Now it is back to the previews from Color By Kristin...... Today, I want to show you the Many Hearts Baby Blanket - complete with Annika the kitten asleep on top of the project. She certainly has good taste, doesn't she?
I just love how this project came out! My concept was to design a baby blanket that could be made by a bunch of friends for an expectant mother. The project starts off by knitting 9 separate squares. The motif is a heart and it is worked in Fair Isle. Each square is a different combination of colors. My thought was that 9 knitting friends would each make one of the hearts. After the hearts are knit, they are sewn together using mattress stitch. They form a patchwork quilt-ish looking center. Using a long circular needle, someone will pick up around the pieced section. The stripes are made in garter stitch - worked in the round. At each corner, the increases are made to form the miter.
Here is a detail of the hearts after they are sewn together. You can see the added cross stitch and chain stitch which I did after the blanket was finished.
My idea was that each knitter would take the project home and add a stripe or two. As everyone added, the project would grow larger. The other option is that you could have multiple circular needles working your way around the square (as it got larger) so that people could knit as a group. 
A handknit object for a baby is one of the most lovely gifts a new mom can receive. I know! When I was pregnant and at a TNNA show, Linda Pratt and Pat Chew organized a surprise Breakfast Shower for me. I received the most amazing handknit sweaters for my not yet born Julia. When she was an infant, she was covered in handknits from head to toe. As she grew, I was always sad when she stopped wearing a handknit that one of my friends had made. I still have them all in a bag in the attic - I just can't bear to part with them!
Which leads me to this fun and creative project that is traveling the world - The Big-Sock Project that I added a bunch of my knitted stitches to while I was at The Market at Stitches in Hartford. What fun! I'm not sure where the sock is now but listen up and add your knitting when it comes to a store or event near you!
11 comments:
Oh, I love this baby blanket project Kristin, especially the cross stitch embellishment. I'm always a bit troubled about how the joins look on such a project and this makes them look just wonderful. The colors are unusual and terrific!
--elizaduckie
Nice and lovely kitty!
Lovely little blanket. I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new book to my LYS. I checked Borders and they didn't even have it in the system except as an order! I was very surprised. Oh well, good things come to those who wait.
That blanket is SO charming!
As much as I have loved all the previews from your new book - I think this one is my favorite. I love it. I especially love the idea of everyone sitting around knitting on it. My spinning group did this - each of us is now the proud owner of a shawl knitted by all our friends. I was just wondering if each block was steeked? I hate purling when I am fair-isling - but having said that I have never really steeked either - well I have steeked just never finished the project - eg. cut the steek!. Once again thank you for a look at this beautiful blanket.
::::Sigh::: I wish I could knit. This looked like a good beginner project but as I read your blog, I realized "nope" couldn't do that. Boo hoo me! Oh and BTW bag of knits in attic? GRANDCHILDREN :)
Rooth
Thats such a beautiful idea and blanket.
love the idea the cat thinks it is his!
love
Lyn
xxx
The baby blanket is beautiful. I have always been fond of hearts, so this is really a very special little blanket. The idea of making it with friends makes it even better. Little kitty does have very good taste, indeed.
The baby blanket is just beautiful -- love it. You're so talented!
Blessings,
G
I love the look and the design...it can also become school group activity I am sure.
I'm just started on a square for Many Hearts Baby Blanket. It's a test swatch. Also my first try at fair isle or intarsia. It's a learning experience. First I tried to knit the heart motif in fair isle. Had trouble. Then noticed in the book, it said to knit motif in intarsia.
Any helpful hints you could impart? Anyway, love your book!
A Mom, Queens NY
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