Now I know!

Hi Spud & Chloë Friends,

Well, now I know what you are knitting and I am impressed. I’ve heard from so many knitters out there who are eating up their Spud & Chloë yarns and patterns. It is incredible what you are knitting out there. I’ve seen Spud & Chloë knitted pants out of Fine (You go, Kim Hamlin!), an adorable baby dress, hats, scarves, sweaters, toys (lots of toys:), blankets, mittens… you name it, it’s being knit at this very moment. I have a lot of photos to share and stories to tell about the projects you’ve shared so there is more to come. Thank you for letting me know how much you are enjoying our yarn. We love it, too.

Right now at this very moment I am having a tiny vacation with my family. It’s very, very early (thus the dim light in the photo) and I am up enjoying a little peace and quiet. You have to catch it early or it will never happen. That’s my theory anyway. I started making some cool, squishy squares out of Spud & Chloë Sweater in the Pollen colorway. I am planning a fun patchwork baby blanket for you. If you know me at all, you know that I love a good patchwork baby blanket anytime, anywhere! I even love arranging and stitching the squares together and weaving in the ends when the knitting and stitching is done, that’s one of my favorite parts. I’ll help you with this part, too. I’ll get my son to help with a couple of instructional videos on putting the squares together when we are done with the squares.

You know, I’ve seen and designed blankets done in strips or in one big piece but there is just something about making the little squares, stacking them up, arranging them to create the patchwork, and finally, lovingly stitching them together. There is no comparison in my eyes. It is THE best baby blanket in the end. I hope you will join me. This is the perfect group project for a few friends or family members to combine knitting forces on. If you know a baby is coming somewhere around you this is your project!

This first square is called the Harris Tweed stitch. It is reversible. The Harris Tweed stitch is in my favorite stitch dictionary, Super Stitches Knitting (pg. 60), by Karen Hemingway. I simply love this book (you should get it). All of the stitch patterns for the squares are going to be from Super Stitches Knitting. A few days ago I pulled this book out on the plane and was intently reading the pages while we flew when my son asked, “You read patterns for fun?” I had to simply respond, “Yes.” I’ll admit it. Yes. Yes, I do read knitting patterns for fun. Is that so wrong? No? I knew you’d understand.

If you want to join me in making this baby blanket as I go this is my plan. I am making 25, six-inch squares. Actually, the squares will be about 6 1/4 inches. Five squares in each of five colors. The finished blanket will be about 32-inches wide and long with an edging of some sort. I’m on my fourth square in Pollen so I am seeing how many squares I can get out of one skein. It is going to be a close call. I was hoping to get five out of one skein… it may or may not happen. I’ll keep you posted.

Here is what is going on with the Harris Tweed stitch square (in Super Stitches Knitting, by Karen Hemingway) :

Make 5 squares in Harris Tweed Stitch in Pollen.

Yarn: Spud & Chloë Sweater (One skein in any color. This may end up being 2 skeins, I’m not sure yet. I chose Pollen to start!)

Needles: US size 7 needles or the size needed to obtain the gauge

Gauge: 5 stitches per inch

Harris Tweed Square:

Cast on 32 stitches.

Row 1: (k2, p2) repeat to the end of the row

Row 2: (k2, p2) repeat to the end of the row

Row 3: knit

Row 4: purl

Row 5: (k2, p2) repeat to the end of the row

Row 6: (k2, p2) repeat to the end of the row

Row 7: purl

Row 8: knit

Repeat these 8 rows five times OR the needed number to get to 6 1/4 inches in length. (You can stop on any row just be sure you are consistent with all of the squares.)

Bind off.

Okay, I am off to finishing my fourth square. I can read my Kindle, sip my coffee and knit my Harris Tweed squares all at the same time. Pretty slick, huh? You know, if you wanted to just start off the same way and keep knitting the Harris Tweed stitch pattern to about 65-70 inches you would have the most gorgeous reversible scarf ever. I’m just saying….

I’ll be back soon with some knitting projects from you and another square or two! Carry on sweet Knitters.