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Overabundance of white baby yarn - what shall I make?
My Auntie knitted non stop for DS when he was a baby and toddler. She used up most of the leftover coloured yarn years ago, crocheting a huge multicoloured throw which we use all the time in the living room. I now have what was left of her stash, which includes about twenty balls of baby wool, all of it white. Some of it is doubleknit, some 4ply. I don't know what to do with it. It would be nice to make something that DS14 and I can use, as it is all leftover yarn from items she made for him, and we lost her in 2003.
Any ideas?
Comments
Cushion covers?
I am answering my own posts now, does that count as talking to myself?
What about cushion covers? I'm not sure if you call them that over over there? I mean the kind of cushion/pillow you would have on the sofa. Throw pillows? Don't know the right term, so I hope you know what I mean. I have a couple of patterns for those that I could probably cope with, though I would have to change things a bit as they are supposed to be knitted in a more bulky yarn. Would doubleknit baby yarn work?
Another idea I just had is a small throw type thing to have permanently draped over the headrest of the sofa. Maybe I could find a nice pattern for a baby blanket that would be suitable, then I'd know the yarn would work.
What do you think?
answer
Go ahead and answer Honey!
Double it
Double it and knit a nice lap throw.
Lynn Siprelle, Editor
Make matching lap rug and throw pillows for the sofa?
See if the double knit (we call it DK weight) yarn doubled up (knit with two strands) knits up the same size as your 4 ply (we call it worsted weight). A sample swatch of each type in 20-25 stiches should tell you.
If it's close, you can use all the yarn to make matching stuff. I've got a really cool pattern book on how to make pillow sweaters--you knit up squares in "sweater" designs, like cables and stuff, and make them into pillow covers. Similar to this pattern. It's a really stress free way to learn to cable, IMO. You've not committed to a whole sweater, it's just a square! Then when you've made a couple of those, use the rest to make a matching lap afghan?
What kind of fiber is your yarn? Is is acrylic, wool, blended? I was thinking if the fiber was the right kind, you could dye it and that would give you more options?
Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally
Thanks
UK 4 ply = US fingering weight, I think. The 4 ply is much finer than the double knit. Quite a lot of the yarn doesn't even have labels on, but I think all of it is one or the other.
My one and only attempt at dyeing anything was a pair of curtains and it was an unmitigated disaster. Fortunately I like the white and it would go well in my living room. The new sofa is green, and I have a white coffee table and white fire surround, so I think white would look nice.
I struggle to find patterns I am confident enough to try. Don't forget this is the woman who spent three years frightened to try anything but teacosies and dishcloths
I would like to knit a lap throw with a fringe, but it needs to be simple! I like your pillow pattern Anhata, and I have a couple of my own too, it's just a matter of understanding them 
How on earth do you know where you're up to? I lose my place all the time, can't tell where I am up to so end up unpicking it all and starting over. That's why I like the things where I just cast on and knit, then cast off 
If I can find patterns I think I can cope with I might join in the Knitting Olympics.
Correction
I had a proper look at the white yarn yesterday and sorted it all, even the stuff with no labels. Turns out I have not only 4 ply (fingering) and doubleknitting, but 2 ply and 3 ply as well My Auntie knitted a christening gown and shawl for DS in very fine yarn, so I expect those are left over from that.
I have enough dk to make a lap throw, and could use the fingering weight doubled as you suggested Anhata, to make covers for throw pillows, maybe. I love the garter and loops pattern.
keeping track--mark as you go
I have the same problem keeping track of where I am on a pattern with different instructions for each row or set of rows. I've used highlighters to mark completed rows, but you might want to make a copy of the pattern for that. I have a scanner at home that I can make copies with. I've also used a pencil or a pen to make dots by the rows and stitches I've completed so I know where I am. Mark as you go. And never, never, never stop halfway through a row if you can help it...if you must, don't put it down without marking on the pattern which stitch you're on! Vigilance!
Would the 4 ply/fingering work up to a similar size as your DK if you doubled them up? I personally find fingering weight yarn too thin to be comforable, I like to knit with thicker yarn, so I double up. That may not bother you, though.
This is a straightforward pattern if you can figure out the loops, it's so lovely and warm looking I may make one myself: Garter and Loops Baby Afghan. You can make it as large as you want, of course.
This one is simple knit stitch back and forth, but you change needle sizes every so often so it looks like ripply. I'd like to do one of these too: Ruffled Garter Blanket.
Thanks a lot honey, I have to make one or both of these now. Like I needed more items on my "I want to knit" list!!!
Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally
I love that pattern too
I reminds me of a thermal blanket I used to have that was sooooo soft and warm. I love that it's pretty and lacy-ish without looking frumpy or old fashioned. That might make a lovely shawl, too, if one made the fancy border pictured. Hmmm.
Repeat to self: "I must finish the silky wool shawl before I start dreaming of the next one. I must finish the silky wool shawl before I start dreaming of the next one. I must finish..."
Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally
what are selvedge stitches?
They are mentioned on the baby afghan pattern. I know what a selvedge edge is for fabric, but I've never heard of a special stitch called that.
you can also mark the knitting itself
Every ten or 20 rows--decide in advance which it's going to be--put a safety pin in that row and leave it there.
Lynn Siprelle, Editor
that shawl
You gotta finish that thing, Hata.
Lynn Siprelle, Editor
Selvedge = edge
Selvedge is always the edge whether it's fabric or knitting. Selvedge stitches are the stitch at each end.
Lynn Siprelle, Editor
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