. We’ll show you how to knit in panels or strips and then sew them together for a beautiful finished product.
What You'll Learn
Gather Supplies
Get ready to craft something special and make it your own – let’s gather the supplies you’ll need!
Selecting a yarn is an important part of knitting, and when making a large blanket you want to make sure you have enough. Look for a medium weight yarn that’s soft and comfortable, so it’ll be cozy in any room. You may also want to consider selecting a color or pattern that matches your home decor.
In addition to selecting yarn, reading patterns can be helpful for figuring out how much yarn is needed as well as which stitches work best for your project. Patterns provide detailed instructions about needles and other supplies, so if this is your first project, it might be worth looking at one before beginning.
Once you’ve selected the perfect yarn and read up on patterns, it’s time to move on to calculating gauge. This step allows you to make sure your blanket turns out the size you want without having too much extra fabric at the end of your project.
Calculate Gauge
To ensure your project turns out just the way you want it, take a few minutes to measure and calculate your gauge. Gauge is important when knitting a large blanket with straight needles because it will determine how big or small the final product will be.
To calculate tension, begin by casting on a certain number of stitches in the pattern you chose for your blanket. Then, use a ruler or tape measure to see how many inches the swatch measures across those stitches. Divide this number by the number of stitches, and you’ll get your stitch gauge for that pattern.
Next, measure how many rows there are per inch in the same swatch of knitting. This is called row gauge and it is also an important factor when calculating tension as it helps determine size and shape of your finished blanket.
Once you have both numbers written down, compare them to the instructions on the yarn label to get an idea if they match up with what’s recommended for that particular yarn weight and type. If not, try adjusting either needle size or tension until you reach the required gauge for that yarn so your final blanket looks just right!
Now that you know how much fabric each stitch creates in terms of length and width, it’s time to start planning out exactly how many panels or strips of knitted fabric are required to create your desired finished size. Figure out what kind of repeat pattern works best with each panel before starting any actual knitting work – this can help save time later on!
Knit in Panels or Strips
Once you’ve got the gauge in check, it’s time to craft your masterpiece by weaving together individual sections or strips of fabric.
There are two ways to knit a large blanket with straight needles – knitting in panels or strips.
When knitting in panels, start by casting on the required number of stitches necessary for the desired size of your blanket and then simply continue knitting until you reach the desired length. This will create one large panel that can be joined with other panels later on.
If you want to increase the width of your blanket, make sure to increase stitches throughout while knitting so they are evenly distributed across all panels.
Strips can also be used instead of panels for a larger blanket design. To do this, cast on half of the total amount of stitches needed for one side and then knit until you reach the desired length before casting off those same stitches again. Then repeat this step using the remaining number of cast on stitches for another strip that will become part of a separate side when sewn together afterward.
Sewing these pieces together is an important step in completing your final product since it will ensure that each panel or strip is securely attached without any gaps between them.
The best way to join these pieces is by using a whip stitch technique which involves inserting a threaded needle into both sides at once and looping around each other several times before tying off at one end with a knot.
Join Panels or Strips
Now it’s time to bring your masterpiece together by joining the individual panels or strips, giving you the perfect blanket to snuggle up with! To accomplish this, you’ll need to use one of many seaming techniques and joining methods.
The best way to join your panels is through a mattress stitch. This will create an invisible seam that won’t detract from the overall look of your blanket. To do this, start by placing two panels side-by-side on a flat surface with the wrong sides facing up. Then insert your needle into both pieces at the same time and pull a loop of yarn through both pieces. Gently pull tight until there is no gap between them. Continue in this manner until all of your panels are joined together.
You can also use a whip stitch if you prefer more visible seams for added texture or decoration purposes. Start by inserting the needle into one panel then move over half a stitch width and insert it into another panel before pulling it through both pieces and repeating until all panels are connected together.
Additionally, you can use other types of stitches such as backstitch or running stitch if desired to join your panels together in unique ways. With either method, make sure that all edges line up perfectly before sewing them together so that they appear seamless when finished!
Once all of your panels are secured, carefully weave in any loose ends using a tapestry needle for a neat finish — now you’re ready for blocking!
Block Blanket
With your masterpiece finished, it’s time to give it the perfect finishing touch – blocking! By symbolically stretching and shaping your blanket, you’ll be able to bring out its full potential and create a work of art fit for any home.
To block it, start by laying down a large surface such as an ironing board or a carpeted floor. Then spread out the panels or strips of knitted fabric so they are flat and neat. You may choose to use alternative yarns or pattern variations while blocking to add texture or color to the blanket. Make sure that each panel is properly aligned and that all edges match up before proceeding further with the process.
Next, lightly dampen the fabric with water using a spray bottle so that the wool fibers can relax without losing their shape completely. Carefully pin out each panel at regular intervals along its edges in order to keep them straight while drying.
Let your blanket sit undisturbed until it is completely dry before taking out all pins and admiring your hard work! By blocking your large blanket with straight needles, you will ensure an even tension across all sections of knitting as well as create neat edges that don’t curl up over time.
This technique also helps prevent puckering between panels when sewn together later on, which will result in an even smoother finish overall on your final piece. Lastly, this method allows for some creative freedom when experimenting with different textures due to its ability to open up stitches and make complex patterns stand out more clearly once blocked properly.
Whether you decide to stick with classic styles or go wild with new ideas, blocking is one of those essential steps towards creating beautiful pieces every knitter should master at some point in their craft journey!
Finish Off Blanket
Once you’ve finished knitting the panels of your blanket, it’s time to weave in all the loose ends.
To do this, use a tapestry needle or crochet hook to thread each tail of yarn through several nearby stitches. This will secure the tails and keep them from unraveling.
After weaving in all of your ends, you can add a border if desired for an extra decorative touch.
Weave in Ends
Carefully weaving in the yarn ends completes the blanket’s construction, allowing for a polished and professional-looking finish. To ensure the ends are hidden, cut some extra yarn at the beginning of your project to use for this purpose.
It’s important to weave in all ends, as they can become loose over time with regular use and washing.
There are alternative methods to weaving in ends that may work better depending on your design variations. For example, you could use duplicate stitch or cross stitch over any visible loops of yarn. This will also add an interesting element to your blanket’s overall design.
With all the yarn ends woven or stitched into place, you’re now ready to move onto adding a border (optional).
Add a Border (optional)
If you want to give your blanket a finished look, consider adding a border around the edge — it’s an optional step, but one that’ll really tie it all together!
Plus, with modern knitting needles, you can whip up the border in no time.
Here are some things to consider when adding a border:
- Choosing Yarn: You can use the same yarn as your blanket or try something different. Adding color is also an option if you want to bring out certain aspects of the design.
- Knitting Pattern: If you’re using a different yarn than your blanket, pick a pattern that goes well with what you’ve already created. There are lots of stitch patterns available so explore and find one that works for your project.
- Finishing Touches: This is where you get creative! Add fringe or tassels for texture and dimension; and incorporate some decorative stitches like eyelets or bobbles for added interest.
Once everything’s complete, weave in any loose ends and block for best results.
Conclusion
You’ve done it! You’ve knitted a large, cozy blanket with just a few straight needles. Now you can cuddle up and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
The truth is that knitting this blanket was easier than you thought—all thanks to knitting in panels or strips and then sewing them together afterward.
With the right supplies and some patience, you now have an amazing piece of art to show off. Congratulations on your accomplishment!
