What are you knitting at the moment?

I'm knitting an excavation blanket to use up my stash. It does double duty as it's now big enough to keep me warm as I knit.

What is an excavation blanket?

Increase one stitch each time, all knit. Easy peasy but looks very effective.

Like knitting squares then - but on a larger scale - do you have very long needles?
Very pretty.

I'd like to know too, in fact need to know. My stash is embarrassing - it seems to "grow" without being added to. A few excavation blankets might be the answer.

I keep 'sorting' mine but it never seems to go down, in fact it gets added to

Marion Please forgive me but I'm a little perplexed. If you are increasing one stitch at a time why isn't it getting wider and wider?

It is - start with one stitch, increase at each end of every row (I think) and you work from one corner to another, get to the maximum number of stitches you need (or that you can cope with) then start decreasing one stitch at each end of every row.

Marion is that right?

you can see from Marion's picture - the rows are coloured. Start at right bottom corner, the middle is from bottom left to top right, then start decreasing and end up at top left corner in the picture.

Don't follow my instructions!Here's how to do it:
ukhandknitting.com/contentfiles/patterns/ukhandKnittingAssociation-15.pdf

Yes, it's knitted as a triangle and then flipped if that makes sense. I'm using a circular needle.

Ah, now I get it! Thanks

Gosh, that sounds even more complicated!
I still have to fathom circular needles.

Love it. Thank you.

I knit Excavation Blankets as baby blankets, in other words as a small project. Then I edge them in a contrast colour with a crochet scallop edge. And sometimes I also crochet flowers in the same colour as the crochet border and sew them on to the blanket.

Oooh Grannyknot, that sounds clever! The thing I love is not having to sew ends in as they make a fringe.

I've done three baby hats tonight. They are so tiny and grow so quickly.
Any news of the gilet pattern?

AuntieFlo no news. I will trawl back and PM.

The very first pattern I knitted when I started knitting again was a gilet that consisted of three rectangles, a wider one for the back and two for the front sides (2 of the same size), sewn up with gaps left for armholes. Bit shapeless, but it worked - and I was so proud of it

I am currently knitting a white long waistcoat to use when i play bowls for those days that are a bit chilly and you just need something to keep your back warm but like your arms free. It is nothing fancy, just plain and purl stitches as this is the first time i have knitted anything large so just wanted it simple.

Thank you Grannyknot. Really appreciate the welcome I never had enough practice at knitting in my younger days so am pleased retirement has offered me the opportunity to dedicate more time to it. Hoping to finish my blanket and then start trying some clothes patterns! So pleased to hear your knitting took off after a while - it seems we both had mothers who were wonderful knitters.

I like the excavation blanket, nice change from plain squares to use up oddments.
I'm mid way through a cardi, back and one fron completed and second front half done. Just a simple pattern, no shaping to body pieces other than a slight decreased neckline. It's a freebie pattern, just really for something to do when watching telly.

When I knit the baby Excavation Blankets - I knit it in garter stitch and chunky wool which makes it wonderfully stretchy and springy and therefore cosy (I don't use acrylic wool, only ever a wool mix or similar).

I also knit baby blankets in Andalusian Stitch - which is knitting a purl stitch every so often at regular intervals - Google will tell you how - and that makes a waffle effect and reduces boredom of knitting in stocking stitch only. I'm busy on one at the moment, white with a grey scallop crochet edge. Will post a pic when I get around to it.

Here's the YouTube for Andalusian Stitch:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZN-OMLMK3I

I haven't come across that before, it would be quite nice for knitted squares as well.

I have tried out various different stitches when knitting squares - it's a good way of finding out what you like doing - or not.

Thanks for the interest in my Gilet. I am willing to send the instructions but not on -line
I have replied to Grannyknot this afternoon