Lion Brand Notebook ®
Looking for a fast, last minute gift for an anniversary, birthday, or baby shower? The secret is to pick a project that uses basic stitches and multiple strands of yarn, says Jackie Smyth, Lion Brand’s technical editor. We asked Jackie to recommend two quick and simple patterns for beautiful afghans on the fly and to tell us all about why she likes them. (This column originally appeared in The Weekly Stitch newsletter.)
| Fast Finish Throw | Speed Hook Baby Blanket |
LBY Newsletter: You’ve chosen two simple, speedy patterns for our readers. What’s your first recommendation?
Jackie: I love the Fast Finish Throw because it’s just about as simple as they come. The beautiful colors in this afghan are soothing and it has a wonderful texture.
This project is easy and fast for two reasons: First, it’s made using only stockinette stitch. And second, it’s worked on Speed Stix, our exclusive size 50 knitting needles. When you work with Speed Stix the resulting fabric is quite forgiving so exact gauge is not a worry, making it simpler for knitters of all levels. When you knit with Speed Stix, it creates stitches that are an inch tall, which means that you see results quickly.
LBY Newsletter: What about the gorgeous colors in this afghan? How did you get that blended effect?
Jackie:The Fast Finish Throw is made with four different colors of Jiffy® yarn held together, so it has the beautiful look of tweed. It’s a gorgeous look without a lot of effort, something that everyone from beginners to designers can appreciate.
LBY Newsletter: That definitely sounds like a great, simple project. What’s the second pattern you’d like to recommend to our readers?
Jackie: My second recommendation is our Speed Hook Baby Blanket. You only need to know how to do a single crochet stitch to make this one! This blanket is made with our size S-35 Speed Hook, which is an extra large crochet hook. Again, your gauge doesn’t have to be exact with the Speed Hook. Like the first afghan, this adorable baby blanket also uses multiple strands of yarn—this time three strands of Cotton-Ease—which not only makes it extremely fast to crochet, but adds dimension to the color. You can make it in the recommended colors, our alternative color combination, or in colors of your own choosing. I think that this one is absolutely perfect to make for a last minute gift.
LBY Newsletter: So what are the main things that our readers should remember about these projects?
Jackie: Again, the key to the ease and beauty of both of these projects is simplicity. You can use basic stitches and super-sized needles and hooks, along with multiple strands of yarn worked together, to make these simple and satisfying blankets.
LBY Newsletter: Thanks for your recommendations, Jackie. We look forward to speaking to you again next month for more great tips.
For more great patterns, sign up for our New Patterns Alert, and see the latest creations from our Design Department.
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Deebee
I’ve made the Fast Finish throw. Its a great project.
I modified the patter as follows: 1) I did Garter stitch for the first two and last two rows.2) To prevent curling, I started and ended each row with a knit stitch.
Next time I make this I will use a # 50 circ instead of the speed sticks.
kentuckyliz
I finished this throw last night, using the pattern colors. It’s easy. Two nights of knitting, one evening to weave in ends and do the tassels. Cozy! I’m going to do another one in chili/caffe/camel. Circular needles would be good if you can get them in this size, because the stitches are crammed onto the speed stix. If I was pausing my work, I had to stop in the middle of a row to avoid dropping stitches.