The next few weeks are going to be very hectic for me. I just need a mindless project to keep my knitting ticking over. I always admire the crochet ripple blankets that I see a lot of, but I am still a crochet novice and counting stitches on every row doesn't qualify as "mindless". So I was delighted when I found a pattern for a knitted version of a ripple blanket.
Here is the pattern You have to scroll quite a long way down the webpage to find the free blanket patterns.
It is knitted with 2 strands of dk yarn held together so it will grow quickly. It is also a very simple pattern consisting of 7 rows of garter stitch and 1 row of easy increases and decreases to make the ripples.
I decided that the obvious colour for a wavy blanket was blue so I sorted through my bag of bargain yarn and fished out various shades of blue and a little white. I'm aiming for a blanket approximately 36" square and might or might not use all the wool in the first photo.
The next photo shows what the blanket looks like now. It is progressing reasonably quickly as there are "only" 150 stitches per row. I'm not in any rush as this is intended to be a project that will calm me down during the hectic weeks ahead.
Eagle-eyed readers might be able to spot a colour change in the last few rows. I thought about changing colour for every 8 row pattern repeat. That would have made it look more like the lovely crochet ripple blankets. But it would also have wasted yarn or caused much unnecessary stress as I tried to calculate whether or not I had enough wool for 8 whole rows. I'm just going to keep knitting until each ball of wool is finished.....or in other words "Keep Calm and Carry On Knitting".
It looks lovely so far ... I like your plan to work until each ball is finished. You'll get a nice unstudied effect that way. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely Una and I love your colour choices, I am wanting to make a ripple crochet one and believe it or not with the addition of white I have nearly the same colours haha I have just noticed is that white you have there too this should be interesting, not starting mine for a while yet though :)
ReplyDeleteYes, there's a little ball of white. I have more that I might add depending on how it looks. I thought it would more like waves with some white added.
DeleteOh, I love these colors! This is going to be a gorgeous blanket, very tranquil and calming.
ReplyDeleteGrat choice of colours. I'll be looking forward to seeing this blanket progressing. I think your plan to let the wool dictate the stripes is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blanket, thanks for the link to the pattern, I've just downloaded it. Love your choice of colours, with two yarns being used the colour changes will be gradual & will look lovely. What a good way to use up all of the yarn. Looking forward to seeing it grow, x
ReplyDeleteLove the waves! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love doing the crochet ripple blankets (it gets more mindless as you do it ;-p) - but I think I might have to give this knitted version a try!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
That should be a very pretty blanket when it is done. I can't wait to see it finished.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great start! I like the ripple effect.
ReplyDeleteI love the effect and the idea of changing yarn is the ball runs out - can't wait to see the finished item. I hope the project provides the stress buster it sounds like you might need and helps to keep you on the level.
ReplyDeleteLovely colours, I'll look forward to seeing it finished :)
ReplyDeleteI think it will be lovely! Keep Calm and Knit On!
ReplyDelete