Genius Tips
Color Explosion Throw: Done and Done!
Dear Kay,
Two blankets. I can’t recall ever finishing two blankets at once, but here we are. This Color Explosion Throw, a highlight of Field Guide No. 20: Marls, has been a straight-up joyride from start to finish. Both times.
Blanket the First: Rowan Felted Tweed
I made one Color Explosion Throw using our Cool colorway bundle of Rowan Felted Tweed. I assigned the colors as shown here—I don’t think it matters much how you order them.
I snapped some pix as I worked the three-needle bind-off that connects the four strips of this blanket. After all, it’s one of the great engineering moments in knitting. Also MDK Rule No. 83: No knitting goes undocumented.
When it comes to picking up stitches along the edges, the selvedge stitches make picking up a breeze. Nine stitches per color block. So satisfying! Thanks, Cecelia Campochiaro, for making this edge so easy.
I made my stitches pretty loose, out of concern that my seams might end up snugging up once I did the three-needle bind-off.
Here you see two circs, each one holding the stitches picked up along the edges of two strips that are about to be joined together forever and ever amen.
With wrong sides facing each other, and a cup of coffee, off we go. The third needle here does the work: put it through one stitch from each needle, knitwise, and knit them together. Next, do that again. You have two stitches now on your right needle. Bind off one stitch from the right needle. You’re left with one stitch on your right needle. Repeat the knit-a-stitch-from-each-needle-together maneuver, which puts a second stitch on your right needle. Bind off one stitch.
Repeat this a jillion times.
The meditative rhythm of this is extremely pleasant.
The bound-off stitches form a decorative ridge.
This is a fantastically sturdy seam. And because I took care not to snug up my bind-offs as I went, it lays flat. Take your time and remember that this is all part of what makes knitting our favorite thing to do.
Hats off to Allison Volek Shelton for cooking up this Cool colorway.
I really loved watching the collisions of color—soft shades and the occasional wild combo. It hangs together so well.
We have these mighty bundles in the Shop—save 10% off the single-ball price, free U.S. shipping, yippy!
Blanket the Second: Jill Draper Mohonk Light
I actually started this Color Explosion Throw first, in a fever last fall after encountering our dwindling inventory of one of my favorite yarns, Jill Draper Mohonk Light.
I grabbed 11 colors with absolutely no thought and dove in.
I used a US size 8 (5 mm) rather than the size 9 (5.5mm) specified in the pattern. Result?
The supersproingy and delightful character of Jill Draper’s yarn is in full view.
My one superimportant MDK ProTipTM: spit-felt your ends as you go. For the love of wool, spit-felt them! I remembered to do this only after doing two strips with dangling ends, and it was a game changer.
Mohonk Light is chewier than the Felted Tweed.
We’ll have more of Jill’s yarns back later in the year.
What a marvel, the three-needle bind-off. Who thought this thing up?
It’s good to watch that your squares line up as you go.
If you want to plan ahead for an extraordinary, amazing, fabulous knitting experience, this yarn is your ticket.
Kermit believes this blanket is a sentient being. He sits with his new friend all the time. It’s kind of funny.
Needless to say, I have a new blanket on the horizon. Always be blanketing, right?
Love,
Ann
Hi Ann, I don’t know but every time I read a post that you have written about a project your working on, I NEED to start that project. I did the swarf because I was afraid of not finishing the big blanket.
I resolved to do the blanket pattern in the pillow first. But now…… my fingers are itching. BTW the swarf was fun but didn’t suit me so I frogged the back and neck and turned my rectangle into a möbius cowl I wear every day. In this community you and Kay have created one never walks alone.
Both beautiful! Mohonk light is one of my all time favorite yarns, and Jill’s colors are to die for!
Blankets as sentient beings. Genius. ❤️
Ann, how many skeins of Mohonk Light did it take to make the second blanket? You mentioned 11 colors but I assume you needed more than one skein of at least some of the colors. Your FO tempts me!
I used one skein per color—the yardage on Mohonk Light is rww we ally good, so Indidnt need to use any second skeins and in fact had enough left to make a fifth strip which has become a go-to scarf in these late winter days. This pattern is so easy and fun.
Nice job on both.
Blankets are the ultimate contentment.
Thank you for including Kermit. I mean, he IS why I’m here (kinda kidding). Gorgous and inspiring knit!
Hey, no dissing the Kerm. When Anne moved to Nashville she needed some maaw New Yaawk. Even if she only lived here in da city dat never sleeps for a few years she got her priorities straight. Gotta have a cat with ‘tude.
BLANKIES R SOFT AND WARM. GOOD FOR NAPS. WHERE IS FOODLADY WITH BRUNCH?
Thanks Ann, I finished my 4th strip about 10 days ago but haven’t soaked them yet and you have inspired me! I’m sure I have 3 long circs here somewhere of the same size… How did you decide which yarn to use for seaming and did you use it single or doubled?
You know, I used 32” circs and it worked fine to hold the stitches. Remember that each strip picked up will be only 9 x 18 = 162 stitches, which is too bad. I used one strand for the seams, the same yarn as for the strips.
Please, Ann! Your seam lies flat. Not lays flat! P.S. is it just my computer, or has your comment section suddenly decided to get huge every time I want to comment?
I’m blaming your computer for my grammar lol.
Not sure what’s happening re what you’re seeing, but the way things are going in the world right now, I’m gonna blame Russians.
Both of your blankets are beautiful! I’m finishing my Picket Fence throw and didn’t care for the look of the 3 needle bind off so did mattress stitch instead but yours looks so good. What length cord did you use on your circular needles?
24″ or 30″? I put them back in my giant circ collection, but they were not superlong at all. You have to pick up 9 stitches x 18 color blocks, so that’s not a huge number of stitches to fit on a needle.
Chain stitching with a crochet hook also works, if you don’t have enough knitting needles of the right size
Thank you for that 3-needle bind off tip. It’s brilliant.
The 3-needle bind off is the perfect tip to know and see demonstrated.
Beautiful! Kermit has good taste. Does he talk to the blankets? Does he prefer one over the other?
Grammar Queen here
Sorry Ann but the seam lies (reclines) flat. It does not lay (stand).
How would I do this in a worsted yarn? I was thinking it would be nice for my 2 year old grandson but in Encore so it can be easily washed by his mom. Otherwise they’ll never use it.
Hi Ann, I love Kermit and how he joins the conservation. And you used a form of the word “sproingy”.
Another person asked about yarn choice for seaming…how did you pick which color to use?
You know, I decided that if I was going to go to the trouble of three-needle bind-off rather than mattress stitch, I might as well make it a decorative element. So I used a color that would contrast and be noticeable. A lighter color would have blended more with the rest of the blanket. It would be lovely that way, too.
I’m so glad to see these beautiful blankets right now, particularly the Mohonk Light version. My Mohonk Light blanket strips are sitting quietly, waiting for me to work up the courage to do join them and this is super helpful and encouraging.
Thank you for all the pictures. So much goodness. Its like a one-spot rabbit hole, I just keep scrolling through over and over. All those colors. And a cat. This is apex knitternet for sure.
Kermit has excellent taste!
What colors were selected for the cool version of The Color Explosion Throw.? I want to knit that version but don’t know if I have all the colors used. Thanks..
Diane Berthelot