Getting it together

I hadn't really noticed that I'd become a habitual block knitter until I was asked by a friend why I knit so many blocks. Briefly it crossed my mind to point out that I've knit many things and most of them aren't blocks. However I realized the futility of that response because I was knitting a block at the time. I was also knitting blocks just prior to this blog post, so my friend was correct in her observation.

Back to the original question, why so many blocks? Easiest answer is that I like them. Knitting blocks is as easy or difficult as your mood demands. Want something mindless to keep your hands busy (yes please!), then try garter stitch or basket weave stitch or moss stitch. In the mood for a small challenge requiring your full attention try Fair Isle, or cables, lace or entrelac (although entrelac is pretty simple once you get the hang of it), There is a knitted block out there for everyone. You can repeat the same block numerous times in different colours or you can stick with the same colour and change the stitches. The possibilities are infinite.

Knitting blocks is all well and good but what do you do with them when they are done? Absolutely they can exist as one offs like a dish cloth, hot pad, coaster, placemat or lonely square. My tendency is to veer away from random block creation. Generally I try to knit with a final purpose in mind, which, with blocks is usually an afghan.

So, how do I turn this:

Into this:

There are a number of great books on seaming in knitting. Two pieces of knitted fabric can be seamed together in a variety of ways ranging from grafting and invisible seaming to whip stich, crochet and three needle bind-off. Any book on general knitting techniques will show the variety of options available. My primary ''go-to" books are Vogue Knitting c1989, and more recently Interweave's 'Knitter's Companion' by Vicki Square.

Typically I use one of the following methods to put blocks together. They are all easy, relatively quick and they hold the blocks together, which, at the end of the day is the point of the exercise.

Crochet

The crochet hook is my most frequent go-to tool for joining blocks. It's fast and easy. What's not to love about that? The key for success with a crochet hook is making sure you have a fairly solid set of stitches to pick up. If your edges are a bit sloppy (holey or uneven), it can create an uneven join. Also I find that my crochet hook size should be a bit smaller than the knitting needle size. As example the blocks in the photo were knit with a 4 mm needle and they were joined with a 3.75 mm crochet hook. I find the smaller hook size makes joining the stitches easier. I join with a slip stitch or sometimes I slip one stitch and chain one stitch if the join feels too tight.

Whip Stitch

If you are not comfortable with the crochet hook then whip stitch might suit you better. Whip stitch makes a quick join, but be certain you don't spread the stitches too far apart or you could end up with holes in your work. If your whip stitch is too tight, you may be able to see the stitches from the front side of the work. Whip stitch is my least favourite of the 4 examples I'm giving because it seems to me to be the slowest. If you absolutely love hand stitching then speed won't be an issue and this may be the joining method for you.

Three needle bind-off

I take it back, whip stitch isn't the slowest of the 4 methods, the three needles bind-off is. This makes an interesting join which changes depending whether you are knitting knit stitches or purl stitches. This join has more 'give' than the previous 2 examples. This join also adds a row to your final seam, as opposed to crochet and whip stitch which tend to subtract a row. The three needle bind-off is achieved by picking up stitches along the edges of your work. With right sides facing you knit through the front stitch of both needles, you then cast off each stitch as you go.

Three needle bind off looks like this from the front. Using this method resulted in a more pronounced division between my blocks and I'm okay with that. Incidently the pattern for this afghan is called "Mitered Crosses Blanket" by Kay Gardiner of masondixonknitting.com. I purchased the pattern at Ravely.com.

Knit as you go

This method involves attaching the blocks as you knit them. You start by creating one block, then add the next block while you knit it. This method is explained really well in Vivian Hoxbro's book "Domino Knitting". I find that adding blocks as I go is great for small projects, but for larger efforts I'd rather create blocks in manageable sizes and then put them together. A large knit-as-you-go project means you spend a good deal of time with a large pile of knitting in your lap (not so horrible in winter but even in a North Coast summer it's a tad warm). I used the knit as you go method to create the blocks in the Double Irish Chain Afghan. Once the individual blocks were done, I crocheted them together.

While these 4 methods are only a few of the possibilities for joining blocks together they are the ones that I use the most often. I can use the above methods without referring to a book. While grafting, blanket stitch, and other invisible seaming methods are great, they feel like more work and they take a tad more thought (translated that means I have to get up off the couch, walk down the hall to my craft room book shelf and refresh my memory with a book). Frankly, at the end of the day I don't want to work that hard. Lazy, I know.

Blocks of another sort are on display at the library this summer. Beautiful quilts made by local quilters are adorning the rafters and walls of the library until September. Come in and take a look. If you can't swing by the library, photos of the quilts are on the library's web page. Here's the link that will get you there. It's worth the trip.

http://www.princerupertlibrary.ca/news/prince-rupert-library-wants-your-quilts

The next adult knitting night is Thursday June 28th in the Prince Rupert Library multi-purpose room. We'll see you there!

The Prince Rupert Library Knitters adult group will continue to meet alternating Thursday evenings through out the summer. Check with the library for dates and times.

PS. Speaking of blocks, I finally completed the Double Irish Chain Afghan I've been blathering on and off about (I even managed to get it hung in the library's quilt show if you'd like a peek in person).

There isn't a pattern for this afghan as I made it on the fly. The little garter stitch squares speak for themselves. The cable Celtic Knot is a version of a motif I saw in "The Best of Kniiter's Arans and Celtics" c2003. If you would like more details I would be happy to share what I can.