I love it!

I measured the lap blanket that I use--it seems to be an acceptable size--and it is 52x56 with about 1 inch of fringe around it. Hope that helps!

As a new knitter, I really enjoy reading your blog. My comments and opinions may lack expertise or knowledge, but are from the heart. I would try stockinette on the manos afgan.

8x8 seems good, and I'd probably stop when you can't take it any more (which always happens to me with afghan knitting).

how long did it take you to do the one square?

Most of the afghans I've made I try to have at least 36 - 48 inches across, and at least 60 inches long. If you want it to be big enough to share (or at least encourage snuggling) I recommend making it closer to 48 or 54 inches across - you only need more length if you've got really tall people, but 5 feet long is usually more than sufficient.

I haven't checked in a while, but Queer Joe has done an afgan in Manos, and is planning on doing another.

His comments were that the Manos is rather fragile for a blanket. It pills and felts easily.

you'll need loads....
why not try a mixture of stockinette and garter???? one round stockinette, one round garter....
looks lovely!!

oooh...that's gorgeous! and i love love love the colorway. 8 squares by 4 or 5 squares would make a decent sized blanket

I'm more of a quilter than a knitter. I think all lap blankets need to be at least 60" x 60 ". Personally I prefer 60" x 75".

Hi Alison! I love the square! And I love the garter stitch. It may be a bit thicker and cozier if you do garter stitch too--depends on what you want. For 8" squares I vote for 64" x 72" as a ample size? (8 squares x 9 squares).

I would say at least 60" long - maybe more. There is nothing more annoying than an afghan that won't cover both your shoulders & your feet. Love the look of that square but I agree a little bigger would probably look better.

I am sitting under a Manos afghan as I type, and Queer Joe is right, it pills easily, and it's probably starting to slightly felt in some places too...the pilling bums me out because it's beautiful, soft, yummy yarn...

That's so pretty! Inspiring me...tho I dont't need to buy more yarn...

Are you sure about the stockinette? Garter in the round is no fun to do, but the pebbly texture is wonderful--and it mixes up the colors of the yarn beautifully.

....and the garter makes it a reversible blanket!

Well if you do it in multiples of 8, I would think a good sized Afghan would be 10 squares long (80 inches) by 8 squares wide (64 inches).

Well if you do it in multiples of 8, I would think a good sized Afghan would be 10 squares long (80 inches) by 8 squares wide (64 inches). Which would mean 80 squares, right? Did I do the math right?

that manos always looks so incredibly beautiful used in anything.

This, however, is so fitting for the variagation and the colours...so beautiful.

that manos always looks so incredibly beautiful used in anything.

This, however, is so fitting for the variagation and the colours...so beautiful.

Wow, that's so beautiful. I would think 56 squares (7 x 8) would be a good size for a couch. You would probably have an edging on it too, right?

The square is lovely. But I came over about the Tech Guy socks. I love the Breakout socks! I now have a pattern that suits my hubby perfectly. Thank you for being so creative, and knowing how to execute such a great idea. :) Sorry to gush, just so happy!

I love Manos too, but agree that it really pills and felts. I knit a hat for my 2-year old with it, and while I love it, it looks a little frowsy with very little wear. (Hard to keep a hat on a two-year-old)!

So many! Good luck - I love the look of afghans, but I'm not sure I have the patience!

Ooh, I don't like to hear that Manos pills and felts... Maybe I should use mine for a felting project??
I love the colours in that square, though!
Just saw your socks on the new Magknits -- cooool!

so that's what a mitered square look likes :-) that's really nice. I guess you'll need a lot ;-)

I have no clue but I love Manos AND your square! Did you ever see my Noro mitered purse?

https://home.comcast.net/~bbdinabq/knitting/final_mitered.jpg

It was a fun project.

I am wondering how you got your mitered square to look that way?

I have wanted to make a mitered square blanket and I would love to make one similar to yours, however, when I have made mitered squares mine look like only one corner of your square. Do I need to make four squares and sew them together to make four squares?

I finished my Manos afghan this fall. And yes, it does pill very quickly. But I promise it will be soft; it is the #1 fav in our house. However, I think that the miterd square may show less wear. BTW, great colorway!

The garter is so nice in Thistle! I want to go make one myself. I like the alternating garter/st st; it's still reversible no matter how you make it. Also, I suspect garter shows off the multis better whereas stockinette would show the subtle variations in the "solid" colors better.

I have knitted a Manos afghan and three Manos hats. Neither is too pilly or unattractive; the second one I made with a smaller needle and that helps a bit. I also felted a cap in Manos--it's *great*--so felting is a good way to go also.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crankyisgood/88981932/

The biggest problem I have with Manos is that there's a hole in my afghan, I think from catching it on the bedframe, that I need to repair, which is making me think I should just stash my leftovers for future holes instead of making it into a felted yoga mat bag. However, I just got another idea--if the afghan gets more holes, I can just felt *it*...

What if instead of doing all garter to make it reversible, you did it in st st and alternate the squares when assembleing it. Faster to knit up and still reversible.

I have doubts about stockinette squares really being square. Not sure you can achieve a mitered square in stockinette. Maybe a rectangle but I have doubts about the squares. A mixture of garter ones and stockinette ones could be a nightmare to put together if they don't come out the same size.

I think the garter looks nice with that yarn. It seems to show it off really well. I also feel dubious about stockinette squares being square, they curl too.

I've come back to knitting after several years of counted cross stitch and have been enjoying your blog and many others. I'm learning a lot about knitting just reading the blogs. Knitting has come a long way since my grandma taught me about 30 years ago. I saw your mitered square today and would love to make an afghan like that. Where would I find a pattern for it?

I'm knitting a baby blanket out of Manos Stria from last spring's Interweave Knits that was originally in garter and I'm trying it in stockinette. I haven't had any trouble making squares square, but I'm not sure if it's going to be too thin and wimbly in stockinette. It is for a summer baby . . . Let me know what you think of your stockinette squares. Beautiful colors in your Manos!

Very, very nice. I spoke with another shopper in a LYS who said she has made afghans out of Manos and they were fabulous! I love long and big afghans, so that my toes and my shoulders are well covered. Thus, I like my afghans to be 6 feet long--I know that's a lot of knitting, but I like warm and cozy.

Wow, thanks so much for all your input, everyone!

Sorry to hear that some find that Manos pills. I'm still convinced it's going to be the perfect yarn for my in-laws, with a natural, earthy feel and great colors.

I was thinking that I'd have to do 72 or even 80 squares. It's helpful to hear that sounds plenty long to everyone.

As for the pattern, check the archive page for this project for a link and picture of the pattern I'm sort of using. It does make a full square with mitering and not just a quarter of one. I really liked the idea of getting complete squares, which is why the Rowan Classic Weekend pattern really appealed to me.

For variation, you can always knit some squares centre-out and the others outside-in :)

If they're 8 by 8 you need 40 for a sofa blanket/large throw. 42 is even better as you can make it 6 squares by 7 squares so it's almost square. But if you're tuckered out and you can't muster 2 more squares, 40 gives you a nice 5 square by 8 square blanket. This assumes you're not doing any fancy sashing between the squares, which of course enlarges the blanket.

Ask me how I know (afghanalong!), xox Kay

I've only been knitting for just over a year and I stumbled across your blog. I think it's marvellous and I love all the bits and pieces you knit, I think I should definately branch out from the few patterns I just keep knitting!

I was wondering what the names are of those beautful colours you have bought to make the afghan? As i love them all and want to buy some Manos, but don't know where to start. xx Carly