how-to knit a stash blanket

HOW-TO KNIT A STASH BLANKET
by Robyn Devine of Minimalist Knitter

Most knitters have a basket or box full of yarn balls that are left over from previous projects. These leftovers tend to sit unused because they don’t have enough yardage to make another project. But with a few simple tools and a few simple instructions, you can create for yourself a gorgeous blanket knit out of just those leftover remnants!


Supplies:
*Size 9 circular needles, at least 32” long
*Box or basket of yarn remnants!

Directions:
Grabbing one of the larger remnant balls in your pile, cast on 230 stitches using the long-tail cast on method. I find this the easiest way to cast on in general, but you’re also creating the first row of your blanket this way! If you prefer a different method, by all means use it!

Now, all you do is simply knit every stitch until you’re almost out of whatever ball of yarn you’re using. You’ll be knitting every row, creating garter stitch ridges throughout the blanket – this makes a super squishy and warm throw!

To attach a new ball of yarn, simply tie the old yarn to the new yarn using a simple knot. Leave those knotted bits hanging out as a design element! As I’ve made my very own stash blanket, I haven’t cared about the knotted ends sticking out – it adds to the homemade element of the blanket.

Also, don’t worry if you’re mixing cotton yarn with acrylic with wools – in my house we hang our blankets outside to air them rather than throwing them in the wash machine, so I’m not concerned about fibers mixing. If you are, consider making your blanket all wool or all acrylic.

Continue knitting your blanket, attaching new skeins of yarn as you run out, until the blanket is at your desired length, and then bind off all stitches. We like our blankets to be around six feet long as my husband is super tall, but you can make yours as long or as short as you’d like!


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"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden