I'm starting to pull together some ideas for our new blankets, very sadly knit for MNers who have both lost a beloved baby recently :(
You will have instructions from Pistey about wool colours and some suggested shops to buy from - personally I buy mine from McA Direct and have found their service excellent, but there are lots of alternatives out there. Warning: Hobbycraft do not generally stock the required yarns.
The question of how many stitches to cast on comes down to the question of gauge; how tight or loose your knitting is with the yarn in question. Best way is to knit a sample (or a plain square); just measuring how wide it is once you've cast on won't be a very reliable measure because it stretches out once you start knitting. Equally, if it's already more than 6" wide you're on a hiding to nothing. For most people, on 4mm needles, 33-ish stitches and about 45-ish rows should give you a 6" x 6" square but don't do a whole one if you're not sure or a slow knitter, as it's mega-frustrating to have to pull it all back down again.
What follows is mostly links to patterns that we've done or revised in earlier blankets, or ideas for things you might want to try. I know there are some specific pattern requests for these two blankets and I'm looking those out. Warning: many of these are links to patterns on Ravelry, which is like the Facebook of knitting. Registering is free and 100% worth it, although it may mean you start sending your salary direct to your yarn shop of choice at the start of each month as you discover more and more amazing things to knit.
If you want to start with something more adventurous than garter stitch (knit every row) or stockinette (knit one row, purl the next, and so on) why not try the Chinese waves pattern? (Non-Ravelry link). Or maybe stars - this is a bit more difficult - (Non-Ravelry link).
Birds have been specifically requested so we're starting with this lovely Owl pattern - this involves cables and ends up looking a bit like this.
Note, though - before having a go at these patterns you need to know what your gauge is, so you can modify the pattern (so in the case of the owl, cast on fewer stitches / chop out a few rows in terms of length for example) or change needles to get it close to the 6" size.
If you want to follow our adventures in trying to get a particularly devilish heart pattern right, please see the support thread in which Team Heart did battle with hearts, trees and elephants.
More to follow ...
Woolly Hugs is a charity established by a group of Mumsnet users. They knit / crochet handmade blankets and other items for families experiencing difficult times.
Woolly hugs
Support thread - new blankets
tribpot · 08/05/2012 21:23
Haven't set a deadline yet, but think 3 to 4 weeks to allow for wool deliveries, and to give people who take a bit longer like me a chance to make 
The blanket is not double sided, so the back needs to be as neat as possible. And pesky ends have to be sewn in 
That's stunning though!
And yes, the squares need be on the squarer side of square and 6".
That really is impressive though, I wouldn't know where to start!
A lovely crafter has joined us now and she is in Australia, and we have our Austrian friend too - so with you too we are an international bunch
mummyinspain - you made me laugh!
5madthings - it is like riding a bike apparently
Buy yourself some 4mm needles, some Rowan cash soft DK or Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK (not the baby one) and it will all come back to you. If you were doing moss stitch you were good!! There are some good youtube tutorials to remind yourself. G'wan
no i wasnt good, but i could do a square, i am left handed and found casting on tricky but could knit fine, knit one pearl one was ok but i never did anything more than that! i can remember HOW to knit, but not how to cast on, so shall have a look on youtube!
my mum taught me as a child and then i did a bit when preg with ds2 for a craft group, i shall go buy needles, we have a john lewis in town so i shall go there and have a mooch at what they have available :)
thankyou for your advice and confidence in me
Youtube is your friend 5madthings. Let us know how you get on Shall I pencil you in for a square?!
I just lurrrve hanging around on this thread, makes me feel all crafty
oh god i dont think i would get one done in time, well i shall maybe go to town tomorrow for needles and wool as dp is home so i can abandon the small people
i shall let you know how i get on, it would be lovely to get a square or two done, one for each blanket but i shall see, it will mean spending less time on mnet in the evenings when dp is at work 
but that is actually probably a good thing! :)
Shall I pencil you in and put it in brackets?
I am teasing, have a go and see!
yes pencil me in with brackets! :)
right another question, sorry 
re needles, size 4 but is there any make or type that is best? i remember that some are made of diff things, or have diff coatings on them? so wooden, plastic, metal with a coating? i dont want to spend loads but i dont want to get crappy ones. so if you know of any good reasonably priced ones? :)
prettybird they are lovely :)
awesome cakes as well btw! i have done R2D2 and a castle and tinkerbell and a few others but love the darlek, is that maltesers on it for the bumpy bits? i may pinch that idea
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