A Blanket for MrsKwazii: sign up to knit, crochet or donate. Thank you.

[KnottyLocks]

We have just heard the tragic and devastating news that MrsKwazii's daughter has passed away today in an accident. She was 4

We would like to make a blanket for MrsKwazii's family, to offer them what comfort we can.
If you would like to contribute in any way, please sign up below and PM RatherbeOnThePiste with your offer: crafting, donating, need wool, don't need wool, etc. She'll match you up.

We need knitters, crocheters and donors. If you would like to donate wool, then we can match you up with a crafter.

If you are offering to donate, we would be grateful if you would let us know if you'd like to donate 1 or 2 balls of wool. They cost roughly £5 per ball.

Crafters, if you need wool please let Pistey know if you'd like 1 or 2 balls of wool.
One ball should make at least 2 x 6" squares.

The wool we are using is:

• Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK (NOT the baby cashmerino)

• or Rowan Cashsoft DK.

They are very similar and can be combined.

• 4mm knitting needles or hooks

• cast on 33 stitches (this is a guide for less experienced knitters)

• 6" squares

The Colours:

Blues, warm purples, greens, silver/ greys and pinks.

2-3 squares per ball, two colours could be fun -stripes maybe?

Whatevertheweather - these lovelies get about 2 or 3 squares from a ball.
I only get about one, because I have to keep restarting

Thank you so much x

I am more than happy to try out an emblem type pattern, make it up as I go along if needed, but it may really depend on what colour wool is being sent to me. I started knitting up a sample square last night with a moss stitch heart in the middle but I will have to alter the frame of the square to make it the correct size.

Eager for Mr Postie to arrive but now I need to cover at work all day again tomorrow! Will have to leave a pleading note on my door and hope they will deliver to a neighbour.

This is a really thick question. If you need to cast on 33 stitches, does that mean you need to knit 33 rows to make the square? Or, to put it another way, how many rows do you need to knit to make it a square? :)

Squid, don't count the rows, just knit until it reaches 6". Much easier.

Yes, that does sound more sensible! Thanks!

That would depend on your tension (says beginner knitter getting above herself) I think we are aiming for 6 inches square so just keep measuring.

PurpleSquid Here's another way of doing a square if you are comfortable with knitting twice into a stitch - it makes nice square squares of exact dimensions - though it's harder to knit motifs - it's fine for texture and stripes. I got this from somewhere on the internet, but can't for the life of me remember where...

Knit a Square corner to corner
Cast on one stitch.
Knit into the front, the back and then the front again, giving you three stitches.
Knit into the front and back of the first stitch in each row, so that each row is one stitch more than the last. Keep doing this until the sides of the resulting triangle are six inches
Then, knit the first two stitches of each row together, so each row is one stitch less than the last, until you have three stitches left.
Knit the last three stitches together then cast off.

Update

Last date for posting squares: Monday 26th March

That should give everyone time to get their wool and create their lovely squares.

You can obviously send them earlier if you wish.

Yes, and PM me for the address when you are ready for posting

Gleaming Heels :Eyes glaze over: I think that might be too tricky for me. I am very very very much a novice!

Red Rosie Does that count for width too?

Eek. I'm getting nervous now.

But look at the time you have spent organising for everyone else Pistey!

Bless you Dingle, but even if I hadn't, I'd still only be on nearly one inch!

Not known for speedy knitting me

I think so PurpleSquid - 33 stitches is a guide for the likes of us. Do a couple of rows and measure the width. That's my plan - if it's way too wide you can start again.

Fair enough PurpleSquid, I certainly don't want to frighten you off -I only posted because it removes all the worries about 'tension' and particularly whether the width will come out right - because I am useless at the width/tension bit (length can just be measured as everyone said upthread), but I bet Pistey and all the other organisers are absolutely used to lovely novice knitters - good on you for getting involved, don't be nervous - just go for it

Got wool! Sorry to ask silly questions, but will any stitch do for the plain ish squares? If so thought I might make my stitch book earn its keep after I rashly purchased it several dc ago

Mole, any stitch you like

Great!

I'm getting nervous now too. Have unpacked my knitting needles, which is a start. Now I just need to order some wool, for myself this time. In the meantime, I shall practise on DD1's school wool. I tried casting on earlier, just to see if I could remember how to. I couldn't.

A bit off topic maybe, but does anyone have a link or something to explain really really simply how to change colour or to add a new ball on?

Pretty please

Linzer-have you got a wool shop nearby? I bet they'd happily show you or even cast on two or three squares for you . Casting on isn't the easiest bit to start with-but you have to have stitches on the needle to make any progress. I don't think I cast on for ages when I was learning several years ago.

Kayzr - not sure of this is correct but this is how I join wool. Knit to the end of a row, take the end you've just knitted with and the new bit of wool and knot them together (think you're maybe not supposed to knot but I always do). Knit on! Hth-or that someone will post tutting at my ineptitude and set you straight!

Joining wool...yes I just do the first half of a knot, so it doesn't stick out at the side too much. Then when are are finished you can just use a tapestry needle to weave in the loose ends into your knitting.

Sorry, GleamingHeels - hope I didn't sound ungrateful. I meant to say thank you for the advice but realised I didn't. I can see how that method would give you an accurate square, but I don't know how to knit twice into a stitch.

I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm working on the 'how hard can it be to knit a plain square?!' logic. :)

LinzerTorte - last time I knitted anything I had to consult YouTube to refresh my memory about how to cast on, and I expect I will this time too! There were lots of really helpful, simple little videos too. And they really do need to be simple for me!

Evening folks

Just to help any nervous knitters, the edges of the squares will be totally covered by a crochet seam. So any knotty bits, lumpy edges etc won't matter.