Welcome to FundKnitter's latest project!
Introducing the New Blanket beginning August 30th, 2026.
FundKnitter will share every step possible, of creating this blanket, including the pattern, with adjustments you may want to make if you would like to replicate a similar blanket. It is very very tedious and crowded needles are very very painful on the hands but it will be worth the effort. And. If I can put this much effort in to a blanket I am not even sure will be for me or not, imagine how much effort God puts in to me!!
New Blanket
This section will be pictures and New Blanket updates until it is complete. Then I will add the pattern and make some of the early page pictures, the completed blanket.
August 30th
Day one was special. I recieved some cash from some church members and went to buy the needles needed. I then spent half the day knitting in my car so I could focus, while rain pitter-pattered all day long. By the end of the day, it wasn't much, but it was started!!
August 31st
Day 2 of the blanket was much easier but also more complex. I went back and got 2 more sets of needles and stubs to prevent painful bunching. My hands still hurt from that!! I also haven't measured it yet but it is at least big enough for a double bed. I do have measuring tape, but have to wait until I get far enough that being on the needles, wont slight the measurement. On the edges (first stitch every row) I knit to the back of the first stitch, to help keep the work tight. I may have to add a specific edge though, especially because I often forget this step!!
From modest beginnings, we've grown through unwavering dedication and a commitment to continuous improvement. Each step has reinforced our core belief in the power of collaboration and the importance of integrity. We're passionate about what we do, and we're excited to share our story with you.
September 1st
This was the first day of the second colour and Day 3 of the blanket- I am likely to stop keeping track of the days apart from the date though I have enough counting to remember... There are 4 or 5 colours so far, but will probably be closer to 20 colours once completed. 23 rows + cast on + 10 border rows + border on the sides. How I made the yarn the same both sides: use 2 balls from the same colour. There is a lot of untangling so the right size bag for the yarn is really important. Took a few tries to get the right size bag.
Ratio of knitting to working the work: about 10 stitches and some adjustment or another is required. You must have patience level infinity to do this.
September 2nd
There was plenty of time to work ont the blanket today. Though I will need to rest my hands the next couple days. But! Today I nearly doubled the New Blanket's size! And this will be the only time I get to say that...
I may do a few rows each day still but I cannot spend 5+ hours at once again. I could never do that much knitting with dishcloths though- blankets are way easier to put loads of hours in to once they get past the size of your hand in length. However. Once it gets a certain length, it will become harder to lift to flip and harder to get pictures of, to show the size increases. I will measure it tomorrow before I put it away for the day though.
I now have the second colour starting to tie in. I am unsure if the first colour will get me as far as I wanted it to- but- there is a backup plan if it doesn't. This blanket sure is turning heads!!!
September 3rd
Got about 10 rows in on the New Blanket today. The biggest ball of yarn is almost done already and has done about 40 rows so far. Getting pictures of the blanket is already getting harder each time I try 😂😂
September 5th
Managed to get the blanket a little further, 2 colours are almost done but there were more than just the 2 balls left that are larger yarns. But. Some may be better suited as dishcloths so, will cross that bridge when I get there.
God sees.
I did finally measure the blanket also. It is approximately 78" which may end up wider once it's off the needles. I will measure it again once it's about square in width and length. But as it stands, my guess that it was at least a double size blanket, was pretty accurate.
September 6th
Today, I could only tolerate sitting inside on the blanket for 4 rows. Had planned to do more than that but I couldn't get comfortable for the life of me.
One of the reasons for the small squares, is so the knitter will keep their hands relaxed and change the positioning often. When a pianist is teaching ergonomics for preventing hand pain, they teach a maneuver where you basically throw your wrist upwards, even in the middle of a bar so that you won't work with your wrists locked as you play. Knitting is like that too. The more you have position changes, the easier the piece is on your hands. With already a neck injury that shoots pain down my arm, I have to be very very cautious about repetitive motions. They are a fact of life though. Even basic chores include repetitive motions.
When you have a big project, you definitely want lots of change ups with your stitch types. Basket weave is perfect for that. With basket weave, you don't want to make the squares much bigger than 10 stitch/10 rows (though both depend on your gauge- this blanket is using 7 stitches/10 rows) because it will lose the over-under effect if the squares are too big. You can get way fancier with basket weave patterns but that is for more delicate pieces with thin yarns. If you only have 10 minutes or short bursts to work on your piece, it is a good idea to keep a notepad beside you and be in the habit of; every time you switch your needles, write down what you just did. That way when you come back, you'll know where you are on a complex pattern. A small notepad and reliable writing utensil, is an important part of every knitting supplies bag.
September 7th
Next colour will start very soon!! I completed what I didn't do yesterday, as well as today's goal on the New Blanket, worked on the Christmas Special and knit 2 dishcloths today! And!! My hands are tired but not sore like they got right as I started this blanket- the difference of overcrowded needles is very noticeable once they're not overcrowded anymore :D though I have known that for years. The main balls of yarn are very small now and I am starting to wonder if I'll have enough yarn of both balls i have started with, to get this pattern moving. If it has to have pattern breaks, that's not the worst that could happen but it will be noticeable... the countdown is on!!!
