Knitting, My First Love

There is a frighteningly large stash of wool in my cupboards that I haven't touched for at least thirteen years.  Somehow having lively children around the house and knitting didn't mix.  Now the children are gone and it is time to clear the house out.  It's a gradual process, partly because knitting my way through a mountain of wool will be a lot slower than just passing it on.  Also, until now, I didn't have any clear idea of what to make.  The solution was to join the knitting group at a local church and see what projects they had.  The choice was between baby blankets or twiddle blankets.  I opted for the latter.

Rather than knit squares to be made into blankets, I am making a small lap blanket with added interest.  The basket weave stitch is quick and easy, has a lovely warm texture, and lies nice and flat.  Here is the method.  You need an even number of stitches.  Instructions are given for a number of stitches divisible by four, with instructions for stitches divisible by two but not four in brackets.

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit 2, purl 2 to the end of the row
Row 4: Knit 2, purl 2 (purl 2, knit 2) to end of row
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Purl 2, knit 2 to end of row
Row 8: Purl 2, knit 2 (knit 2, purl 2) to end of row
Repeat 

Now I have finished the knitting and am adding the twiddle factor.

It has been a great thrill getting the knitting needles out again after so many years.  My mum taught me to knit when I was six.  She wasn't a knitter herself, but she was able to teach me how to knit, purl, cast on and off, and increase and decrease a stitch.  After that I was on my own and became a regular at the local wool shop and a tea cosy specialist.  Now my knitting ambition is to be a twiddle blanket specialist and avoid the wool shop.

Linking up with Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday.