by joy

Created on: October 11, 2008

Are you a knitter who has dreamed about making your own afghan? Knitting an afghan does not have to be difficult, but it is important to realize before getting started that an afghan is a reasonably large project, one that will not be easily completed in just a few hours.

As with any knit project, an afghan requires a little bit of planning. It may involve a search for a pattern that you think will suit the decor in your home, or it may begin with you deciding how large an afghan you wish to make, the type and color of yarn you wish to use, and ensuring you have the required needles.

If you are using a pattern for your afghan, it will be fairly straight forward to know how many stitches to cast on, how many colors to alternate, the size of the needles and the types of stitches to be used. If you are more creative and want to make an afghan of your own design this will be a little more tricky. When making your own design, it is good practice to plan your project in writing so that you have an idea of what stitches you want to use, when you will want to change color (or if you want to change the color), the size needles you need to use to get the size of stitches that you desire.

A trip to the store may also be in order, to find the yarn to be used, unless you are planning to make an afghan out of yarn you already have or even the scraps from many previous projects.

An afghan is typically a project that fits better onto a round knitting needle than two straight needles. It is important to remember that when you cast on your first row, you are not to keep knitting around, rather at the end of the row, turn so that the project is being worked back and forth as opposed to making a "tube" by knitting around.

Once you have started to knit your afghan, remember to consult your "official" pattern or your plan often, to avoid having problems that may need to be resolved later by undoing rows of stitches.

One of the easiest types of afghans that you can make if you are creating one on your own is comprised of many different squares that are sewn together to complete the afghan. The squares can be any size that you desire, any color or combination of colors and do not have to be made in the same way. These afghans are also far easier to manage on straight knitting needles, which is a benefit if you knit in locations other than the comfort of your own home due to the easier portability. A fun idea in this regard is to make squares in complementary colors and create a patchwork effect.

To complete an afghan, a finished edge is often desirable. This can be done by picking up stitches along the edge and knitting four rows before casting off. Once the first edge is finished, you move to the opposite side and do the same thing. When you get to the adjoining sides, try to pick up stitches not just from the afghan itself, but also from the border you have created. As you stand back to look at the finished project, you may decide that a decorative "whip stitch" should be added along the edges of the different squares that were sewn together. A whip stitch is easy, bringing the yarn up and down on an angle (as opposed to straight back and forth, like regular sewing).

Whatever style of afghan you choose to make, it will be a beautiful and satisfying addition to your home and decor.

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