Knitting a blanket - advice for a novice please!

[ijustwantnicehair]

Im fairly new to knitting but want to make a baby type blanket. I was thinking of doing the basket weaving stitch (as a variation on the knit and purl stiches I know).

I have some questions - can anyone advise please?

• would it be better/easier/nicer to knit squares and stich together or should I knit it all in one go?
• if I knit all in one go do I need very long needles?
• what is the best stich to do at the edge? For the border.

Thanks

I hate sewing squares together so would go for knitting as one piece.

Long needles are a pain. You could knit it on a circular needle - the sort where there are two short needles and a flexible cord. You still knit back and forward but the bulk of your knitting is sitting on your knee and is not so heavy to hold.

When you get the circular needle dunk the cable part in some hot water (or your cuppa) which will help straighten out the kinks it will have from packaging.

I made my first baby blanket last year- it was also basket weave! I would suggest using circular needles and doing a plain garter stitch border.
Good luck :-)

Thanks both - will investigate circular needles - what sort of size? I don't want it to be too loose as baby fingers are so small so can get stuck in little holes!! Is there a specific wool I should use?

p.s would love to see any pictures of your stuff !!

Needle size would depend on your yarn thickness, which would in turn depend on how warm and heavy you want the blanket. I did a dk one for ds many years ago (he's 15!!) but mostly used it for him to lie on until he got a bit older.

Are you on Ravelry? There will be lots of pattern ideas there, many for free!!

www.ravelry.com

I'm a big fan of this, but would do it in dk rather than sockyarn. www.shellykang.com/all-about-the-blankie

No sewing but the patchwork look