by Kelly
This was the first afghan I made. I knitted it in panels, then sewed the panels together. It was just like making scarves, only every so often I had to change yarns and knit in a different pattern.
Looks pretty good, doesn't it? Don't be fooled. Up close the seams where I sewed the panels together look really clunky and horrible. That's why I've decided crochet afghans are the way to go, since they don't require seaming or really long, expensive circular knitting needles.
For all its problems, there is something I like about this afghan -the blocks that use the variegated yarn. They were knitted using a pattern called bee stitch. Bee stitch is really simple - here's the pattern.
(K1 b means 'knit into the stitch below. Don't know how to knit into the stitch below? I learned how from
this YouTube video. It's not hard at all, once you see how it's done.)
Odd number of stitches
K1 b Insert needle through center of stitch 1 row below next stitch and knit, slipping stitch above off needle at the same time.
Row 1 (WS): knit
Row 2 (RS): K1, * K1 b, K1; rep from *
Row 3: Knit
Row 4 (RS): K2, K1 b, * k1, k1 b; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2
Rep these 4 rows for pattern.
When used with variegated yarn, this pattern produces an awesome, hand-dyed fabric look, only with yarn. Each block looks unique, but they still seem to belong together.
I think this would work really well if you were trying for a quilted blanket look. Using a bunch of different variegated yarns, and one simple stitch to make the blocks, would combine the best of both worlds - quick, 'mindless' knitting and the excitement (okay, not heart-pounding excitement, but still) of seeing pretty, unique designs come forth from a pile of chaotic yarn.
Just make sure that you really understand seaming first. I can't recommend learning as you go for that part of the project.
