Interesting Lap Blanket Design

I came across this lap blanket (scroll down to the section “Special Lap Blanket for Adults”) designed to fit around wheelchairs. What a great design! I hope some of our crafty volunteers will be able to translate it into a crocheted, knitted, tied, or sewn pattern. If you do, please share!

Fiber artist Cheryl Sterling

I just discovered quilter/machine knitter Cheryl Sterling. She does amazing, imaginative work with fabric and thread!

Check out her video tutorial on hairpin lace done on a knitting machine. It is a series of five videos, quite well done — almost like being at a workshop demonstration. I can’t wait to try this technique on an afghan for the February distribution.

Easy lap blanket pattern for Bond knitting machines

I developed this pattern to make a lap blanket that won’t curl and doesn’t need edged. I use worsted weight acrylic yarn and KP 3.5 or 4.

Using the e-wrap technique, CO 130 needles. RC=0

Knit 21 rows. RC=21

Select the fourth needle from the left and pull into HP. Select every third needle and pull into HP, leaving three needles in WP on the right edge.

For each needle in HP, convert 20 rows to form a 2×1 rib.

Knit 1 row. RC = 22

Starting with needle 18, move every 4th active stitch to the needle to the right or left (I move it toward the center). Stop 17 needles from the end of the bed. Move the empty needles to NWP.

Continue knitting. Every 20 or 30 rows, continue ribbing the left and right most 17 needles in 2×1 ribbing.

Knit until RC = 150-180.

Knit one row. Move needles in NWP to WP and pick up stitches.

Knit 21 rows.

Select the fourth needle from the left and pull into HP. Select every third needle and pull into HP, leaving three needles in WP on the right edge.

For each needle in HP, convert 20 rows to form a 2×1 rib.

 

This gives a ribbed border all around the body of the blanket. The body itself has a nice, faux-rib texture.

Sometimes I rib 30 rows at the top and bottom to give even more curl prevention.

October 3 Blanket Distribution

I’m taking a bag of blankets to the Wyandot County Nursing Home this afternoon. This month’s donations include blankets of the knit, crocheted, woven, and cloth varieties!

Blankets, shawls, and other comfort items can be sent to: Still Someone, c/o Janet Engle, PO Box 543, Upper Sandusky, OH, 43351

One day Lapghan

A “lapghan” is a small afghan, sized just right to fold over your lap when you are are sitting up. Three to four feet by four or five feet works well. Besides warmth, they offer a little extra coverage for women in skirts and privacy if incontinent.

I have a super-quick lapghan pattern that I use often on the Bond Ultimate Sweater Machine. It works with the regular 100-needle bed, but I prefer a little extra width so I use 130 needles. I usually save up scrap yarn and make stripes of coordinating colors. I prefer to use the 3.5 keyplate with worsted weight acrylic — mostly Red Heart SuperSaver, Red Heart Classic, “I Love This Yarn!”, or Canon Simply Soft.

CO 100 to 130 needles using closed edge method. Knit 200 to 240 rows, changing colors as you desire or as your scraps run out, then bind off using the backstitch method.

To trim using “worm edging,” change to the 3 keyplate. Using the three-prong tool, hang 3 stitches on the machine. *Knit 8 rows. Hang the next three stitches.* Repeat between ** until you have edged the entire lapghan. When edging the side, use the spacing of the three-prong tool to guide where to pick up stitches. On corners, knit 10 rows instead of 8.

Weaving in your ends and you’re done — a complete lapghan in a day using leftover yarn. Clear out your stash and knit something warm and cuddly for a senior citizen today!