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Refuge Knitting thread (mainly blanket-based)

158 replies

tribpot · 18/09/2012 20:56

Right, this is a continuation of the main Refuge blanket thread.

We have at least one blanket project, but also droitwich fancies a go at a bear.

The currently proposed blanket project is my 'Bossy Boots Blanket', i.e. I want the organisation finished as soon as poss because I don't have a lot of time for new projects this autumn. However, there can certainly be a less bossy project as well, in different yarn and colours as people desire.

So far, definitely signed up for the Bossy Boots Blanket are:

  • me
  • NeitherShreddedNorSmug
  • HairyPotter
  • stressedHEMum


and I think BarbaraWoodlouse.

Now, we're planning to do double-sized squares just because we can, which means we only need 6 for the smaller sized blanket. However, if more people want to do a BossyBoots Blanket they can do (but they need to say so soon, otherwise they are in the Less Bossy Blanket Project).

Bossy Boots Blanket will be in Paton's Smoothie DK in Lime (1010) and Cream (1019). Note Smoothie is a 100g ball so you won't need much - indeed you could get away with one ball I would think.

Each square will have 5 rows of garter stitch top and bottom, and 5 (ish) stitches in garter for the edges. The squares will be planned together so the blanket has an overall look (this is what I mean about the level of bossiness) and once I have confirmation on the numbers we can decide what we want to do. The preference is for simple, which is good, so garter stitch, perhaps the Team Heart, but nothing more complicated than that. I intend to sew this one up myself. I'm also happy to put in a general order for the yarn and then distribute it as each knitter isn't going to need that much.

Other knitters who have expressed a preference (some of whom I have PMed but not heard back from yet).

DutchOma has offered to sew up another blanket.
tinierclanger [I've PMed you twice, clanger, but not heard anything back]
droitwichmummy - doing a teddy

Please do not feel you have to join in with the BossyBoots Blanket. There will be enough knitters for a Less Bossy Blanket, and I'm happy to do a couple of 15cm squares for that myself. However, if you do want to do the BossyBoots Blanket please now say so, so that we can plan and anyone who wants to can get cracking, whilst noting that Shredded is waiting on her yarn arriving (and I have about 75 other projects on at the same time Confused).

Hope this helps - there's no need to keep copying and pasting the list of who is on Team Knit on this thread.
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tribpot · 18/09/2012 21:04

Btw I think Deramores may be out of stock of the cream, but McA still have it.

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PurplePidjin · 18/09/2012 22:22
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BarbaraWoodlouse · 18/09/2012 22:27


I'm in for Bossy Blanket Trib.
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HairyPotter · 18/09/2012 23:00

I'm up for the BossyBoots Blanket (you should so copyright that Grin) will let you know when yarn arrives.

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NeitherShreddedNorSmug · 18/09/2012 23:02

Marking my place - drumming fingers waiting for yarn!

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droitwichmummy · 19/09/2012 00:25

Bear under way! I'm using the pattern off the Refuge site with some white wool i had lying around so it's fine for a boy or girl.
As i said on the other thread - let me know if you need squares and i will knock some out; this bear looks like being pretty quick to make

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tribpot · 19/09/2012 07:30

Right, good stuff. Shredded, if you ordered from Deramores it may be here sooner than you think as they are lightning fast.

Now - designs. Shredded and I talked about the fact that if people want, they can still virtually divide a 30cmx30cm square into 4 by just doing garter stitch in the middle 5 stitches and the middle 5 rows as on slide 3 of these notes. I think a couple of people have thought about doing Team Heart (simplified version) (there are written instructions too) which could work like this.

Equally the squares don't have to be all one colour, so they could be green with cream borders and vice versa if people wanted (as per slide 4).

Thoughts?

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stressedHEmum · 19/09/2012 09:19

Wool is ordered so I'm checking in for instructions.

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BarbaraWoodlouse · 19/09/2012 09:29

I am Envy Sad. Sick in the night. No work for me this AM though will have to get online later when my pesky US colleagues get going.

Heading back to bed- but might start on my blanket square later on whilst the house is nice and quiet. Smile

I'm tempted by the idea of dividing into four with a cream garter stitch border and then filling each quadrant with a different textured lime knit (speckled rib, basket weave and the like) but that's going to need some planning out and I'm not well versed in swapping colours so I might give up and go for one big one. What do you reckon? Worth a try?

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tribpot · 19/09/2012 10:52

I think that's a good idea, Barbara, and Stressed was quite keen to crack out her new granite stitch.

The colour changes would be pretty simple in the way you describe, and we have a bit of time because of Shredded apparently living on the moon. Do you want to have a go on a smaller scale to see how you get on with it?

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tribpot · 19/09/2012 10:54

And btw sorry to hear you're not feeling well, Barbara.

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NeitherShreddedNorSmug · 19/09/2012 12:49

pesky US signing in Barbara - hope you feel better soon!

trib - I did order from Deramores. I know they are fast in the UK (I have had stuff in 48 hours), but I think they must put stuff on a boat to get here.

I LIKE Barbara's idea about having borders in one colour and blocks in the other. I have both on the way, so can do that.

Last night I cracked, on my fourth attempt, <a class="break-all" href="//vwww.free-knit-stitch.com/knit-stitch1-20/19.fagotting.HTM" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">fagotting lace though mine is not as open as in the picture. That would work as a reversible pattern, but on each of my previous 3 attempts I had to frog it all the way back to the beginning when I made a mistake.

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stressedHEmum · 19/09/2012 13:46

I like that one trib. And it's easy which suits me fine.

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HairyPotter · 19/09/2012 14:40

Poor Barbara I hope you feel better soon.

