Idle paws

As every parent knows, idle hands and bored minds are a perfect recipe for trouble. Let’s give those hands and minds something to work on. 

Magic Knot Instructions:

Throughout the knitting process, you’ll need to securely join your skeins of yarn together — that’s where the magic knot comes in.  

1. Take the two yarn ends you want to join and lay them parallel, with their ends facing opposite directions.
2. With the lefthand yarn, cross it over the righthand yarn, then loop it under and behind the righthand yarn and back around itself.
3. Pull the end of the lefthand yarn through the loop you just made to form a simple knot.
4. Tighten the knot securely around the righthand yarn.
5. Repeat the process with the righthand yarn: cross it over the lefthand yarn, loop it under and behind the lefthand yarn, then back around itself.
6. Pull the end of the righthand yarn through the loop to form another simple knot.
7. Tighten this second knot securely around the lefthand yarn.
8. Gently pull both yarns in opposite directions so the two knots slide together snugly.
9. Trim any excess yarn close to the knots for a neat finish.
   

To Begin, Create a Slip Knot

1. Form a loop in your yarn, crossing the ends so the loop resembles a ribbon.
2. Insert your index finger and thumb through the loop, reaching for the tail end of the yarn.
3. Grasp the tail end and pull it through the loop to form a new loop.
4. Tighten the knot by pulling the other end of the yarn, adjusting the size of the loop as needed.
   

Create a Chain

1. To create your chain, reach through your slip knot with your index finger and thumb,
   grasping the working end of your yarn. 
2. Pull the working yarn through your loop, creating a second loop. 
3. Repeat this process to create each stitch in your chain, this will be the width of your blanket (approximately 22 stitches).
   

Let’s Knit

1. Once you’ve completed your chain stitches, lay the chain on a flat surface (the table or floor work well), ensuring it is not twisted.
2. Position your skein of yarn above the chain, with the working yarn extending back toward the slip knot.
3. Reach through your last stitch (stitch #22) with your index finger and thumb. 
4. Grasp the working yarn and pull it through to create a loop. 
5. Repeat this process for each chain stitch, working down the entire length of the chain until all chain stitches have a loop. 
6. Reposition your skein of yarn to the other end of the chain, and continue creating loops through each stitch. 
7. Repeat this process to create additional rows of loops. 
8. Aim to keep your loops consistent in size—not too loose or too tight. 
9. Depending on your desired blanket length, you’ll create approximately 35 – 40 rows. 
10. Reserve about half of your last skein of yarn to finish off your blanket. 

Finishing the Blanket

1. On your final row, loop the first two stitches as usual. Take the first loop and pull the second loop through it. 
2. Loop the next stitch (stitch #3), then pull loop #3 through loop #2. 
3. Continue this pattern across the row, pulling each new loop through the previous one. 
4. When you reach the final stitch, create a loop through it. Pull the last loop (loop #22) through the second-to-last loop (loop #21). 
5. Pass the working end of your yarn through the last loop and tie a knot to secure it. 
6. Trim any excess yarn.