THE WARREN-WATCHUNG CONNECTION PAGE 60 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022 theconnectionsnj.com Do you love the large stitch blankets seen in Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn, but don’t love the price tag? Easily solved and easy to make with Blanket Big Yarn by Bernat. The chenille is jumbo size, the thickness of your thumb. No needles, special equipment, or knowledge of knitting or crochet is needed. Instead, you use your fingers to create loops. A large table surface is the ideal spot to work. You will need 5 skeins/ balls of yarn for a 36” x 48” blanket and 6 skeins/ balls for a 48” x 60” blanket. Each skein is 32 yards in length. The yarn is available at Michaels (on-line and in-store) in a variety of colors. [Ordering a case of 12 online and picking up in store makes it easier to get the chosen color. Return any extra to the store for a refund.] Go to michaels.com for big savings coupons. The Cast On: To start, make a chain of 30-40 stitches. To do this, cross the long end (the one attached to the ball; also called the working yarn) over the short end (tail) to make a loop. Pinch your thumb and index fingers together and grab the working yarn and pull a small loop into the space. Pull tightly on the tail forming a knot. Now you have a knot and the first loop. The new loop should be small enough to get your fingers into the space (1.5”-2” in height). Continue to pinch your thumb and index fingers together and grab the working yarn and pull a small loop into the space until 3040 loops are created to form a chain. Roughly, it creates 1 chain. Next Row: Lay the chain horizontally on the table so the last loop is on your right and the knot is on the left, AND lay the working yarn above the chain so that the ball is now on the left. Try to keep the chain flat. From this point onward, you will be adding one loop to each of the chains from the prior row. Start by putting your thumb and index finger into the first chain (the one next to the last loop) and pull up a small loop. Continue to the next chain and pull up a loop. Continue making loops until you have 30 (40) open loops in a row. Blanket Body: For the next row, work from left to right. Again, put your fingers into the first loop and bring up another small loop. Continue across the row. Keep working back and forth in this way until you have reached the desired length and have 2 (3) yards remaining for the bind off. Binding Off: Binding off is the method of securing all the stitches so the blanket can be used and enjoyed. It is the final step to finishing the blanket. Step 1: Make the loops in the last row bigger than the prior rows (3” in height). Step 2: Put your fingers through the first loop, grab the second loop and pull it through the first loop. Step 3: Continue in this manner until only one loop remains. Step 4: Cut the yarn leaving a 6” tail and feed the tail through the last loop and pull tight to secure. Weave the tail into the side of the blanket. Do the same with the tail from the cast on. Tips: - It’s important to work on a flat surface since the loops are “live” and not on a needle. Be careful not to pull on the working yarn which will pull the yarn from the prior loop. - Do not disturb the project while the stitches are “live”, so the loops can’t come out. Best to work in a spot that can remain undisturbed or work the project on a beach towel or table cloth that can be moved until work can resume. - Keep the loops small and uniform – the smaller the loop, the tighter the stitches. This will keep your toes from passing through the loops when snuggling. Haha! - Pay attention to keeping the loops straight. Do not allow the loops to twist and form an “X”. Loops should sit as an “inverted U”. - Add new yarn by tying a tight knot and then trimming the ends. For extra help and visuals, see the YouTube videos below: How to Finger Knit a Blanket youtube.com/watch?v=Gr-a15uJaoY Hand Knit a Chunky Blanket /Jumbo Chenille [Note: This version is striped horizontally.] youtube.com/watch?v=BwzaPzE4Pcg There are so many projects to make with this yarn. Search on-line for endless ideas. Carolyn Hanson is a local knitting and crochet designer, teacher, and fiber artist. She can be contacted at cchanson3@gmail.com. Finger Knitting with Big Yarn By Carolyn Hanson CREATIVE CORNER Testimonials DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT! See for yourself what our readers and clients say about our publication. Support Local “OUTSTANDING ART ON THE COVER” “Kudos to Sarah O’Brien. Beautifully composed and rendered cover, that tells a story (or lets us tell ourselves a story) with the action she elegantly builds into it. It becomes more than the event that inspired it, which is a hallmark of significant art. 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