As seasonal cold weather finally settles over New England I’m feeling the urge to knit something warm and cozy but I’m not sure if I want a blanket, poncho, sweater or a pile of accessories! As I was thinking about what yarn I’d like to use I remembered our Valley Yarns Amherst, 100% Merino yarn with 2 dozen colors to choose from.

Knowing that it’s 100% wool means that I won’t have to worry about a larger project sagging out of shape after time. Being Merino it will be nice and soft, and with lots of color choices I can fill in gaps in my wardrobe, or coordinate with my home decor. I don’t find wool to be too scratchy so I’m comfortable wearing it against my skin, I don’t own any pets, and I don’t mind hand-washing projects so this one seems like a great fit.

After going through all the great patterns that are available for Amherst (and you can too by clicking the “Related Patterns” tab at the top of this page), I decided that what I really wanted was a new blanket for my favorite chair at home, and the Oatmeal Blanket is perfect. While it may look like a big complicated counterpane pattern it’s actually much easier! The whole blanket is simple triangles that are whip-stitched together. Super portable until the very end. Now I just have to decide on color.

What’s your favorite project in Valley Yarns Amherst?