Super Bulky Oatmeal Throw

 Super Bulky Oatmeal Throw

approx. 44”x 60” with fringe

This is one of the fun-est, fastest, throws to make. You will love the combination of yarn which literally looks like oatmeal, (thus the name for the throw.) You will be amazed at how nice this throw looks and feels even when used with inexpensive acrylic yarn. This throw began as an experiment. I wanted to try and copy some bulky knit throws seen in a decorating magazine, but without the expensive wool yarn. This one is machine washable and dry-able. The entire throw cost about $40.00 in materials, and would make a great gift for anyone. Experiment with all kinds of color combinations, Caron One Pound and Lion Brand Homespun yarn comes in lots of great colors. Or feel free to use any kind of yarn, 2 strands worsted weight to one strand of bulky boucle’. It’s the boucle’ that adds the interesting texture.

Materials:

2 skeins of Caron ONE POUND Color #0514, Off White

4 skeins of Lion Brand “Homespun” yarn Color #309 Deco (cream color)

Size 19 -  32”inch circular needles

Size US – N15 crochet hook for attaching fringe and doing edging (optional)

Hand sewing needle and thread to match Homespun yarn

Directions:

This throw is knit holding 3 strands of yarn together throughout. Two strands of Caron yarn and holding one strand from each skein from center pull, and one strand of Homespun yarn from center pull. *Knitting with center pull strands gives you an easier feed of yarn since you will be knitting with 3 strands of yarn held together throughout entire project.

Holding the 3 strands of yarn together, cast on 75 stitches. (I used long-tail cast on)

Knit 4 rows of garter stitch (knit every row).

Row 1: Knit across.

Row 2: Knit first 4 stitches, purl to 4 stitches from end of row, and knit last 4 stitches.

Repeat rows 1 & 2 for pattern till throw measures approx.. 52”inches.

*note: When you reach the end of the homespun yarn, knot the end and join on a new strand by knotting the end of that, and then overlapping and twisting yarn together and using sewing needle and matching thread whip stitch the strands together for a few inches. This way you will not have frayed ends poking out of your work, and you will not have to weave in the ends of these yarns. It just makes for a neater look, and you can't even tell where yarns were stitched together.

Knit 4 rows of garter stitch.

Bind off loosely, but do not cut yarn, just switch to crochet hook and begin crocheting a single crochet around entire edge of throw using all three strands of yarn. When you come to a corner, sc, ch 1, sc, in corner. (sc =single crochet, ch = chain ) This creates a better edge to apply the fringe. You might need to skip a stitch or two while single crocheting in order for edge of throw to lay better. You don’t want the stitches to be to bunched or too relaxed. It needs to lay nice and flat and not wavy or scrunched. Cut yarn, and weave in ends.

Fringe:

Using a piece of heavy cardboard cut a rectangle measuring: 3”x 5 ½”, and with Caron yarn only, wrap yarn around cardboard 12 times, so you have 12 strands of yarn on each side of cardboard. Wrap the yarn around the longest (5 ½” length) of cardboard. Using scissors cut the yarn at one end, this releases the yarn strands. Keep strands folded in half and using the crochet hook, insert hook into first stitch on short edge of throw and place the center of strands around hook and pull through just enough to get your fingers through loop and reach for ends of fringe and pull the ends through. Pull to tighten up knot, then trim each fringe section to within 3”inches past knot. Space fringe evenly across 44” inch edge of throw, on both ends.  I placed fringe about 4 stitches apart.