I've made a couple of the diagonal baby blankets that Lou posted the simple pattern up for (cast on 4, K2, yfwd knit to end on every row until you have 100 stitches or the edge is wide enough then k1, k2tog, yfwd, k2tog, knit to end till 4 stitches then cast off).

However this can get a little boring and I came across a blog that had discovered a different stitch to use for this blanket - the bee stitch. She gave this with instructions on how to do it:

http://www.knittingknonsense.com/beestitchcloth.html

so I'm going to try it with my next corner to corner blanket.

Claire

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ClaireA

Hi Claire

This looks interesting and certainly will give a different look to the blanket.

Molly

I think that's a good trick Claire. If you make the same sort of items they can get monotonous...so adding a twist here and there can liven a piece of work up and make it exciting again. We needed to get some plants on Sunday so I suggested that Hilliers had a good selection. As we drove that way, I pointed out that we were passing The Old Loom Mill, where I get some of my wool so we diverted into there first! I think my husband knew my secret plan all along and was just humouring me! Doesn't matter....it worked! Teehee

Me again! Boss was passing so ducked out! I picked up some courser type wool in cones - purple with silver threads and a yellowy green. So I'm using these together to make a giant dog blanket. I figured the little mutts were probably catered for but the big ones never quite get a blanket big enough. As my parent had german shephers and my husband's parents had a labrador, I thought I would try my hand at a giant one...may take a bit of time though. As the double wool is thicker it is growing quite well and is currently 6 3/4" since I started on Sunday afternoon/evening.

Thanks for that website Claire, it certainly looks interesting and as you say it will stop you getting bored and I have copied out the instructions. I am doing a corner to corner at the moment but its a slightly different pattern which makes holes at the edges for a crochet edge to be added. Its the first I've done so am quite enjoying it at the mo. Dot

I managed to complete this blanket using the bee stitch. To keep the 'border' detail you need to purl rather than knit on one side so that you get the loop correct. On the decrese side you need to purl the decrease on one side as well - this means that you get a wrong side to the blanket rather than it looking the same on both sides.
I also confused the issue by using 2 strands of wool (don't ask me why) and so I ran out and the colour changed.

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ClaireA

worked out the pattern if anyone else wants to try it to add a bit of interest.

Cast on 4 stitches
1st row knit
2nd row k2, yarn forward, knit to end (5)
3rd row k2, yarn forward, knit to end (6)
4th row k1, k1 into stitch below (bee stitch), yarn forward, *k1, k1 into stitch below*, k to end
5th row k1, p1, yarn forward, k to last 2 stitches, p1, k1
6th row k1, k1 into stitch below, yarn forward, *k1, k1 into stitch below*, repeat from * to * to last 3 stitches, k3.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 to desired size (usually as many stitched as you can fit onto a needle – for a larger blanket use a circular needle)
Knit 1 row with no increases (wrong side)
Decreases
1st row K1, k2tog, yarn forward k2tog, *k1 into stitch below, k1*, repeat from * to * to lst 3 stitches, K3.
2nd row k1, p2tog, yarn forward k2tog, knit to last 2, p1, k1.
Repeat until last 4 stitches, cast off.

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ClaireA

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Your bee stitch corner to corner blanket looks really smart Claire...well done.

I seem to be Bee stitch mad - I've just done it on a prem cardie as well (I think it's because it looks complicated but really isn't!).

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ClaireA