Also, I have at the border, intentionally carried the yarn an extra stitch for durability. Normally, when you change from one yarn to the next, you just carry the other one over or under the working yarn. I have woven it in to the next stitch each row so the edging will look that messy for the whole blanket. It is intentional in this case. It doesnt look as clean but it is stronger and it's only noticeable if it's right next to a piece with clean edges.
September 8th
Just 4 rows today. Might do more later, but, about to start the next ball of yarn too, green and red coming next. Then I have a blue and grey/white again and then I'll be out of New Blanket yarn. The yarn I have, will get me pretty close to half way in length. Will take me most of this month before I am out of this yarn though. The green and red yarns are both thinner than the other yarns I have started with and are likely to stand out, maybe even too much. I will add a lifeline to the blanket in case it starts looking too grotesque and I have to start over, so I don't lose the near 100 hours I've already put in.
For new knitters (several people on seeing this website have started knitting- some to diminish my skills, some to show support, some because they were told it's a survival skill now), learning gauge takes time. You will get it wrong many times before you start to get it right, even when the package gives you the gauge. Very often, you have to go one size smaller needles for what the package suggests. The best way to learn your gauge is before you start a project, knit a 20x20 square and if it's not square and not the size you need, drop or add as necessary, and write that down + adjust your pattern.
When you learn how to read a pattern, you'll simultaneously learn how to write a pattern. Always write down adjustments you make to perfect your piece. It's not like composing where these are the notes and if you play those notes, this is the sound you will get. It's not like baking where this ingredient and that ingredient, in those specific measurements, creates this outcome. It is functional art. It is learning to work around imperfections and make them beautiful. It is prayer, uncertainty and reworking. It is talent. Talent you have multiplied.
September 12th
Didn't get far on the New Blanket today but I did do a little. The red really sticks out right now, but it will tie in a little better as I go. As I was knitting this part, I thought much about the clothing the bible says Jesus will wear when he returns: white soaked in blood.
I assume I will be long dead before Jesus returns. Everyone who has ever hoped for Jesus' return, has died waiting up to this point, why would I be any different? I'm not.
But. I sure thought about it as I started knitting this part. Next part will be red and green, Christmas colours.
This yarn, and the next several balls was too difficult and thick for dishcloths, not thick enough for the blanket, so I doubled it and now it's just right.
September 13th
Still only a few rows again today but was able to put the blanket on a table while I knitted which was better for my neck, not so good for my tush. The New Blanket doesn't look as good in pictures as it does in person but it is starting to look more like a blanket now :D
I can't believe I started this on just 1 set of needles <3
September 14th
Today, I finished off that grey ball with the blue and beige specs. The red is starting to tie in and a pattern (though imperfect) is beginning to emerge. When I finished the grey ball, it was row 8 for a block of 10 rows and just past half way. I then slipped the rest of the row as far as I had the other colours and began knitting the red as if it was row 9. Then, at the end of row 10, when I got to the border, I knit 2 extra rows, tying in all the yarns as I went so it wouldnt make the border yarn lop-sided. I don't think it's very visible that the less than half row got skipped. The red looks much better now that it's more blended in. But it is visible that the yarn amount on the grey didn't increase- but- that's why i started with 2 sets solid, so that if there were any points where I ran out of yarn, it will look like I meant to do that.
September 15th
Pain. So much neck pain today. It was not great yesterday but has increased immensely today. Didn't get as far as I wanted on the blanket today, but I did add a splash of white to complete the way I was thinking about what Jesus will be wearing when he returns. The yarn was a bit too big for dishcloths. It's still a little small for the blanket but it will work fine. Might have to weave a little strength in later.
September 16
Tye next pictures I post of the blanket, will include the red and green!! Almost done 3 balls of yarn, basically at the same time too!!
September 18th
Almost didn't work on the blanket today but managed a few rows. Won't be long before I can't get pictures of the New Blanket in it's entirety anymore.
September 19th
Came so close to starting the red and green together tonight but it will have to wait because it's bed time! The pattern I will write at the end, will not be quite the same as what I have done on this blanket- I will write the pattern as though if the knitter was purchasing the yarn specifically and intentionally for making this blanket so anyone following the pattern, will have a more refined version of it. Cause I am definitely flying by the seat of my pants so far!
September 20th
Just a few rows in on the red and green section. The New Blanket is longer than the chair back now!
*** At or near the end of September, this whole page will get reorganized and I will stop writing notes about the blanket outside of the Stories Along the Way section but I will create a New Blanket "notes" section with tips and pointers.
Thank you kindly to everyone who has checked back regulalry to see New Blanket updates! Now, everyone who has checked back in on the website, will have something new visitors to the site won't see, because you were with me from the start!!!
