Examples of Oddball Blankets

Have you heard about our Oddball Blankets for charity? They are a really fun project, involving up to 25 knitters for a fullsize blanket.

Here are some photos of Oddball Blankets that are almost complete:

Guidelines for Making Your OWN Oddball Blankets!

I am so pleased that our Oddball Knitting Projects are so successful! Right now, there are over 200 knitters involved in making Oddball charity projects in the US, Canada, England, and Australia! :)

So, I would like to post some guidelines here for public use. Feel free to start your own Oddball Charity Knitting group, with a little help from these charts I've made.

They took a LONG time to put together, so take advantage of my work! :D

Oddball Blanket Guidelines: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2245/2400558720_716ce249c7_o.jpg


I've also made a chart for making blankets for the Snuggles Pet Blanket sizes:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/2400558768_735fd3b36f_o.jpg


If you prefer to have your group knit squares, here's a chart to help with that:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/2399724229_cd45c9cdec_o.jpg

Oddball Preemie Baby Blankets

Our Oddball Preemie Baby Blankets each measure about 16-20 inches, and are handknit with 100% acrylic, DK/sportweight weight yarn, that has a nice SOFT feel to it. The finished blankets will be given to a children's hospital. The blankets are started by the first knitter, with about 80-90 stitches per row. The stitches are kept "live" on the knitting needles, and the project is mailed to the next knitter in line.

Each knitter should knit their section until it measures 4 inches from where they started knitting. The blanket looks best if you start your section by adding your yarn and knitting one row of ALL KNIT STITCHES on the right side. (If the knitter before you ended with a row of knitting on the wrong side, it should work perfectly.) Each row should begin and end with 3 knit stitches, to make a nice border on our blanket.

You can use any design you want for your rows, just don't forget about the 3 knit stitches at each end. Be sure to end your section of knitting with a row of ALL KNIT STITCHES on the WRONG SIDE of the blanket. This way, when the next knitter adds their yarn, it will look nice on the color change row.

When you complete your 4 inches of knitting, keep the stitches on the needle, and mail it to the next knitter. Be sure to check with your project leader, to make sure the next knitter is ready for it.

Some knitters like to send gifts to the next knitter, just for fun. Please do not feel obligated to do this. If you DO include gifts, please avoid sending perishable food. Sometimes our packages get held up in the mail. Also, be sure to keep the blanket in its ziploc bag, to protect it from the elements.

When the 5th knitter completes their knitting, they will need to add 3 rows of knit stitches to make the final border, then bind off the stitches loosely, and let your project leader know that it is complete. Usually, we will add a crochet border to make the blanket look complete. So, feel free to add a 6th person to the project just for that!

Oddball Baby Blankets

Our Oddball Baby Blankets each measure about 20-25 inches, and are handknit with 100% acrylic, worsted weight yarn, that has a nice SOFT feel to it. The finished blankets will be given to a children's hospital. The blankets are started by the first knitter, with about 100 stitches per row. The stitches are kept "live" on the knitting needles, and the project is mailed to the next knitter in line.

Each knitter should knit their section until it measures 4 inches from where they started knitting. The blanket looks best if you start your section by adding your yarn and knitting one row of ALL KNIT STITCHES on the right side. (If the knitter before you ended with a row of knitting on the wrong side, it should work perfectly.)

Each row should begin and end with 3 knit stitches, to make a nice border on our blanket. You can use any design you want for your rows, just don't forget about the 3 knit stitches at each end. Be sure to end your section of knitting with a row of ALL KNIT STITCHES on the WRONG SIDE of the blanket. This way, when the next knitter adds their yarn, it will look nice on the color change row.

When you complete your 4 inches of knitting, keep the stitches on the needle, and mail it to the next knitter. Be sure to check with the leader of your project, to make sure the next knitter is ready for it.

Some knitters like to send gifts to the next knitter, just for fun. Please do not feel obligated to do this. If you DO include gifts, please avoid sending perishable food. Sometimes our packages get held up in the mail. Also, be sure to keep the blanket in its ziploc bag, to protect it from the elements.

When the 6th knitter completes their knitting, they will need to add 3 rows of knit stitches to make the final border, then bind off the stitches loosely, and let your project leader know that it is complete. Usually, we like to add a crochet border to make the blanket look complete, so feel free to add a 7th person to the project just for that!

