Samplers

Sampler  n.    1. A piece of needlework worked in various stitches as a specimen of skill.  2.  A representative collection or example of something.

Making an afghan or knitted blanket can be a daunting project.  Too many beginning knitters think, “I’ll do a blanket – no seams, no increases or decreases – that’s a good place to start.”  And then reality sets in!  You’ve got 200+ stitches on your needles, only 7 inches done and you’re thinking, “I’ll NEVER finish this.”  Guess what ... lots of experienced knitters have the same reaction!

A Sampler Blanket is the perfect solution.  It is also an excellent learning project for beginners.  A Sampler Blanket involves knitting a number of 8” squares, then sewing them together.  You get to learn some fun, interesting stitch patterns and you get some invaluable practice at stitching knit pieces together.

  

A Sampler Blanket relies on the stitch patterns to create the overall pattern and texture of the finished piece.  Choosing the right yarn to showcase that is the key to a beautiful finished project.

Yarn Colour:  Yarns NOT to choose include variegated or multi-coloured yarns and dark colours.  The pattern stitches will not show up in either of these choices.  A good yarn choices for the Sampler Blanket are medium-to-light solid colours.  You can make the entire blanket of one colour, or vary colours from block to block.

Yarn Type:  Acrylic?  Wool?  Cotton?  I have a preference for washable wool, sometimes called “superwash” wool.  Part of a successful project is blocking.  Acrylic and other man-made fibres do not block as well as natural fibres, so they are not on my preferred list.  Plant fibres, such as bamboo, corn, linen or silk are soft and luxurious, but don’t necessarily wash easily.  You want to be able to wash your blanket.  Cotton is durable and natural, but it shrinks and compresses when washed. So that brings us back to wool.  “Superwash” wools are made by most of the mainstream yarn manufacturers: Lionbrand, Bernat, Patons, Berrocco, Cascade, Impeccable, etc. so they are easy to find.

Over the next 2 months, I’ll be posting a new stitch pattern every other week.  You’ll have two weeks to make four 8” squares of that particular stitch pattern.  

Materials for the project:
1800 yds of knitting worsted yarn
Size 9 knitting needles (or size needed to make each square 8"x8")

The first block will be done in the “Broken Rib” stitch.  

Make 4.
Cast on 37 stitches.
Row 1:  (RS) Knit.
Row 2:  *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * to last stitch, K1.
Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures 8" long.  (approximately 48 rows in total).

Not interested in making a blanket?  All of the blocks I have chosen for the project will also make excellent dishcloths or facecloths.