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Patchwork blanket but in strips?

(23 Posts)
Witzend Sat 27-Feb-21 11:42:47

Since my stash buster knits haven’t done much so far to bust my stash, I’m thinking of a big ‘patchwork’ blanket for Knit for Peace, only in six inch wide continuous strips, so a lot less sewing up. I’m thinking of different sized ‘patches’, i.e. all 6 inches wide, but of varying lengths, at least partly to use up some smaller amounts.

I have so many different colours, so this would be a good way of using up a lot of them.
Any thoughts, O wise crafty GNers? I do realise that there will be a side where the colour joins will show, but will that matter?

JaneJudge Sat 27-Feb-21 11:45:51

have you looked at log cabin patchwork? strips will work though and you can just put a 2 oz poly middle and back with a plain 100% cotton or cotton mix and then bias bind the edges?

JaneJudge Sat 27-Feb-21 11:47:26

this is log cabin

www.diaryofaquilter.com/2020/04/log-cabin-quilt-block-tutorial-inspiration.html

JaneJudge Sat 27-Feb-21 11:48:40

cluckclucksew.com/2015/06/scrappy-strips-quilt-tutorial.html

I don't know how experienced you are at sewing/patchwork, but that is a simple way to use up strips too

Witzend Sat 27-Feb-21 11:52:44

Sorry, I should have made it more clear that it’d be knitted.
But thanks anyway.

JaneJudge Sat 27-Feb-21 11:54:29

sorry grin blush well I know nothing about knitting, so hopefully someone else can help smile

Peasblossom Sat 27-Feb-21 11:57:01

I think that would work for knitted strips and look really attractive. Might even do it myself

(When I’ve finished this incredibly complicated baby shawl that nobody will want and I wish I hadn’t started?)

jaylucy Sat 27-Feb-21 12:00:53

A friend of mine in the same situation with a bag full of wool oddments , knitted hers in strips in different colours and every so often, when she changed the colour, she changed the stitch as well.
The whole idea originally for patchwork was to use up leftover material (or re-use) or wool. Doesn't have to be squares, can be what you want to do!

Witzend Sat 27-Feb-21 12:31:08

I did think about changing the stitch, but would that affect the width of the ‘patches’, given that they will need to be the same?
E.g garter st and moss st (is it?) where you do rib, but after say K2, P2, you do P2, K2.
I suppose I should do a trial section to check.

Having just inspected my seriously multicoloured stash (and not all of it nice, tasteful colours, given many of things I’ve been making lately) I can see that working out a reasonably pleasing sequence/contrast of colours is going to be a bit of a Thing!

MagicWand Sat 27-Feb-21 13:05:19

Witzend
It might be worth your while looking at mitred squares. This is how I knit blankets as, like you, I hate the sewing in of ends!

You start at the bottom left hand corner, I usually cast on 60 stitches and gradually, by knitting 2 together twice in the middle of every other row, end up with a square 30 x 30 rows. The one stitch you have left on your needle is used as the first stitch to pick up the next 30 stitches along the top of the square and you then cast on a further 30 to make your next 60. Smaller amounts of wool can be worked into stripey squares.

The next vertical row of squares can be picked up from your original strip once the first square is knitted.

Rosalyn69 Sat 27-Feb-21 13:15:58

I think stripes are great. I use my stash up like that. I also do log cabin crochet blankets for I’m not sure if that would work with knitting.

Witzend Sat 27-Feb-21 15:12:21

Thanks, MagicWand. I think those blankets look fantastic, but I need something I can do mindlessly in front of the TV after dinner, even when watching some subtitled foreign drama. The stashbuster scarves were brilliant for that - I managed two while watching endless episodes of Spiral!

Doodledog Sat 27-Feb-21 15:34:03

Look on the Lion Brand website. They have loads of free patterns, and if you use the filters to narrow it down to 'afghans' (American for blanket grin ), you will see lots and lots of them. The kind you are looking for are 'sampler afghans' - one of my favourites is an aran one which has squares of pattern in a tile effect on a strip, which you can make as long as you like, and join together with as many as you like to get a blanket to your requirements.

If aran is not your thing, there are lots of others, or you could use the pattern as a guide to number of cast-on stitches/rows, and make your own design. Some rib, some moss stitch, some garter, some stocking stitch would be lovely, and very mindless and easy.

Oh, and Ravelry have patterns for knitted log cabin blankets.

Nannytopsy Sat 27-Feb-21 15:49:37

I am knitting a blanket at the moment.
It is knitted in three panels, each one of three squares. This means the stitching together is so much easier. This uses six colours but you could adapt it to use up lots of colours.it a King Cole pattern no 3457
It does have a back, where the joins are but not a problem.

JackyB Sat 27-Feb-21 18:30:56

I backed a crocheted blanket (only dolls' size, but the principle is the same)

I found some old squares I'd crocheted and crocheted them together, then backed them with an old t shirt front. I joined them using buttonhole stitch which made for an interesting edge, and, of course, all the loose ends were then hidden. I'd include a photo but I made the blanket for DGS's favourite plush toy which he takes to bed with him.

It may be worth looking at quilting - one of my lockdown pastimes has been watching youtube videos on sewing and quilting. You could apply the techniques for finishing a sewn quilt and finish a knitted blanket in a similar fashion. As backing you can use an old sheet or bedspread.

nanna8 Fri 05-Mar-21 07:30:10

I’ve finished the first ever patchwork I have done. Ta da. Might never do another, not sure, still recovering!

Witzend Fri 05-Mar-21 09:02:03

Well, I’ve done this so far - just over 7 inches wide. I’m only going to do small sections of the garish orange. So much for stash busting, though - despite having so many colours, the other day I ordered two more ? that I though would go nicely.

Finished size will be roughly 60 x 70 inches, so I dare say it might just be ready by December.

Witzend Fri 05-Mar-21 09:26:46

That quilt is lovely, @nanna8!

nanna8 Fri 05-Mar-21 11:45:03

Thanks, Witzend.

Nannytopsy Thu 11-Mar-21 13:24:38

My blanket is finished! Photos of the front and the back too.

Witzend Fri 12-Mar-21 09:11:43

That’s lovely, Nannytopsy!
Mine won’t be nearly so tasteful!

B9exchange Fri 12-Mar-21 10:06:37

I have just finished the pram blanket for 'bump' GC due mid April. Each square is a different stitch, so struggled a bit with the tension. It is lined with a very soft stretchy velour. Phone camera is rubbish, it is actually a very pretty pale green!

Nannina Sat 13-Mar-21 13:13:52

Lovely blanket Nannytopsy and a tasteful start Wizend