Um, I feeling a bit scared now. Most of the stuff up there ^ may as well be in Greek to me. Confused I think it might be safer all round, if I stick to single coloured squares. Will that be ok?

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tribpot · 19/09/2012 15:07

Hairy, a single coloured square will be fine (bear in mind at this rate I think we'll only need to do one each). You can still split it into four smaller sections with a garter border between them, or you could do it garter throughout, or how about moss stitch stripes? so this would be, say, 8 rows of moss stitch, then 6 rows of plain - I'll knock out a sample tonight to show you what I mean.

The lace pattern is lovely but possibly too stretchy - Knotty always outlaws them in Woolly Hugs.

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droitwichmummy · 20/09/2012 23:09

I've made a bear! Grin If anyone else fancies a go it was really easy - i used the pattern off the Refuge site. It could probably be done in a day if you have an hour or two to knit.
Will post pic tomorroe

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droitwichmummy · 21/09/2012 08:09

Picture on profile. I will make a scarf for him later and as it was so quick and painless will make a second one.
Where are we sending them Trib?

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BarbaraWoodlouse · 21/09/2012 19:11

He's fab Droitwich. Smile Does he have a name?

Think I should finish up DD's cardigan this weekend. Then I'll commence planning my Ubersquare. Shortly after that I imagine I will be revising my plans for something less complicated and then start knitting that Grin

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tribpot · 21/09/2012 19:23

Well done droitwich, he looks great! They go to: Fundraising/Simply Knitting, Refuge, 4th Floor, International House, 1 St Katharine?s Way, London E1W 1UN.

Right, I think we need to decide on our pattern this weekend. I have been given permission (more accurately I just told him I was gonna do it) by the site owner to use his logo although it would need adaptation as we only have lime and cream to work with. (Admittedly, I can always just bung in a bit of a different colour if we need to!).

I was thinking about doing a square with the stars on, although this would definitely make it not reversible, even if I was very good and did it intarsia stylee.

Other ideas - I talked about doing moss/seed stitch stripes - here is an example. Otherwise a nice stitch that isn't too hard is daisy stitch. However, have a look through the crafters' guide for some ideas - Chinese waves is as simple as you like but looks lovely, or the starlight starbright motif?

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droitwichmummy · 21/09/2012 21:48

Thanks Trib.

Barbara he doesn't have a name yet, not sure what he looks like. Maybe I should check out the baby name threads for some ideas.

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NeitherShreddedNorSmug · 21/09/2012 23:46

Lovely bear droitwich!

Guess what, I have wool! Lime and cream, so am sharpening my needles and awaiting instructions.

I had a thought, but am happy to be told I'm complicating things! Since we're knitting for Refuge, I wondered about the lighthouse pattern which drove me mad last time I had a go

Alternatively, I am working on a Harris Tweed square for my other blanket, which is a nice reversible pattern.

Are we still doing cream borders and green squares within the borders, with cream dividers crossways and longways? And do the four green squares need to be the same?

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tribpot · 22/09/2012 07:57

Yay for Deramores! From their page on Ravelry and the comments there from US posters, I thought it should take about a week, Shredded. Btw, I still don't understand why people in the US have to order from Europe, should we have chosen a yarn that's more readily accessible there?

Anyway, now I have to admit I haven't got any of it myself Grin But I can more readily resolve this by nipping down to Hobbycraft or bunging in my own Deramores order toute de suite.

I like the lighthouse pattern, but a bunch of textured squares might have a nice 'sampler' look to them? I like the idea of totally reversible, as that then gives us some scope to work within. Pattern doesn't have to be the same on both sides but has to definitely look like it could be the front on either side, which would rule the daisies out.

I think the borders and squares can be either be the same colour or different. Dividing them up into 4 would allow for 4 different designs (or two of each) to be worked, but it does mean you need to know roughly how many rows is going to make 30cm before you get too far in, so you can divide the square up effectively. If in doubt, stick to a single border and single texture. If a bit more adventurous, with dividers and then up to 4 different designs?

I think I might have a look at ripple stitch today, although I do like gull stitch but I'm not convinced it's reversible.

Lettuce leaf could be nice? It involves k2tog and ssk, which I'm not sure all of our Refugees want to tackle?

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BarbaraWoodlouse · 22/09/2012 09:13

If we're going for reversible then I think I'll stick with one colour. Suspect my colour changing will not yield the neatest results Smile

Trib our local Hobbycraft had the cream but not the lime. They might all carry different stock though.

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tribpot · 22/09/2012 11:21

Snap - Barbara, cream no lime. Never mind - Deramores have about 3 discounts running this week alone Confused

Hmm, yes, good point about reversible and colour changing in general. It does sound a bit limiting if people do want to do borders in different colours.

How are we on sticking to textured squares, one colour or two colour as people like? Colour changes should be for border/dividers to keep the back looking tidy.

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NeitherShreddedNorSmug · 22/09/2012 12:57

Morning! I was thinking after I posted that maybe I was being a bit ambitious, especially with all the other things I have on over the next few weeks. So, I am going to go with trib's suggestion of lettuce leaf, since the pattern is 60 stitches, and I was planning on casting on 70, so as if by magic the pattern will fit inside a 5 stitch either side border Grin. I have both colours so will start with green (since that seems to be the shortage).

Deramores were much faster this time - last time I ordered from them the wool didn't arrive before my holiday, so I ended up side-tracked into another holiday project which I've only just finished.

I knocked up the little heart square from the refuge on-line pattern book last night - it's a bit wonky, but looks quite nice. DS's have insisted they don't want any hearts in their blankets, but I'm going to sneak some in Grin.

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