Hi Spud & Chloë Friends,
Well, now I know what you are knitting and I am impressed. I’ve heard from so many knitters out there who are eating up their Spud & Chloë yarns and patterns. It is incredible what you are knitting out there. I’ve seen Spud & Chloë knitted pants out of Fine (You go, Kim Hamlin!), an adorable baby dress, hats, scarves, sweaters, toys (lots of toys:), blankets, mittens… you name it, it’s being knit at this very moment. I have a lot of photos to share and stories to tell about the projects you’ve shared so there is more to come. Thank you for letting me know how much you are enjoying our yarn. We love it, too.
Right now at this very moment I am having a tiny vacation with my family. It’s very, very early (thus the dim light in the photo) and I am up enjoying a little peace and quiet. You have to catch it early or it will never happen. That’s my theory anyway. I started making some cool, squishy squares out of Spud & Chloë Sweater in the Pollen colorway. I am planning a fun patchwork baby blanket for you. If you know me at all, you know that I love a good patchwork baby blanket anytime, anywhere! I even love arranging and stitching the squares together and weaving in the ends when the knitting and stitching is done, that’s one of my favorite parts. I’ll help you with this part, too. I’ll get my son to help with a couple of instructional videos on putting the squares together when we are done with the squares.
You know, I’ve seen and designed blankets done in strips or in one big piece but there is just something about making the little squares, stacking them up, arranging them to create the patchwork, and finally, lovingly stitching them together. There is no comparison in my eyes. It is THE best baby blanket in the end. I hope you will join me. This is the perfect group project for a few friends or family members to combine knitting forces on. If you know a baby is coming somewhere around you this is your project!
This first square is called the Harris Tweed stitch. It is reversible. The Harris Tweed stitch is in my favorite stitch dictionary, Super Stitches Knitting (pg. 60), by Karen Hemingway. I simply love this book (you should get it). All of the stitch patterns for the squares are going to be from Super Stitches Knitting. A few days ago I pulled this book out on the plane and was intently reading the pages while we flew when my son asked, “You read patterns for fun?” I had to simply respond, “Yes.” I’ll admit it. Yes. Yes, I do read knitting patterns for fun. Is that so wrong? No? I knew you’d understand.
If you want to join me in making this baby blanket as I go this is my plan. I am making 25, six-inch squares. Actually, the squares will be about 6 1/4 inches. Five squares in each of five colors. The finished blanket will be about 32-inches wide and long with an edging of some sort. I’m on my fourth square in Pollen so I am seeing how many squares I can get out of one skein. It is going to be a close call. I was hoping to get five out of one skein… it may or may not happen. I’ll keep you posted.
Here is what is going on with the Harris Tweed stitch square (in Super Stitches Knitting, by Karen Hemingway) :
Make 5 squares in Harris Tweed Stitch in Pollen.
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Sweater (One skein in any color. This may end up being 2 skeins, I’m not sure yet. I chose Pollen to start!)
Needles: US size 7 needles or the size needed to obtain the gauge
Gauge: 5 stitches per inch
Harris Tweed Square:
Cast on 32 stitches.
Row 1: (k2, p2) repeat to the end of the row
Row 2: (k2, p2) repeat to the end of the row
Row 3: knit
Row 4: purl
Row 5: (k2, p2) repeat to the end of the row
Row 6: (k2, p2) repeat to the end of the row
Row 7: purl
Row 8: knit
Repeat these 8 rows five times OR the needed number to get to 6 1/4 inches in length. (You can stop on any row just be sure you are consistent with all of the squares.)
Bind off.
Okay, I am off to finishing my fourth square. I can read my Kindle, sip my coffee and knit my Harris Tweed squares all at the same time. Pretty slick, huh? You know, if you wanted to just start off the same way and keep knitting the Harris Tweed stitch pattern to about 65-70 inches you would have the most gorgeous reversible scarf ever. I’m just saying….
I’ll be back soon with some knitting projects from you and another square or two! Carry on sweet Knitters.
Design Coordinator extraordinaire and resident social butterfly, keeping you up to date on her wee cousin Chloë and her pal Spud. Find her musings at 
Pretty, pretty, pretty!! I love the color of this yarn, and I read patterns for fun too…
The stitch pattern looks great in the Sweater yarn – defined, but still really soft and squishy.
I had to smile when you said you were “reading patterns” and your son’s response.
My first passion has been, is, and probably will always be sewing, especially children’s clothing, and I have always read patterns “for fun.” If I would get caught at it, I received the same response. I’m going to have to see if my LYS has that knitting pattern book, and if not, order it online. Might as well read knitting patterns, too! I do hope you have a wonderful, relaxing, and fun-filled time with your family. 
This sounds like so much fun. Thanks for sharing your wonderful talents with us!!
Susie,
You may recall that knitting squares for a baby blanket at the little “ABC” store was how and when I learned to knit. I am always proud to tell others that you were my teacher
. I still love to knit those squares. There is a group of us at work that knit squares for afghans for co-workers who are having babies, getting married, retiring, graduating, seriously ill, etc. It is great fun and the recipients always treasure their blankets.
Thanks also to you I have checked out the Super Stitches book from the library. I love it and have renewed it at least twice so perhaps I should just buy my own copy!
I also love to read knitting patterns much like I love to read recipes. I usually never make many of either, but still enjoy reading them.
Have a great, much deserved vacation, Ramona
“Be there or be square”…I’m going to be there with you and start knitting squares, sounds fun and I have a gift at the end. I love reading patterns for fun, too. Fortunately my son reads technical books for fun and “get’s it”. Have fun on your vacation!!
As soon as I saw your post I started a square but in Watermelon and just ordered the Pollen. Thanks!
That sounds like a fun project. I don’t think anyone I know is having a baby right now, but I’m sure I can find a charity that would like it.
Jennie
I’m a little late with the “what we’re making” post, but I had a quick question as a knitting newbie. I’m making the adorable pears with the Spud & Chloe Sweater. On the rows where you increase by kfb each stitch, I’m getting a “V” and then a little horizontal bar all the way around. Just wanted to check if that’s correct or if I’m doing something funky! Thanks for all your wonderful patterns. Since I’ve started reading your two blogs, my knitting “cravings” keep increasing!
This looks like a lot of fun. It seems that all of my knitting these days is dedicated to baby blankets because I’m at the age where all of my friends are having babies! I’m constantly looking for new ideas and cannot wait to see the finished product.
I am a newbie to knitting and I have tried about 20 times to start a baby blanket, and I am super excited about this project! I just found your site so I’m just starting out but I am relieved that making 25 small squares is much more manageable than casting on 120+ stitches. Just started this first square – thanks so much for the inspiration! (Now I have to find your yarn somewhere around here! LOVE the colors and the names of the colors are so clever!)
I love your blog, you should add an RSS feed feature so I can get automatic notifications of new blogs. If you set one up please email me! i will bookmark you for now. Again Excellent Blog!
How do i transfer saved kindle books from my flash drive to my apad?. Have load of kindle mobi books on a flash drive . How do I transfer them to my new epad. I have the latest kindle reader on the epad but cannot see how I can transfer them or read them directly from my flash drive..
That’s correct!