Arm knitting is a fun activity that you can do to get ready for the long winter months. However, how much wool for arm knitted blanket do you need for your project? The answer is: it depends.
The larger the blanket, the more yarn you obviously need. You can start with a four-pound blanket for babies or eight to eighteen pounds of wool for yourself. When it comes to arm knitting, it is better to order more yarn than you need rather than come up short.
Blanket Size Guide
When arm knitting a blanket, go ahead and order more wool than you need, just if you make mistakes along the way. If you go to a specialty store, they can help you estimate the weight or length of materials that you will need for your project.
They can even advise you regarding the thickness or softness of the wool you need. Generally, the amount of wool you will need will depend on your project. To make it easier for you, here is a guide to help you get started.
- Crib blanket (28 x 52 inches) – 4 pounds of wool yarn
- Twin-sized bed blanket (39 x 75 inches) – 8 pounds of wool yarn
- Queen-sized bed blanket (60 x 80 inches) – 14 pounds of wool yarn
- King-sized bed blanket (76 x 80 inches) – 18 pounds of wool yarn
How Much Wool For Arm Knitted Blanket Should You Buy?
If you’re doing your project by yourself and ordering from specialty stores online, you have to understand how the wool is packaged and measured. If you can purchase a single length of yarn, it may be sold by weight.
The seller can classify chunky fibers (wool or mixed blend) as “super bulky” or “jumbo” based on the thickness of the yarn strand. Unspun chunky wool yarn can be very soft and pillowy, but there are chunky yarn blends that are more compact, too.
Many wool distributors sell unspun wool based on its weight and volume. They can sell the materials in pounds or kilograms, and they can give you estimates as to how long the yarn is by volume.
For instance, they should be able to figure out that a ball of four-pound wool for a 30 x 50-inch blanket could contain about 340 feet of chunky yarn. The calculations can vary slightly depending on the thickness of the yarn.
You can purchase small balls of chunky yarn to create a more colorful pattern for your blanket. For beginners, ordering a large volume for large items like blankets would be easier as you can knit continuously without joining ends. Knots in thick yarns look more chunky and obvious, so it could look unsightly if you’re not too familiar with arm-knitting yet.
How To Arm Knit A Blanket
Once you get your wool yarn delivered, you can start making your blanket.
Step #1: Casting on
Start knitting your blanket by tying a loop at the end of your yarn and slip it over your right hand. With the knot set under your wrist, lay the yarn from the back of your hand over the front of your palm.
Using your left hand, go through the loop under your wrist and ensure that the yarn nearest to the ball is on the right side of your wrist. Grab the length of the yarn and pull back through the loop using your left hand.
Allow the loop to slide off your right hand. Place the loop over your right wrist to create two stitches. Repeat the steps until you cast on sixteen stitches on your right arm.
Step #2: Knitting
In creating the first row, wrap your yarn around the front of your right thumb. Make a fist to hold the yarn.
Take the next stitch and pass it over your fist. Pass the loop in your right fist over to your left hand and create your first stitch in the row. Repeat the steps until all the loops on the left arm are finished, completing the row.
Repeat the steps for each row, passing the yarn from left to right and back until you come near the end of your yarn.
Step #3: Casting off
Finish your blanket by grabbing the yarn length on your right fist.Make the first two stitches the same way you did the previous rows, then pass the first stitch of your yarn over the top of the second stitch.
Slide off your left hand, leaving only one stitch in it. Repeat the steps until all stitches come off your right hand, leaving you with the last loop. Pull the remaining yarn through this last loop and tie it off.
Bonus tip: Leave plenty of yarn before casting off to avoid making the last row too tight. You would still want your blanket to be big and loose at the end.
Conclusion
Arm-knitting can be confusing at first, so it takes a bit to get used to. Once you get the hang of it, it can be an enjoyable project that you can make in less than an hour.
Learn how much wool for arm knitter blanket you’ll need, give your blanket a slight stretch to make the stitches even, and you can be as comfortable as a cinnamon bun in bed during the winter months.