Oddball Blankets - You have two weeks to work on the blanket!

You should start your knitting session by counting the stitches on the needles to make sure there are 300 stitches, before you start knitting. If there are more or less than 300, just do an increase or decrease near the center of the blanket to make it right. If you need help doing an increase or a decrease, just ask one of us in the forum.

Please use a washable worsted weight yarn. Plymouth Encore or Lion Brand Wool-Ease are good choices. You could even use some of your Red Heart Super Saver stash!
---> (If you are knitting on Blanket #3, please use 100% Wool yarn) <---
Just pick a nice color that will look good in the blanket. Be creative! The yarn and stitches will tell a beautiful story when it’s complete.

You can knit as many rows as it takes to add up to 3 inches to the length of the blanket. You are welcome to use any design you want, just be sure to end your section on a WRONG SIDE ROW with ALL KNIT STITCHES. That way, it will be easy for beginning knitters to knit their rows. I would hate for someone to get confused by yarn-overs, and become frustrated with the project. If you don’t want to knit for 3 inches, that’s okay. Just knit what you can, and mail the blanket to the next person.

There should already be some point protectors on the ends of the needles to keep it safe during shipment, so don't forget to put them back on when you're ready to mail it!

Feel free to add small token gifts for the next person on the list if you want.
(Don't add perishable food items or liquids, because they could soil the blanket.)

There should be a small notebook with the blanket, so we can each write a little note about ourselves, with a description of the rows we knit. (You can also tape small photos inside, or add stickers in recognition of your state if you want.)

You may have problems that arise at exactly the same time the blanket appears on your doorstep. If that's the case, just let your project leader know, and forward the blanket on to the next person. The blanket can come back to you at a later date when your life isn't so hectic.

When you have finished your rows, contact your project leader, and they will give you the next person’s address.

Oddball Lapghans & Shawls - You have two weeks to work on it!

Oddball Lapghans

You should start your knitting session by counting the stitches on the needles to make sure there are 200 stitches, before you start knitting. If there are more or less than 200, just do an increase or decrease near the center of the lapghan to make it right. If you need help doing an increase or a decrease, just ask one of us in the forum.

Please use a washable worsted weight yarn. Plymouth Encore or Lion Brand Wool-Ease are good choices. You could even use some of your Red Heart Super Saver stash! Just pick a nice color that will look good in the lapghan. Be creative! The yarn and stitches will tell a beautiful story when it’s complete.

You can knit as many rows as it takes to add up to 3 inches to the length of the lapghan. You are welcome to use any design you want, just be sure to end your section on a WRONG SIDE ROW with ALL KNIT STITCHES. (All the loose ends of yarn should be on the same side before they are woven in.) If you don’t want to knit for 3 inches, that’s okay. Just knit what you can, and mail the lapghan to the next person.

There should already be some point protectors on the ends of the needles to keep it safe during shipment, so don't forget to put them back on when you're ready to mail it!
Feel free to add small token gifts for the next person on the list if you want.
(Don't add perishable food items or liquids, because they could soil the lapghan.)

There should be a small notebook with the lapghan, so we can each write a little note about ourselves, with a description of the rows we knit. (You can also tape small photos inside, or add stickers in recognition of your state if you want.)

You may have problems that arise at exactly the same time the lapghan appears on your doorstep. If that's the case, just let your project leader know, and forward the lapghan on to the next person. The lapghan can come back to you at a later date when your life isn't so hectic.

When you have finished your rows, contact your project leader, and they will give you the next person’s address.


Oddball Shawls

Please use a beautiful DK yarn from your stash to work on the Oddball Shawl. Just pick a nice color that will look good with the others. The different yarns will tell a lovely story when the shawl is complete.

Here is the pattern:

Knit 1, Yarn-Over, Knit the remaining stitches.

Repeat that on every row. Easy!

Be sure to end your section on a WRONG SIDE ROW. (All the loose ends of yarn should be on the same side before they are woven in.)If you don’t want to knit for 3 inches, that’s okay. Just knit what you can, and mail the shawl to the next person.

When the shawl is complete, you may want to add fringe to give it a more finished look.

Or, it might look just fine as it is!

We've even added a crochet border before: